After a year like 2016, which saw albums from David Bowie, Frank Ocean, Radiohead, and Beyoncé, it's hard to imagine who's overdue for a release in 2017. Last year was one of the busiest in recent memories in terms of new releases—and quality output—from the biggest artists on the planet.

Thankfully, some of them—like Drake—are going to continue the creativity in 2017. Others remained quiet even during the boom in productivity in 2016, and the likes of St. Vincent, Mac DeMarco, and Future Islands are readying releases very soon. Then there's the LCD Soundsystems and Gorillaz and Fleet Foxes of the world—artists that have gone way too many years without a new album.

Get ready: 2017 is gonna be another big one for music.

Father John Misty - TBA

Release Date: TBA

What's the deal: J. Tillman is the mind behind the cheeky Americana hero Father John Misty. His sophomore album was widely considered one of the best releases of 2015, and though it hasn't been that long since I Love You, Honeybear, there's been some movement in his camp. Shortly after the election in November, he shared the tragic ballad "Holy Hell," ruminating on our bleak collective future. And his spot as a second-tier act on the Coachella lineup promises a big year from Tillman.


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Mac DeMarco - TBA

Release Date: TBA

What's the deal: It's hard to think of someone as breezy and chill as Mac DeMarco being a hard worker, but when it comes to music the Canadian beach noodler never quits. After the 2014 hit Salad Days, DeMarco quickly came back with the mini LP Another One in 2015. He's still due for a proper new release, which he seems to have finished. In December, he posted a video of himself popping a bottle of champagne with the caption, "Just finished mixin' the new disc."


Schoolboy Q - TBA

Release Date: TBA

What's the deal: Only in a packed year like 2016 could an album as excellent as Schoolboy Q's Blank Face LP get overlooked. And while it seems ambitious to expect more new music from Schoolboy in 2017, the rapper posted the following message on Instagram late last year: "new album 2017 fuck a break I'm already ready."


Future Islands - TBA

Release Date: TBA

What's the deal: It was overdue, but by summer 2014—after nearly a decade of making growling synthpop—Future Islands had finally gotten its big break. The band's fourth album Singles had gotten rave reviews and became its most commercially successful album yet. Since then, the band has been relentlessly touring and spending long quiet stretches, hopefully prepping a follow-up. The Coachella 2017 lineup showed the band at a second-tier billing, which is solid evidence that said follow-up could be out in the first half of this year.


Lorde - TBA

Release Date: Spring

What's the deal: It's hard to believe it has been four years since Lorde made one of the most stunning debuts of the 2000s. No one saw the success of Pure Heroine coming—a crossover hit that she backed up with true professionalism and vocal talent at such a young age. She's made it clear that she's no one-hit wonder, and Lorde has been patiently working on something to live up to the hype. In November she tweeted a photo of earbuds with the caption, "listen to the record on these every day. wanna hear it exactly how you will."


Tinashe - Joyride

Release Date: TBA

What's the deal: It's starting to feel like Tinashe's Joyride will never come out. Despite her strong major label debut and subsequent mixtapes, the singer's followup has been repeatedly delayed—most recently this fall when an October release seemed to be the real deal. But October came and went, and Tinashe instead released a mixtape, promising Joyride to be released someday soon. Hopefully that day is in 2017.


Fleet Foxes - TBA

Release Date: TBA

What's the deal: After their Grammy-nominated sophomore album in 2011, Fleet Foxes all but vanished when drummer J. Tillman left the band a year later to pursue his solo career (see Father John Misty on this list). Since then, Fleet Foxes has been on hiatus, making only a select few public appearances. In the last few months, the band has been its most active in five years, with singer Robin Pecknold even debuting some new tunes. He also promised a new album, which will sound different from its traditional folk.


Haim - TBA

Release Date: Summer

What's the deal: Like Lorde, Haim had an explosive debut year in 2013 with their critically and commercially successful Days Are Gone. Combine that with a star-making stint opening for Taylor Swift, and the band had just about everything going for it. They've taken their time on a sophomore release and are poised for a huge 2017, having already teased a few early tracks with production from ex-Vampire Weekend member Rostam Batmanglij.


LCD Soundsystem - TBA

Release Date: TBA

What's the deal: LCD Soundsystem pretty much did everything expected of their comeback in 2016 besides, you know, actually releasing an album. Even though, James Murphy claimed to have a ton of new material, the best we got was a massive world tour with headlining spots at basically every festival last year. The shows were great and probably made them a ton of money! And maybe those same shows took up all the time that would have gone toward making an actual album. This year, please?


Gorillaz - TBA

Release Date: TBA

What's the deal: An animated band helmed by Damon Albarn with appearances from his famous musician friends, there's never really any expectation when it comes to the Gorillaz. Having remained quiet since 2010's Plastic Beach, Gorillaz's social presence exploded with playlists and strange snippets of audio. When and how the album is released remains as mysterious as everything Gorillaz, but you can at least expect it to be fun as hell whenever it arrives.


St. Vincent - TBA

Release Date: Spring

What's the deal: To say St. Vincent reinvents herself with each album would be a disservice to her stunning evolution as an artist. Over four studio albums, Annie Clark has assembled a catalog that builds into the stunning art-rock of her 2014 self-titled masterpiece. Always the consummate artist, her subsequent tour included everything meticulously in place from costume, to lighting, to stage design, along with some of the most incredible performances of that year. She told Guitar WorldGuitar World that the next album will be a "real sea change," as we've come to expect from St. Vincent. "I feel the playing field is really open for creative people to do whatever you want," she said, "and that risk will be rewarded."


Sky Ferreira - Masochism

Release Date: TBA

What's the deal: Buzz around Sky Ferreira had been building for years before her 2013 debut Night Time, My Time. Though it took a long time to get there, the album delivered in all the ways except turning her into a household name. That could hopefully change with a sophomore album that promises to be "radically different" from her debut.


Drake - More Life

Release Date: Early 2017

What's the deal: Continuing what has been a stunning few years for Drake, you wouldn't be wrong to expect that success to continue in 2017. Already, Drake has promised to continue the burst of creativity early this year, having released a handful of chart-topping singles in late 2016.


The XX - I See You

Release Date: 13 January

What's the deal: Early tracks from the XX's upcoming third album show a heavy influence from Jamie XX's incredible 2015 solo album. Taking on a more lush, cheerful electronic-tinged sound, the XX seems to be exploring a more upbeat side of their music. It's a welcome change for a characteristically stormy and patient trio. Plus, being billed directly behind Radiohead at Coachella, means the expectations are high for the new album.


Spoon - TBA

Release Date: March

What's the deal: Back on Matador records, Spoon is looking to hit the peaks they found on 2014's They Want My Soul. Eight albums in, the band has shown no sign of fatigue, which makes for them to continue that on this upcoming ninth release. If anything, Spoon can be known for its reliability, so expect the same from them in 2017.

From: Esquire US