Loren's list
My list, in no order:
Worriers
In her Pass the Mic, Lauren references “their first proper full-length.” I don’t know what Cruel Optimist was, but with how good it was, I’m damn excited for another.
Faith No More
Anticipated is the right word for this release because, honestly, reunion records after 19 years apart are rarely a good thing. All things considered, though, FNM are my second favorite Patton project and hold a dear spot in my 1990s addled heart.
The Falcon
Pass the Mic again. Hey, it could happen. They even played live last year. Plus, it’s way too soon for more Lawrence Arms considering their recent track record.
Bangers
With each release, Bangers have hit a little closer to the chest. They’re a band seemingly finding their own, and the mid-tempo punk think with introspection galore always works on me.
Vacation
This is a release I’m not sure what to expect. There was a noted difference between their self-titled and Candy Waves and in many ways the first one hit me harder. I like growth as a band, I respect it. I just have to wait now to see what Vacation has grown into.
Andy's list
Chromatics
The weirdo post-punk outfit turned neo-disco group impressed on their truly epic 2012 album Kill for Love. I'm hoping for - and maybe even expecting - another winner with Dear Tommy.
CHVRCHES
The indie music darlings have finally take some time off from touring to cut a new record. Now it's time to prove that all the hype was justified.
Lightning Bolt
It's been six years since the last spastic drum and bass assault from this hard-hitting duo. Which makes it about as good a time as any to toss the past half dozen years' peace and quiet out the window.
The Prodigy /The Chemical Brothers
Seems an age since either of these two veteran groups made waves in the electro scene. Can they stand with Aphex Twin in showing the next generation of electronic artists how to do things?
The Sonics
Hey, the Zombies have proven that they can still rock out some fifty years on in their career. Maybe this legendary group who pretty much laid the foundation for punk can do the same.
Nathan's list
In no order:
Action Bronson - Mr. Wonderful
In what is being billed as his first official album (despite the fact that he did one with Statik Selektah in 2011) Mr. Wonderful promises to be filled with all the culinary references, '80s & '90s pop-culture and sports icons, and pimp hand word play that Bronson has built his extensive mixtape discography upon.
Institute
Last year I became enamored with this Austin-based band's moody, reverb-heavy, dejected post-punk vibes. The Salt EP, which came out near the end of the year, showed them expanding their sound; flirting with longer compositions. I'm excited to see where they take things with future releases.
Lumpy & the Dumpers
Here's hoping these St.Louis slimeballs continue to assault all senses with more of their snot and puke for snot and puke's sake brand of shit punk.
Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels 3
El-P and Killer Mike clearly understand the importance of striking while the iron is hot. Word is the these two veterans of the rap game have already begun work on the third installment of Run The Jewels. If it arrives in 2015 it will mark their fourth album in as many years (counting Killer Mike's R.A.P. Music).
S.H.I.T.
I'm not sure what these Toronto-based punks have in store for 2015, but if it's anything like their prolific 2014, in which they released three separate 7"s of leather jacket-clad, spazzy, creeper punk-core, then I'm all ears.
Runner-Up: The Replacements
I probably shouldn't even say this, as I could totally jeopardize a beneficial and sometimes unsteady friendship in doing so, but I have it on very good authority that there's most definitely (or hypothetically; your call) some new 'Mats material on the way. Depending on how this goes, either you heard it here first...or you didn't hear it at all.
Spyros's list
Faith No More – Sol Invictus
I don’t think it is a surprise really being excited about this album. Even though not many people thought that another Faith No More album would ever be released, it looks like that will be happening in May 2015. Let’s hope that Sol Invictus will be everything we were waiting for.
Sunn O))) -TBA
Even though these guys have been very active with collaborations, it has been six years since their latest studio album, Monoliths & Dimensions, came out. It will be very interesting to see how their own sound has evolved and what they have gained from their myriads collaborations through the past five-six years and how that will reflect on the new album.
Deafheaven – TBA
Sunbather has been a huge album, as was the progress that Deafheaven made from their debut album, Roads To Judah. What is interesting here is how Deafheaven will approach their newest endeavor. This is not a band that will try and repeat the style of their critical acclaim second album, but they will find a new way of expression for their music. We shall see what they can come up with.
Baroness – TBA
The constant evolution of Baroness since the release of their first EP has been one of the most exciting aspects of the band. Yellow & Green showcased that in the most stunning way possible and the question remains: where can they take it from here?
Tool – TBA
10,000 Days was released back in 2006! I have no clue when the album is going to come out or if the band is messing with us. I just know I want to listen to some new music from Tool. Because.. you know.. because it's Tool!
Graham's list
1. Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls
Frank Turner’s last effort Tape Deck Heart saw the singer song writer expand on his pop sensibilities. While the underlying themes of heartache and scene politics were still present throughout the record, Turner embraced his talents as for hooks and choruses, and with it solidified his status in the UK and broke further into North America, selling out upper mid-level venues across the continent. With the latest album, recorded in Nashville, Frank and the Sleeping Souls are on the cusp of an overnight main stream success story, over a dozen years in the making.
2. Godspeed! You Black Emperor
Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress which is due out later this year will be the first record from Godspeed since 2012. Since their inception the Montreal post rock group has been at the forefront of genre, gaining a cult following on the back of hours of mind-blowing material and the artistry of their live show. If the eight minute teaser from the new album is any indication fans are in for yet another epic record.
