Fall is here, and with it, yet another round of albums we’ve been waiting all year for. Though Kendrick Lamar’s new LP likely won’t see a release until , there’s still plenty to be excited for from the likes of Big K.R.I.T., Ariel Pink and a few lesser known entities.
Read along as we countdown our 10 most anticipated albums of fall 2014 below. Share your short list in the comments section, and we’ll tell you what we think.
10. Caribou, “Our Love”
Release Date: Oct. 7
Caribou may never be a household name, but so long as electronic producer Dan Snaith keeps his consistently gorgeous soundscapes coming, he’ll always have a healthy fan base. Judging by his latest album’s self-titled first single, “Our Love” will be one to listen for if you’re looking for some imaginativehouse music to tide you over until the next Disclosure LP drops.
9. Les Sins, “Michael”
Release date: Nov. 4
Chaz Bundick’s alternate ego, Les Sins is a more traditional take on dance music compared with the indie riddums Toro y Moi produces. Take “Bother” off the side-project’supcoming debut LP, for example. One simple vocal line stutters over in different cadences—”Don’t bother me, I’m working”—and builds patientlyinto a dancehall tizzy. Coming to a DJ booth near you with any luck.
8. Kevin Morby, “Still Life”
Woods bassist Kevin Morby proved his knack for languid, Lou Reed-biting songwriting in his solo debut, “Harlem River.”That record left the door just crackedenough to make fans wonder what else Morby mightbe capable of. His sophomore album’slead single “Parade” responds it turn with a much more fleshed out offering—lush piano, a swelling chorus, and at least one more diary pageof soul-searching.
7. Charlie XCX, “Sucker”
Release date: Dec. 16
Much has been made of young British chanteuse Charlie XCX’s bootstrap beginnings as a pop singer. But when you look at her writing credits—Icona Pop’s “I Love It,” Iggy Izeala’s inescapable “Fancy” and —there’s little doubt any of her success has been a fluke. With “Boom Clap,” her newest single, she has yet another ear worm on her hands, which suggestswe’ll be hearing a lot from her on the Top 40for years to come. Expect“Sucker” tobe this Lorde-meets-Gaga crossover’scoming out party.
6. Foxygen, “And Star Power”
Release date: Oct. 14
California indie-psych group Foxygen have stopped fighting long enough to record a follow-up to their debut album. A double-albumwith awhopping 24-tracks to its name,“…And Star Power” looks like a veritable psych opera, complete with a five-song suiteplunked in the middle, and, uh, interesting song titles, like “Cannibal Holocaust.” Even if the rest of it turns out to bea total mess, lead single “How Can You Really” markstheir latest LP as one to check in on.
5. Jessie Ware, “Tough Love”
Release date: Oct. 21
English journalist-turned-singer Jessie Ware made a modest splash with her sultry debut, “Devotion,” back in 2012. Now, fromwhat we’ve heard of her newesteffort, Ware is looking for a full-blown chart attack. The title track from “Tough Love” iparticular is a bit of pop genius, asshe doubles down on the synth-driven ballads she stamped her name on with “Devotion” and strikes an effortless chord with hopeful romantics.Listenfor it on a radio near you.
4. Big K.R.I.T., “Cadillactica”
Release date: Nov. 11
It’s hard to rateany rapper in the current generation much higher than Big K.R.I.T. Kendrick comes to mind, but what K.R.I.T. has lacked in Lamar-ian magnum opus, he’s compensatedfor with killer live performances. Besides,if the amazing title of his new album,“Cadillactica,” is any indication, he might have already penned his masterpiece. K.R.I.T. has been tight-lipped on details (and singles for that matter), but if the teaser trailer doesn’t make you want to screw a pair of subs into your trunk, nothing will.
3. Ariel Pink, “pom pom”
Release date: Nov. 14
Despite his faded pink tangle of hair, Ariel Pink makes music astimeless as a classic 50’s pop group, which incidentally, is one of his preeminent styles. “pom pom” will be his first credited solo album, but it’s hard to say why: lead single “Put Your Number In My Phone” has all of the flushed out instrumentals and harmonies of his past great releases. Pink admitted the “solo” tag is a bit of a misnomerin a statement about the LP: “It is by far the least ‘solo’ record I have ever recorded.” No matter how it’s billed, Ariel Pink is Ariel Pink, and that’s usually something to look forward to (even if only for the ).
2. Flying Lotus, “You’re Dead!”
Release date: Oct. 7
Miles Davis if he was still around today. That’s according to Herbie Hancock, . If you’ve heard his music, the theory makes perfect sense. Much of Flying Lotus’ material sounds like what Davis might imagine as jazz’s new normal in the 21st century. That’s neverbeen more apt than what we hear in theteaser ofhis latest album, “You’re Dead,” which spoutsclip after clip of freneticelectro-jazz at you until you feel like you’re . And who wouldn’t want that?
1. Prince, “Art Official Age” and “Plectrum Electrum”
Release date: Sept. 29
It’s been four years since Prince’s so-so last album, “20ten.” Now, he’s gearing upto break the silence with not one, but two new LPs. His 34th and 35th studio releases, “Art Official Age” and “Plectrum Electrum” are a littledifferent from one another—”Official” is supposed to be a return to classic Prince form, while “Plectrum” has him playing more of a support role alongsidehis band, 3rd Eye Girl. Regardless, they’re both Prince albums, and judging by the first single off “Art Official Age,” the legendary R&B singer/guitarist might still have a few tricks up his sleeve.
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Dylan Owens is Reverb’s all-purpose news blogger and album reviewer. You can read more from him in Relix magazineand the comment sections ofWORLDSTARHIPHOP.
