Most-anticipated albums of 2012
Out with the old tunes and in with the new. Here are 12 of the most-anticipated albums of 2012 — and 75 more that could be on the way. But before you mark the calendar, remember: Everything is subject to change — especially the titles of most of the year’s big releases.
1 | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band | TBA
The Boss returns with his 17th studio album — the followup to 2009’s ambitious but uneven Working on a Dream. How he’ll handle the loss of late, great sax colossus Clarence Clemons remains to be seen — Nils Lofgren was tight-lipped when I talked to him recently — but one thing is certain: Any year with a new Springsteen CD beats a year without one.
2 | Leonard Cohen | Old Ideas
Further proof that old guys rule: In the wake of his triumphant comeback tour and an avalanche of honours, the 77-year-old Canadian folk-poet — who remains blessed with the gift of the golden voice — will release his first studio disc since 2004 on Jan. 31.
3 | Beach Boys | TBA
After decades of lawsuits and backbiting, surf-pop genius Brian Wilson and his former bandmates Mike Love and Al Jardine have buried the hatchet and reunited after 15 years. Granted, without Dennis and Carl Wilson it won’t be a true reunion, but hey, better than nothing.
4 | Black Sabbath | TBA
Also regrouping: Heavy metal godfathers Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, who are in the studio with Rick Rubin recording their first full-length since 1978’s fittingly titled Never Say Die. Hail Satan and pass the Metamucil.
5 | Van Halen | TBA
Jump back, fans. The good news is that a disc from David Lee Roth and the Van Halen clan — last heard together back in 1984 (the year and the album) — seems closer than ever. The bad news? It seemed that way last year too.
6 | Paul McCartney | My Valentine
Macca’s first pop album since 2007’s Memory Almost Full will be a disc of old-timey music-hall standards and like-minded originals, released one week before Valentine’s Day. Guess some people still want to fill the world with you-know-what.
7 | Green Day | TBA
OK, it’s only been two years since 21st Century Breakdown. But the Bay Area pop-punks have been road-testing some 15 new tunes — including a song for the late Amy Winehouse — at recent club shows. So a new studio album shouldn’t be too far behind, right?
8 | Rush | Clockwork Angels
Tick tock, dudes. Way back in the summer of 2010, the long-running Canadian power trio teased us with two tracks — Caravan and BU2B — from this 19th studio album. Word is they’ll finally unveil the rest this June.
9 | Madonna | TBA
She’s playing the Super Bowl. And she just signed a three-album deal with a new label. Maybe they all know something we don’t. In any case, the 53-year-old Material … er, Girl will release her latest album in March, with first single Gimme All Your Luvin due in late January.
10 | No Doubt | TBA
There’s no doubt Gwen Stefani and her boys have had some creative difficulties crafting this followup to 2001’s Rock Steady. That could mean it’s going to be really good — or not. Either way, it’s time for them to put up or shut up.
11 | ZZ Top | TBA
Like VH and No Doubt, the weirdly bearded Tejas trio haven’t been setting any speed records in the studio. But according to guitarist Billy Gibbons, the long-overdue sequel to 2003’s Mescalero is in the can and arriving this year.
12 | Dr. Dre | Detox
Let’s be diplomatic and say that the superstar rap producer has been, well, painstakingly crafting this chronically delayed disc for a nearly a decade. At this point, he’s headed for Chinese Democracy territory, so I’ll believe it when I hear it. Still, a guy can dream, can’t he?
… AND 75 MORE ALBUMS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2012
CONFIRMED SIGHTINGS
January
Adam Ant | Adam Ant Is the Blueblack Hussar in Marrying the Gunner’s Daughter
Joe Cocker | Hard Knocks
Lana Del Rey | Born to Die
Ani DiFranco | Which Side Are You On?
Dion | Tank Full of Blues
The Doors | L.A. Woman: 40th Anniversary Edition
Kathleen Edwards | Voyageur
Craig Finn | Clear Heart Full Eyes
Lamb of God | Resolution
Tim McGraw | Emotional Traffic
Kellie Pickler | 100 Proof
John K. Samson | Provincial
Seal | Soul 2
Ringo Starr | Ringo 2012
February
Air | Le Voyage Dans La Lune
Bahamas | Bar Chords
Dierks Bentley | Home
VV Brown | Lollipops & Politics
The Chieftains | Voices of Ages
The Cranberries | Roses
The Fray | Scars and Stories
Islands | A Sleep & A Forgetting
Greg Keelor, Travis Good & Gordon Pinsent | Down & Out in UpAlong
Lyle Lovett | Release Me
Marilyn Manson | Born Villain
Katie Melua | Secret Symphony
Sinead O’Connor | Home
Pink Floyd | The Wall: Immersion Box Set
Mitch Ryder | The Promise
Silverstein | Short Songs
Sleigh Bells | Reign of Terror
Esperanza Spalding | Radio Music Society
Joe Walsh | Analog Man
March
All American Rejects | TBA
50 Cent | Before I Self-Destruct
Adam Lambert | Trespassing
The Magnetic Fields | Love at the Bottom of the Sea
Miike Snow | TBA
Ministry | Relapse
Lionel Richie | Tuskeegee
Rye Rye | Go Pop Band
The Shins | Port of Morrow
Ting Tings | Sounds From Nowheresville
April
The Hives | TBA
K’Naan | TBA
La Roux | TBA
Slash | TBA
May
Keane | TBA
Maroon 5 | TBA
Nikki Yanofsky | TBA
Stars | TBA
ALSO DUE THIS YEAR
Aerosmith | TBA
Billy Talent TBA
Blue Rodeo | TBA
Creed | TBA
The Cult | TBA
Deftones | TBA
Faith Hill | TBA
How to Destroy Angels | TBA
KISS | Monster
Linkin Park | TBA
Lucero | Women & Work
John Mayer | Born and Raised
Mazzy Star | TBA
Metric | TBA
Mumford & Sons | TBA
Muse | TBA
Offspring | Apocalyptic Guides & Inferno Theme About Nothing Meaningful
Paramore | TBA
Queens of the Stone Age | TBA
The Smashing Pumpkins | Oceania
Soundgarden | TBA
Tenacious D | Rise of the Phoenix
Tool | TBA
will.i.am | Black Einstein