3. Built to Spill
The band is set to release their latest disc Untethered Moon in late April. Currently on tour with Death Cab for Cutie, Built to Spill is playing in front of some of the largest audiences they’ve ever had. Though Untethered Moon will see a change in the band’s lineup, the signature vocals and guitar sound are still present, and a new record from the indie rock mainstays is always welcome.
4. Kanye West
While the rapper’s antics and constant self-promotion are too much for many people to handle, Ye is always attempting to push the boundaries of his own self-expression. Though it would be impossible to live up to his own (self-produced) hype, even Kayne’s failures are interesting, which is more than could be said for most contemporary music.
5. PUP
The Toronto punks self-titled debut is a solid, fun, and hard hitting disc from start to finish. The band’s relentless tour schedule has earned the quartet credibility amongst their peers and fans alike. Their sophomore disc is expected out later this year and should be the well-deserved next step forward for the boys.
Stepan's list
Strung Out - Transmission.Alpha.Delta.
The kings of metallic skatepunk are claiming their new release will be career defining material. Those are some big shoes to fill. Here's to hoping the album lives up to the hype. At the very least, we get another round of touring. For those who have never seen Strung Out live, do yourself a favour and check them out. There's a reason the band is still at it after all these years.
Good Riddance - Peace In Our Time
2015 is a big year for classic Fat bands. Yes, Russ claimed that a reunion was never going to happen. But I'm willing to forgive him in exchange for some new Good Riddance material. My Republic wasn't the strongest way to end the Good Riddance legacy. Peace In Our Time offers a shot at redemption.
Leftover Crack
Stza has hinted that the new album will be as good as Fuck World Trade. 15 year old me is very excited.
Bigwig
The band that never broke up or reunited. Hopefully the sporadic internet updates will coalesce into a proper release and tour. Being announced and dropped from the Zoli-fronted Pennywise tour a few years back was a huge tease for all of the fans on the west coast. Reclamation was just too good.
Ignite
When Zoli joined Pennywise I briefly began to pay attention to them again, only to be reminded of the band's redundancy. Now the man with the best voice in punk is back where he belongs, at the helm of his own unsinkable hardcore vessel. I'm hoping the new record has lots of fast songs.
Cheryl's list
James Blake - TBA
James Blake has intimated that the follow up the the incredible Overgrown would see the light this coming year. The downplayed beats of his catalogue and the melancholy that's woven through them are truly beautiful and it will be interesting to hear how he progresses from such a well received record.
Deafheaven - TBA
Sunbather was, and still is divine and if Deafheaven continue to create music that can marry the harshness of the modern world to the bittersweet fragility of life, then their third record will be one of emotion and surprise.
Drudkh - A Furrow Cut Short
Drudkh's output of late hasn't been as exciting as their beginnings, but the recent track "Till Foreign Ground Shall Cover Eyes" is a marked step in the right direction. The enigmatic Ukrainians are pushing back against the post-black landscape of Handful of Stars and turning in the direction of intensity once again.
Metallica - TBA
It's Metallica. Shut up.
Purity Ring - Another Eternity
Shrines is a gorgeous, sorrow-filled electronic record that moves with sadness and an elegance that the genre often lacks. The duo have been slowly working on its follow-up and Another Eternity is sure to be wonderful and complex.
Zach's list
Deafheaven
When I waited in line to see Deafheaven live, the couple in front of me talked about the wonders of “using beeswax to water-proof your Toms shoes.” Sometimes I’m scared Deafheaven will cater to the hordes of beeswaxers that were drawn to their albeit amazing album Sunbather, but if their 2015 release will be anything like their new single “From The Kettle Onto The Coil,” I think we have something to be excited about.
Explosions in the Sky
It’s been four years since Explosions has released a studio album. In the meantime, they’ve released three soundtracks, which frankly I’m not that interested in hearing anymore. Explosions stated on their website that they’ll be performing three shows in September with Death Cab for Cutie, and “In the meantime, we’ll be working on a new album.” It’s about time!
And So I Watch You From Afar
Irish post-rock outfit ASIWYFA will release their new album HEIRS on May 4. They already released a single, “Run Home,” which sounds like a cheerful, three-minute heart attack. I’m scared ASIWYFA is digging too deeply into math-rock territory and straying too far from their heavy post-rock roots, but it’ll still be nice to get a new release from a band that’s consistently put out unique instrumental rock albums every two years.
Touché Amoré
Are Touché going to release a new album this year? It was 2013 when we got Is Survived By, so it’s about time to hear from the band that has arguably brought post-hardcore as close to the mainstream as it ever will be. They’ll be releasing two new tracks on a split with Self Defense Family this year, but I demand a whole new Touché LP to get adequately angry this year.
Titus Andronicus
What ever happened to America’s angriest nerds? The rumor that has been going around for the past couple years is that Titus Andronicus has been working on “a 30-song rock opera about manic depression,” which is exactly what we would expect from this band. It’s ambiguous that Titus Andronicus is even active anymore. I love all their albums so much though – especially The Monitor – that I’m willing to keep my hopes up for at least one more year.
