THE PLAYLIST | Most Anticipated Albums 2023
As society and the music industry recovered fully in 2022, it proved to be a very fruitful year. With a plethora of new albums, concerts and announcements on the horizon, 2023 looks to be as busy. In fact, without making wild suggestions, 2023 could be the best year the music buying public have had in a long while. That is down to the creativity of artists throughout 2020-2021, and now the results of their work are slowly being unleashed – so let’s take a look at the Most Anticipated Albums 2023.
Not everything is announced for release as yet.
There are a number of artists such as PJ Harvey, Everything But The Girl, The Killers, Noel Gallagher, The Cure, Depeche Mode and Steven Wilson who have unscheduled new albums set for release at some point in the year. Of course it is important to remember with new albums comes new tours, and although with streaming platforms artists don’t make the money they once did, they rely on earnings through touring. And that’s why this is so important.
The following is a taste of what is to come – teaser tracks released in the latter part of 2022 with the aim of wetting the lips of music fans. At the same time however, there are acts here ready for discovery, and a new album is always the best place to start.
Iggy Pop – Every Loser
Iggy Pop’s output can be hit and miss. January will see him release his nineteenth studio album since The Stooges initial breakup. A follow-up to 2019’s respectable Free, fans are hoping for a repeat of that steadfast, back to business Iggy Pop.
With the first snippet ‘Frenzy’ (included here) featuring Duff McKagan and Chad Smith, that hope may become a reality.
John Cale – Mercy
The Welsh legend John Cale thankfully returns also in January with Mercy. In 2022, he returned from what seemed like nowhere with the single ‘Nightcrawling’, a nod to pre-disco New York in the seventies.
With Mercy, his first release of a full album since 2016’s MFans – The Quietus’ Album of The Year, there is no denying that Cale remains a master at what he does.
Ladytron – Times Arrow
Also in January, Ladytron releases Times Arrow. With a surge in popularity due to the remaster and celebration of their 2002 groundbreaking Light And Magic, the time is right for new music.
And this already sounds like a band hungry and back on form. Already, three of the ten tracks are available on Bandcamp, and they are sonically gorgeous.
The Murder Capital – Gigi’s Recovery
The first of the 2023 Irish albums to cause a stir.
Only the second album from the Dublin Post-Punk quintet, so expectations are high for a respectable follow-up to the stratospheric When I Have Fears.
The Smashing Pumpkins – Atum: Act Two & Three
A rather large and expansive project is ongoing from the Smashing Pumpkins.
In 2022, the band released the first of a three part concept cycle Atum: Act One. On January 31 fans will get Act Two, and Act Three is scheduled for April 23.
Each is eleven tracks long, and according to Billy Corgan, they are a continuation of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and Machina/The Machines of God. By act three we should have an overall picture of the band’s twelfth album.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Your Future Is Your Past
A cult band, who should be so much more.
This will be the second release from the band in less than a year, with the excellent Fire Doesn’t Grow on Trees released in March of 2022, Your Future Is Your Past is due to land on February 2nd.
The Academic – Sitting Pretty
The quartet from County Westmeath, will finally release a follow-up to their Irish number one album Tales from the Backseat.
By the first snippet from Sitting Pretty, fans can already hear the melodic sound mixed with a loud, urgent guitar sound is still very much a big part of their style.
Paramore – This Is Why
Granted, six years between albums for a band not two decades into their career, is a long time.
Nevertheless, This Is Why, Paramore’s sixth album, will be their first to feature the same lineup as its predecessor. That being the critically acclaimed After Laughter, so the hysteria that is building for This Is Why, simply feels so justified.
Yo La Tengo – This Stupid World
The experimental and shoegaze giants Yo La Tengo will shove out This Stupid World on February 10th.
With almost 40 years and sixteen studio albums of experience under their belt, this band will always knock out something interesting if not brilliant.
Inhaler – Cuts & Bruises
Another Irish band thankfully pushing out a second album.
All eyes are on Inhaler after their UK and Irish number one debut It Won’t Always Be Like This. After less than two years since that album, alongside playing Glastonbury and opening for the Kings Of Leon, the Dublin quartet are obviously eager to continue that wave of adulation.
Orbital – Optical Delusion
Going all the way back to 1989, the duo of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnol, have persevered, broken up, reunited and persevered some more pushing a signature brand of techno.
With 2022 came the remix album 30 Something, a project which found Orbital re-recording their classics to showcase how they are performed on the live stage – that was the taster of things to come.
In 2023, album number ten Optical Delusion will see the brothers embark on a new journey that will be anything but boring.
Gorillaz – Cracker Island
The ever busy Damon Albarn is back with Blur, who have announced a regroup and series of shows in 2023.
As for his other project Gorillaz, who are coming off the mammoth 2022 World Tour, thankfully new music is on the horizon.
Already this new music is fully teased with the singles ‘Cracker Island’, ‘Baby Queen’, ‘New Gold’, ‘Possession Island’ and ‘Skinny Ape’.
Morrissey – Bonfire of Teenagers
Apparently (and I say this with skepticism) Moz has another album ready to go after he releases Bonfire Of Teenagers at some point.
Morrissey has already deemed the album (eye roll) “the best album of my life”. In fairness, the album will feature Chad Smith and Flea (Red Hot Chilli Peppers), alongside Iggy Pop, and Miley Cyrus, so there will be something musically brilliant – when we get to hear it.
Rival Sons – Darkfighter
Somewhere between the sound of The Black Keys and a seventies stadium rock band you will find the Rival Sons.
A hybrid of roots music from Muddy Waters to Joni Mitchell by way of Led Zeppelin. On March 10th comes Darkfighter, and this gutsy outfit that keeps the rock’n’roll spirit alive will hopefully continue their path of Grammy nominations and attract more audiences to their blues, funk, hard rock sound.
Metallica – 72 Seasons
When this was announced, the internet had a breakdown.
But let’s face it, Metallica have always left a period of time between releases. It is seven years since the acclaimed Hardwired… to Self-Destruct, so fans deserve a new album, with ‘Lux Æterna’ the promise will soon be fulfilled.
Granted this is expected to be an album based on the first 18 years of our lives, hence 72 Seasons.
Check out the complete playlist below!
