So as we reach the precipice and bid the hump of 2017 farewell we await the bombshells that murmur in the shadows. To gratify your longings, here’s the best albums still to come this year.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard : Sketches of Brunswick East and Polygondwanaland
My oh my, the Geelong/Deni boys look like they’re actually going to live up to their five album promise for 2017. So the Sketches of Brunswick East awaits and if their collaborator Mild High Club is anything to go by this gem could follow a similar path to their seventh masterpiece Paper Mache Dream Balloon. For their alleged 12th album, Polygondwanaland, rumour has it the tracks Crumbling Castle and Polygondwanaland may be separated into parts, similar to Murder of the Universe’s Altered Beast and Altered Me.
Release date: Sketches of Brunswick East: TBA, could literally drop any day. Polygondwanaland: supposedly later in the year.
LCD Soundsystem : American Dream
When we talk about the re-emergence of Fleet Foxes, Slowdive and Gorillaz, equal, if not greater, conversation has to be shared for LCD. From the introspective single, American Dream, to the bippity bop of Call The Police it’s difficult to gauge what path their fourth studio album will take but prepare yourself for something enormous.
Friday September 1
Gang of Youths : Go Farther In Lightness
As Gang of Youths career towards their sophomore album, the five-piece has done everything to consolidate themselves as a stellar live act, swooping up and nailing any live show that’s come their way. So their next challenge is connecting on album two, let’s hope for more of the grunge with somewhat of an elemental leap from The Positions.
Friday August 18
Crepes : Channel Four
This rambunctious five-piece raised in the streets of Ballarat encapsulates Melbourne’s jangle pop movement down to a tee. Their music sounds like their namesake – sweet and sugary, with their boppy guitar hooks and keyboard charm. Their Cold Summers EP was nuts and if Sexyland is anything to go by, Crepes’ debut album will be taking us into the bedroom and under the sheets.
Friday October 20
Jen Cloher : Jen Cloher
According to Milk! Records’ website, Cloher had three words to describe her fourth album – “it’s self-titled.” She remains tight-lipped, nevertheless, Jen Cloher will see the punk rocker dive into themes of music, Australian and love. It’ll be raw, DIY but equally intimate, resulting in the most honest album she’s ever written.
Friday August 11
Alice Cooper : Paranormal
Talking of comebacks, it would be remiss of me not to mention the great Alice Cooper who returns with his first LP since 2011. Cooper’s adeptly traversed the entire rock genre throughout his tenure so it’s difficult to precisely foresee the path of Paranormal. But to be honest, that’s how the rock icon would like it.
Friday July 28
Cloud Control : Zone
Span Cloud Control’s discography and there hasn’t been a miss. Bliss Release is a timeless foray of stellar folk pop while Dream Cave backed it with hazy ecstasy – Scar was utterly stunning. The bar has been set extraordinarily high and while Zone‘s first single Rainbow City was a promising work, the album will have to go higher, affirming justifications for their patience. The album’s follow-up single Zone (This Is How It Feels) seems to be a prelude and an ethereal ballad at that.
Friday September 1
Queens of the Stone Age : Villains
Josh Homme confessed that Villains will uncover a different side to QOTSA. With Mark Ronson in the booth shifting the sliders, expect more synths on album number seven but don’t anticipate this to wrest control of Homme’s deep vocals and QOTSA’s grating riffs. Listen to Iggy Pop’s Post Pop Depression prior, it’ll be worth it.
Friday August 25
Angus & Julia Stone : Snow
Angus Stone is a busy man. His side project Dope Lemon has already an album and EP under its belt since emerging last year. A crowded schedule did nothing to jettison the production of the brother-sister duo nonetheless and in June they arose with a new single and details of their new album, Snow. Will it go pound for pound for their stellar sophomore LP, Down the Way? Probably not, but it’s always nice to embrace another wispy dandelion from the Stones.
Friday September 15
The Bombay Royale : Run Kitty Run
South Asian-inspired Melbourne cult band The Bombay Royale last graced our ears with their 2014 long player The Island of Dr. Electrico. They tend to promenade under the radar such is the eccentricity of their sound, nevertheless, their music is equally captivating as it is bizarre. This is what makes The Bombay Royale so tantalising and their third album is poised to be more of the same retro pop.
