Most Anticipated Albums of 2018

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New Years means new memes, I mean music, and while I’ll probably declare what disappointments some of these were in twelve months’ time, these are the albums I have my eyes fixed on for now.

Bear in mind, most of these haven't been officially announced and don't even have a title yet, which probably says something about how excited I really should be about them.

Mania - Fall Out Boy – 19^th January 

I should be angry at this album, but I’m not. I should be angry at its near-unlistenable lead single, the late album release date that's been unmusically moved around and the all-round laissez-faire attitude to the entire making of the record. But that lead single’s somehow grown on me, and as for Fall Out Boy’s laziness, I don't care about it anymore. I've kinda come to expect a careless approach to Fall Out Boy and their albums, which I suppose is quite sad to say about this mid-2000s staple. On top of that, what’s been released from the album doesn't sound like part of the same album at all. Having said all that, I'm obviously listen to this album the minute it comes out and although I'll probably be judgemental at first, It'll grow on me. Why? Because it's Fall Out Boy

Entertainment – Waterparks - 26^th January

Entertainment is a very important album, mainly because what rest on its shoulders. It's certainly a bold move to release a sophomore album only 14 months after their debut Double Dare (which I adore, by the way). But I find it inspiring that if you have something you think is worth putting out, you just do, so they have that to prove. Having said that, the two singles that have come from the album so far have been a bit... underwhelming for me, which is hard for me to say. Maybe because the exuberance electronics of that first album don't hit as hard here. Nevertheless, they've completely blown up in the last 18 months, especially for me. So, if this album is as good as it needs to be, not only will they cement their position as a staple in the Alt-Music "scene", they will also cement their place as one of my personal favourite bands of all time. No pressure, lads

Underworld - Tonight Alive – 12^th January

I'm a bit on the fence when it comes to Tonight Alive. I know I like their stuff and on paper, I should adore them. However, there's something holding me back from loving them fully. This could all change with Underworld. The band's fourth studio album marks a lot of changes for them; change in label, change in line-up. But the last few singles released from this album cycle have had a more audacious sound than anything before and as a result, are my favourite tunes the band have ever released; all good omens for 12^th January.

Years & Years

Years & Years and my anticipation for their sophomore album is a great example of "WHERE IS IT?" Syndrome. Pretty self-explanatory, but it has been three years since that amazing debut that still holds up today. Olly Alexander and co. have shown on social media that they're in the process of making it and it seems that enough 'life' has happened to influence an album, to say the least. It seems to me that it will be coming really soon, but if anything, being this close and not knowing anything about it makes me say "Where Is It?" even louder.

Mitsubishi Macchiato - Vampire Weekend

...Speaking of "WHERE IS IT?". Five years is really a stupid amount of time to wait for an album, especially when it's a follow up to an album as awesome as Modern Vampires of The City from 2013. It's definitely been an interesting period with Rotsam leaving but coming back again without the band having done anything, and everyone having solo projects and Ezra seeming to being doing everything and anything apart from making this album. But now we at least have a name, so I'm praying it better be worth the wait.

Bastille

Bastille's second record back in 2016 took a long time to manifest itself after their debut hit Bad Blood from 2013, however it did show a development and confidence that was refreshing to see and looked like it would set a precedence for any following releases. Now, in 2018 it seems like the band have gotten into a more efficient swing when it comes to writing music. I'm not sure whether we'll be getting a third album or the fourth mixtape from the Other People's Heartache series, or maybe both. But it seems to me that something very new and very special is in store for the four-piece this year.

Arctic Monkeys

I think it's safe to say that everyone has been itching for a follow-up to astounding AM. But I also think it's no mistake that the touring cycle from that album lasted less than a year and Mr Alex Turner has been keen to have people’s focus elsewhere - their getting ready to make a comeback and when they do, it'll be major.

Starbomb/Ninja Sex Party

Musical Comedy Magic comes in the form of the outlandish pair, Ninja Sex Party. They'd been at it for over ten years now and have even added a side project to their repertoire of by the name of Starbomb - very similar in styles, expect Starbomb makes songs about games. All the members are probably best known for their involvement with the comedy lets-play channel 'Game Grumps' on YouTube. They bring their amusing charm from that channel over into their music in a way that you might not expect, which has led to a bit of a cult following. Both projects haven't released any original material (NSP have had two 80's cover albums under their belt) which is quite frustrating as they were pretty good at getting albums out until then. For now, I've put them under the same umbrella because at this point I'm looking forward to a release from either at this point.

Emma Blackery

For all the years that she's been releasing EPs and reinventing her sound, an album has been long overdue for Emma. But with her 2017 effort Magnetised being her best yet alongside a bunch of other milestones for the star-to-be, it seems like now is just the right time. She's been teasing 'something big' coming this year where "everything will change". Honestly, what else could it be?

Bring Me The Horizon

2013 marked a significant sonic change for renewed British band, from intense metal core to something more, well, melodic on Sempiternal, which they'd go on to enhance with That's The Spirit in 2015, quite a throughout album. Up until now, BMTH has been quite good with regular album release and it's unlike them to go away for this long. So, I for one am excited to see what they come back with and if they've tipped more in that accessible direction.

Twenty One Pilots

For those of you who don't know, Twenty One Pilots have been on a mini-hiatus since late July: Who can blame them after the couples of years they have had? For those of you who are aware, keep your cool, they not even been away for 6 months and they'll probably come back in the next six. It's very easy to look in from the outside of what Twenty One Pilots are all about and dismiss them. Look past the mish-mash of sounds and awkward appearance and deafening fanbase for a minute if you will, for I have the belief that Twenty One Pilots are one of the most special acts of recent years, which maybe I'll go into later. Even with that going for them, it may be expected that the two boys will go for a watered-down sound on their next effort due to their success from 2015's Blurryface. But, from I have seen of this band, I have no doubt that whatever they do next will be just as true to themselves as if they were still just two kids playing small gigs in Ohio.