There’s so much incredible music on the horizon this year, it’s hard to know where to begin. But these 14 records – in alphabetical order – from Australia and around the world are a good place to start. Let’s get excited for another amazing year of music… kicking off with a local group who have been holding out on us for far too long…
Augie March – TBC
Release Date: TBC
Early last year, the band received a government grant to make a new album. No news has been reported since, so the status of the album is unknown. But the thought of one of Australia’s greatest bands producing an album with no label pressuring them to create a followup hit to ‘One Crowded Hour’ (as 2008’s ‘Watch Me Disappear’ clearly was) has us frothing at the mouth. We’re hoping 2014 is the year we hear what’s next from the acclaimed group…
Beck – Morning Phase
Release Date: February 24th
Although he hasn’t released an album since 2008, Beck hasn’t exactly been inactive; his Song Reader project, his one take recreations of classic albums as record club, as well as producing great albums by Stephen Malkmus, Thurston Moore and Charlotte Gainsbourg. All of that interesting activity will hopefully inform his new album. Every Beck album is worth your time, but he hasn’t released a classic in a while. Hopefully Morning Phase will remedy that.
Bombay Bicycle Club – So Long, See You Tomorrow
Release Date: February 3rd
They’ve never been a band to repeat themselves, and if “Carry Me” is anything to go by, then this album looks to be a new take on the indie tunes that we are used to from this band. And it’s a direction that we’re loving!
Broken Bells – After The Disco
Release Date: February 4th
The project that saw Dangermouse collaborate with The Shins’ James Mercer did seem like a one-off at the time, but like many of his collaborators before him, it seems like Dangermouse can’t help himself. Nor Mercer for that matter. They’re back next month with an album we can’t wait to wrap ourselves around! The first was a gem and the first single indicates we’re in for a similar treat… and you can enjoy it below!
DZ Deathrays – TBC
Release Date: Early 2014
Rock and roll. If there’s one band who knows how to do it, it’s Brisbane duo DZ Deathrays. But it turns out they can drift off into the world of the ballad too, as seen in the first single for the next album, Northern Lights. More a tease than a taste, the single is proof that the next album will be a pile of unexpected treats and with the band in the recording studio as we write this, we can’t wait to hear what comes next…
Elbow – The Take Off and Landing of Everything
Release Date: March 10th
Holy moly, this amazing band is finally back with some more music. We don’t want to get ourselves too excited, but in our books this is a band that has rarely stepped a foot wrong. We’re counting down the days…
Foster The People – Supermodel
Release Date: March 7th
I first heard of Foster The People when I saw them live at the Oxford Art Factory. It was one of those “we know they’re good and we want you to tell the world about them” gigs where the label gave everyone a taste of the band before they got massive. Indeed, it was only a matter of weeks before the band were EVERYWHERE. And even though the album did, perhaps, saturate the market for a while, it remains a modern classic, from a band who KNOW how to make good music. I’ve been salivating a sophomore effort ever since and can’t wait for Supermodel to take over our airwaves again. Although something tells me that this will be far from the same album as before… they don’t seem like the sort of band to make the same one twice. And this is a very good thing indeed.
Kate Miller-Heidke – O Vertigo!
Release Date: March 2014
After releasing three albums on Sony, KMH has freed herself of major label constraints and crowd funded her upcoming album. Her most recent release, Nightflight, showed her increased maturity as a singer and songwriter, as well as a subtle move away from pure pop towards dabbling in a whole range of different genres and I think we’ll see even more of this experimentation on Kate’s new indie record.
Kimbra – TBC
Release Date: TBC
Kimbra’s Instagram posts from the past year have certainly kept anticipation high for her newie. She’s worked with a million talented producers and musos and following the success and innovation of 2011’s Vows, and we think this long awaited follow-up will be nothing short of incredible. No pressure though.
The Preatures – TBC
Release Date: Late 2014
They’re heading to the US to make this one happen, and we can only imagine the results. They’re a band that have emerged out of the Sydney underground scene to be signed by a major, and after a period of transition they’ve come out swinging with some of the finest and most loved music around. Only time will tell if they can keep that momentum alive, but our bets on their debut to be a smash. This is a band that has plenty up their sleeves…
St. Vincent – St. Vincent
Release Date: February 24th
‘I wanted to make a party record you could play at a funeral’ was how Annie Clark described her new self-titled album and after her work with David Bryne and 2011 album Strange Mercy its sure to be something to listen out for.
Spoon – TBC
Release Date: TBC
It’s been a long four years since we last heard from Austin quintet Spoon, who, much like the earlier mentioned Elbow, have been critical darlings since they debuted. What will be most interesting about their return to our ears, however, is how Britt’s time as Divine Fits will impact the sound of the new release. We can only think that his explorations will serve them well… but only time will tell!
Swans – TBC
Release Date: Mid 2014
We’re intrigued to see whether they can top 2012’s classic The Seer, and based off of the new songs they previewed on their 2013 tour, there’s a good chance they will.
Washington – There There
Release Date: TBC
She’s been teasing about her next record for a while now, but the one and only Megan Washington looks set to finally release it onto our eardrums in 2014. What will we expect? Who knows… but we know it’ll be something special. In the meantime, why don’t you enjoy this interview with the woman herself on the ARIA red carpet, as we bring this alphabetical list to an end…