Friday August 11
Grizzly Bear : Painted Ruins
The rebirths keep coming thick and fast and with Painted Ruins, Grizzly Bear return to the fold with their first music since 2012’s Shields. One of the most influential indie rock groups of the noughties, Grizzly Bear’s success from their last two records won’t see this wander too far from the tree so expect the same rhythmic graciousness and melancholic intricacy from the Brooklyn outfit.
Friday August 18
Gold Class : Drum
Without a doubt the hype post-punk act of Melbourne at the moment, Gold Class tore us apart with new single Twist In The Dark – a bass-lurching avenue of riotous rock. Then came the more level-headed It’s You-akin, Rose Blind. The four-piece have planted the IEDs and in mid-August they’ll blast so prepare your family and homes.
Friday August 18
Kesha : Rainbow
Kesha’s returning with a new album in 2017 even after she said she’d never make music again in the aftermath of her intense legal battle with former producer Dr. Luke. Rainbow dives retrospectively into her childhood, where she was liberated and creative and is poised to be a poignant listen.
Friday August 11
The National : Sleep Well Beast
When news that The National were releasing a new album swelled around my ears, I instantly felt safe in the world. Matt Berninger and his boys have a fatherly influence on society – as long as The National are releasing music, we’re all ok.
Friday September 8
The War on Drugs : A Deeper Understanding
If The National don’t make you feel safe and sound, The War on Drugs certainly will. Lost in the Dream is one the best explorations of heartland rock this decade and from what we’ve heard from Thinking Of A Place, Holding On and Strangest Thing – A Deeper Understanding is going to be just as epic as their prior releases. Just give it to me Adam, I can’t wait any longer.
Friday August 25
Emma Russack : Permanent Vacation
The non-conforming candidness of Emma Russack is refreshing in this day in age. Every release from the singer/songwriter just helps us in life, we learn things from it so it’s with relief that Russack has announced her fourth album Permanent Vacation. The ten-track release will be a portrayal of happiness rather than despondency – a theme of her releases in the past.
Friday August 25
The Ocean Party : Beauty Point
The Ocean Party exemplify Melbourne’s music culture. When they’re not playing gigs of their own, the boys are out and about week after week supporting the talents of this city. But that’s enough of their legendary status, Beauty Point is expected to be just another slice of blissful, lo-fi pop from the six-piece – backyard listening at its finest.
Friday August 18
Guantanamo Baywatch : Desert Center
Listening to Guantanamo Baywatch is like riding the barrel of a six-footer that never abates. It’s surf rock at its most frivolous and 2017 will see the three-piece release their fourth album, Desert Center. According to the Portland outfit, more consideration has gone into Desert Center than their releases before, as they try to create something that can mirror the band’s live identity as closely as possible.
Friday August 4
Beaches : Second of Spring
Beaches are one of Melbourne’s finest products of psychedelic rock and the five-piece are making their first return since 2013 Krautrock gem She Beats. Beaches have already written a fascinating narrative so anything more from the all-female outfit is a plus. Second of Spring will be one of 2017’s most underrated releases, check out new single Void for a gander through Beaches’ space and also the space with the stars in it.
Friday September 8
Justice For The Damned : Dragged Through The Dirt
Having lashed stages with uncompromised vigour for the better part of five years and with two impressive EPs under their belt, the anticipation for Justice For The Damned’s debut album couldn’t be more intense. Their first EP hailed from the technical metalcore sounds of Veil of Maya but don’t expect that to be the case on Dragged Through The Dirt. As its title suggests, this will be grimy and raw, so don’t perch up for a lullaby.
Friday August 11
Iron & Wine : Beast Epic
Sam Beam, the rugged raconteur who has taken us on our fair share of meditative walks along the beach, returns in 2017. Beast Epic is his first studio album in four years and as I looked to the stars listening to its first single, Call it Dreaming, I got inherently whisked back to Our Endless Numbered Days. On Beast Epic, Beam returns to recording live without studio straightening.
Friday August 25
