Highly anticipated albums coming out in 2021
Live music is making a comeback this summer, what with the U.S. seeing high vaccination rates, plummeting COVID-19 rates, and relaxed guidelines around social distancing and masks. Festivals and tours are being announced almost daily, and many of the industry鈥檚 top names have been hard at work in the studio prepping new material.
dug into upcoming album release calendars across the web and compiled a list of highly anticipated albums across genres with 2021 release dates. Albums are listed by release date where applicable. Each slide includes a brief history of the artist鈥檚 discography, and any news available about their upcoming album.
Keep reading to see which electro artist is switching over to acoustic tracks for their next project, which iconic rocker has a posthumous release on deck, and to learn more about the controversy surrounding Lil Nas X's single off his forthcoming album "Montero."
'Reprise' by Moby
- Release date: May 28
Electronic music legend Moby's 19th studio album 鈥淩eprise鈥 is composed mainly of acoustic and orchestral songs. Tracks on the new release showcase the extensive talent of Icelandic pianist V铆kingur 脫lafsson.
'Jubilee' by Japanese Breakfast
- Release date: June 4
Michelle Zauner, who releases music as Japanese Breakfast, returns following the success of 2017鈥檚 鈥淪oft Sounds from Another Planet鈥 with her third album. Zauner has already earned critical acclaim this year for her memoir, 鈥淐rying in H Mart,鈥 based on a 2018 about grief, heritage, and the comforts of food.
'Soberish' by Liz Phair
- Release date: June 4
It鈥檚 been 11 years since Liz Phair released her last album. This latest offering sees Phair reuniting with producers from her hit debut 鈥淓xile in Guyville,鈥 with new songs inspired by R.E.M., Velvet Underground, and the Talking Heads. Phair released a memoir in 2019 called 鈥淗orror Stories.鈥
'Changephobia' by Rostam
- Release date: June 4
鈥淐hangephobia鈥 is the sophomore album by Rostam, an Iranian-American artist who has won several awards producing for the likes of HAIM and Vampire Weekend. In 2017, Rostam, whose full name is Rostam Batmanglij, released his solo debut 鈥淗alf-Light.鈥
'BTS, The Best' by BTS
- Release date: June 16
BTS has legions of fans across the globe, but one of the group's most potent markets is Japan. BTS' June release of 鈥淭he Best,鈥 done entirely in Japanese, features new versions of some of the band's biggest hits like 鈥淔ake Love.鈥 The album is not the only big offering from BTS in 2021鈥攖he Korean band also partnered this summer.
'I Know I'm Funny haha' by Faye Webster
- Release date: June 25
Faye Webster had a breakthrough with 2019鈥檚 鈥淎tlanta Millionaires Club,鈥 and the Peach State native returns this summer with an album influenced by country, '70s pop, and southern rap. Among the fans of Webster鈥檚 artistry? Barack Obama, who included the artist on his 2020 list of favorite songs.
'Home Video' by Lucy Dacus
- Release date: June 25
You may know Lucy Dacus from her work with Phoebe Bridgers, but this Virginia native has already released two acclaimed solo albums. "Home Video" features Dacus reuniting with former Boygenius bandmates Bridgers and Julien Baker.
'The Golden Casket' by Modest Mouse
- Release date: June 25
Modest Mouse has been making music for nearly 30 years. It wasn鈥檛 until 2004 that the band reached mainstream success with 鈥淔loat On鈥 and 鈥淭he Ocean Breathes Slowly,鈥 but diehard fans are eagerly awaiting their seventh studio album, the band鈥檚 first since 2015's "Strangers to Ourselves." An album has been on fans' radars since 2019 when the band released a peppering of new songs (none of which appear on "The Golden Casket" and went on tour with the Black Keys.
'Rock Candy Sweet' and 'Blue Banisters' by Lana Del Rey
- Release dates: June 1 and July 4
2021 has been a prolific year for Lana Del Rey. Shortly after releasing the 2021 album 鈥淐hemtrails over the Country Club,鈥 she announced another album, 鈥淩ock Candy Sweet.鈥 Then, about a month before the release of 鈥淩ock Candy Sweet,鈥 Del Rey surprised fans yet again with the announcement of 鈥淏lue Banisters鈥 scheduled for July 4.
'Exit Wounds' by The Wallflowers
- Release date: July 9
The Wallflowers received an uptick in interest after their song 鈥淥ne Headlight鈥 was featured in the 2020 film 鈥淭he King of Staten Island.鈥 One year later, bandmates look to capture the attention of even more fans with the release of 鈥淓xit Wounds,鈥 their first studio album since 2012.
'Happier Than Ever' by Billie Eilish
- Release date: July 30
Decades ago, street teams might have plastered cities with promotional posters or parked themselves outside MTV studios with giant placards, but today you can reach millions more in seconds on platforms like Instagram. On April 27, that鈥檚 how Billie Eilish revealed her second studio album, , with the single 鈥淵our Power鈥 serving as a taste of more music to come.
'Welcome 2 America' by Prince
- Release date: July 30
In April, the estate of Prince unexpectedly announced a new vinyl release of the 1998 acoustic album 鈥淭he Truth.鈥 The good news just kept coming, as soon after that, it was announced that an album of unreleased material would come out this summer. Many of the recordings took place back in 2010, six years before Prince's death.
