So far, 2015 has already been a big year for popular music. New releases with massive hits by Drake, Mark Ronson, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, with albums by The Weeknd and Lana Del Rey coming soon (not to mention the continued supreme rein of Taylor Swift’s 1989).
Since Beyoncé’s surprise release on her 2013 self-titled album knocked everyone out and changed the way megastars release new music, we fans are left with the lingering sentiment that something big could come at any moment.
Here are five albums that have been teased in one way or another for release this year; we’re hoping they release in 2015.
Kanye West: Swish
Photo: ABC News
A new Kanye West album is cause of celebration and intrigue. With a new album that’s supposed to be called Swish having seen various incarnations and has been seemingly done for some time, with West even hosting private listening parties. With new songs like “All Day,” “Only You” and “Wolves,” the world is just kind of wondering now, what’s the hold up?
Justin Bieber
Photo: YouTube
Justin Bieber hasn’t released an album since 2012’s Believe, but in no way has he left our cultural consciousness. The Biebs’ troubles have been well documented by the tabloid press, as has his recent redemption, and now we have a newly matured 21-year-old Justin Bieber. All that’s left now to complete the transformation to responsible adult superstardom is some music to back it all up. As Bieber is now teasing a new track called “What Do You Mean?,” rumor has it a new album will be out before Thanksgiving.
Rihanna: R8
For a minute there Rihanna was putting out a steady stream of new material including “FourFiveSeconds,” “Bitch Better Have My Money” and “American Oxygen.” It seemed imminent that a new, Kanye West-supervised LP was on its way, but now months now there have been been no new developments on the R8 release — the most recent rumors even suggest she’s scrapped the album altogether.
Frank Ocean: Boys Don’t Cry
Photo: Terry Richardson
Frank Ocean made a massive impact with 2012’s Channel Orange. But as brilliantly as he came, he disappeared again. After offering a sneak peak last November with the brief song “Memrise,” Ocean followed up with some vaguely cryptic suggesting the new work would be titled Boys Don’t Cry with rumors abound that it will be out soon. The latest development adding to the intrigue is Ocean’s recent last-minute cancelation of his headlining set at Los Angeles’ FYF Fest, and how that dramatic turn of events should be interpreted.
Miley Cyrus
Photo: Terry Richardson
Miley Cyrus recently announced that she plans to release her fifth album for free, and was even willing to buy out her record deal to make that happen. The self-produced set is being called Experimental with some opining; it’s actually not any good. But for an artist like Cyrus, who has definitely turned plenty off in the past, it all sounds like a very interesting next move.