'Local Valley' by Jos茅 Gonz谩lez
- Release date: Sept. 17
鈥淟ocal Valley鈥 will be Swedish musician Jos茅 Gonz谩lez鈥檚 first album in six years. Gonz谩lez unveiled a Spanish-language single earlier in 2021; it鈥檚 unknown if there will be other Spanish songs on "Local Valley." Gonz谩lez has been active with his side project Junip during his hiatus.
Title TBA by Cardi B
- Release date: TBA
Cardi B dropped her first album only three years ago, but since then she has become one of pop culture鈥檚 most prominent figures. Working with Megan Thee Stallion, DJ Khaled, and others, Cardi B became a chart-topper while keeping busy on reality TV and in commercials. The coronavirus pandemic delayed her sophomore LP鈥檚 release, but in April, Cardi B said she would to properly finish the as-yet-untitled album.
Title TBA by Chvrches
- Release date: TBA
For almost a decade, Chvrches has spread the gospel of Scottish dance pop. The band's fourth studio album, rumored to be called 鈥淐H4,鈥 was recorded during lockdown and reportedly brought the band closer than ever before. Unlike their previous albums, the band's new record is built around an undisclosed
Title TBA by FKA Twigs
- Release date: TBA
British singer FKA Twigs is one of the most diverse acts out there, combining elements of dance, R&B, trip hop, and soul. Her new album is expected to include elements of Afrobeats and a collaboration with pop star Dua Lipa. Twigs has been an open book in her songs and in her life; in 2018, she shared her experience of having six
Title TBA by Kacey Musgraves
- Release date: TBA
Coming off her landmark album 鈥淕olden Hour,鈥 Kacey Musgraves returns in 2021 with her fifth studio project. The artist, who won six Grammys (including Album of the Year) two years ago, was recently on the cover of Rolling Stone. Musgraves has always been a bit of an outlier in the country scene, not only for her unique style but also for her willingness to be outspoken on issues like LGBTQ+ rights.
'Montero' by Lil Nas X
- Release date: TBA
Lil Nas X drew the ire of conservatives and religious circles earlier this year when he released a that evoked images of hell. The controversy did not stop the thirst for Lil Nas X鈥檚 music, as his single 鈥淢ontero (Call Me By Your Name)鈥 shot to #1 on the Billboard charts. The 鈥淥ld Town Road鈥 singer at his critics for their hypocrisy in accusing him of bringing down society with music rather than focus on government inaction following mass shootings.
Title TBA by Lorde
- Release date: TBA
Lorde fans are going wild with speculation over her third studio album, which is rumored to feature production by pop maestro , who鈥檚 best known for a string of hits with Taylor Swift. The new project may feature hints of 70s rock, but it鈥檚 unknown where or when recording is taking place. During the creation of her last album, Lorde (real name Ella Yelich-O鈥機onnor) spent a lot of time hanging out near Manhattan's Columbus Circle.
Title TBA by Meshuggah
- Release date: TBA
For those who didn't know, has a long and illustrious history鈥攁nd Meshuggah remains one of the top Scandinavian metal bands around as bandmates head into their 30th year together. Like many bands during the pandemic, much of Meshuggah's latest album was created remotely, slowing the process considerably compared to the comfort of a studio.
'Factory Baby' by Noname
- Release date: TBA
Three years after Noname鈥檚 groundbreaking debut album, the Chicago rapper returns with 鈥淔actory Baby.鈥 Noname has already released the lead single, 鈥淩ainforest,鈥 and she continues to inspire outside the music scene with a highlighting the work of authors of color.
Title TBA by The Killers
- Release date: TBA
It鈥檚 been 20 years since The Killers, fronted by lead singer Brandon Flowers, was formed. The group achieved rapid success with the debut single 鈥淢r. Brightside鈥 and are currently preparing to release a seventh studio album, set to feature the return of band co-founder Dave Keuning, who left the group before The Killer's last album was released.
'Utopia' by Travis Scott
- Release date: TBA
Like fellow McDonald鈥檚 collaborators BTS, Travis Scott has a new album out this year. Scott, who came up under the tutelage of acts like Kanye West and Kid Cudi, reached a new level with his last album 鈥淎stroworld.鈥 Scott has already teased his upcoming album, 鈥淯topia,鈥 with recent songs featuring Young Thug and Future.
'Vince Staples' by Vince Staples
- Release date: TBA
Vince Staples is set to release his fourth full-length album this summer, and the rapper is teasing an additional LP called 鈥淩amona Park Broke My Heart.鈥 Staples, whose West Coast hip-hop style has earned the respect of Odd Future, Mac Miller, and Gorillaz, also has a Netflix show in the works.
Title TBA by Weyes Blood
- Release date: TBA
Natalie Mering, who performs as Weyes Blood, was included in a tribute album of in the June issue of Uncut. A full-length project will be coming from Mering later this year; in the meantime, fans of her folk rock sound can satiate themselves with songs like 鈥淭itanic Rising,鈥 an unreleased track from her .