The first album by Sparks and the last album by The Streets. Marianne Faithfull and George Michael's Faith(again). Fleet Foxes and Foo Fighters. Tony Clayton-Leapreviews the most anticipated releases of the first half of the year. And did we mention Amy's back?
ADELE 21
Adele's debut album in 2008 was titled 19, and now, just over two years later, comes 21. Produced by Rick Rubin, and recorded between Malibu and London, this is a stunner of a record, further positioning Adele as one of the best modern soul/pop voices around. Reference points? Try these for starters: Mary J Blige, Mos Def, Elbow, Tom Waits and Kanye West. January 21
BEADY EYE DIFFERENT GEAR, STILL SPEEDING
Now that Oasis have bitten the dust for however long it takes them to reform, here's Liam Gallagher's new band (effectively latter-day Oasis without Noel) with what is bound to be one of the year's best sellers. There's a lot of people out there who like meat'n'veg psych-rock, and going by what we've heard so far that's exactly what they're going to get. And is the album title really about cycling? February 25
BEASTIE BOYS HOT SAUCE COMMITTEE, PART TWO
The follow-up to 2004's To The 5 Boroughswas delayed primarily because of Adam Yauch's cancer scare in 2009. Expect guest spots from Santigold and Nas, and songs that look back to 1989 hip-hop and forward (forthcoming single, Make Some Noiseis described by Mike D as "a lot of shit that no one's heard before"). Wherefore Part One? It's apparently "delayed indefinitely". March
DANGER MOUSE & DANIELE LUPPI ROME
On which Brian Burton (aka Danger Mouse, producer of the next U2 record) and Italian composer Luppi collaborate with Jack White and Norah Jones on an album inspired by the film soundtracks of Ennio Morricone. Going for authenticity, the pair teamed up with musicians originally used by Morricone on his 1960s and 1970s spaghetti westerns. Get ready to whistle, folks. February 25
ELBOWTITLE TBC
The follow-up to 2008's The Seldom Seen Kid comes complete with grand piano, strings and the Hallé Youth Choir. No minimalism here, then, from this very fine UK band, as they pile on the gestures and textures in what is destined to be one of the albums of the year. March
MARIANNE FAITHFULL HORSE AND HIGH HEELS
Long-time anti-chanteuse Faithfull doesn't do mainstream, and her forthcoming album (her 23rd!) is no different. Produced by Hal Wilner and featuring guests Lou Reed, Wayne Kramer and Dr John. Brace yourselves for a collection of odd genius, including a positively Shakespearean rendition of The Shangri-Las' girl-pop masterpiece Past, Present and Future.
March 7
FLEET FOXES TITLE TBC
Still gloriously in thrall to the likes of The Beach Boys, the new album from the bearded retro folkies had to be re-envisioned following some serious doubts as to the overall quality of the songs. Alongside the Beach Boys and Van Dyke Parks influences are reference points to cult UK folkie Roy Harper, Bob Dylan and (yikes) 1960s US folk trio Peter, Paul Mary. March
FOO FIGHTERSTITLE TBC
By all accounts, Foo Fighters get sweaty on their new album, which is produced by Butch Vig (who previously worked with Foo mainman Dave Grohl more than 20 years ago on Nirvana's breakthrough album, Nevermind). Nirvana's Krist Novoselic also contributes, as does Hüsker Dü's Bob Mould. Expect it to be hot and heavy. April
BOB GELDOF HOW TO COMPOSE POPULAR SONGS THAT SELL
Rescheduled from last October, this is Geldof's fifth solo album, and marries gallows humour (Young and Sober)with spooky whispers ( How I Roll). Erratic, but always honest. February
LISA HANNIGANTITLE TBC
Currently in the studio recording tracks for the follow-up to 2008's See Sew, this collection has, according to insiders, one cracker after another. One of the most highly anticipated Irish releases of 2011. Summer
PJ HARVEY LET ENGLAND SHAKE
The solo album follow-up to 2007's White Chalk(we're discounting her 2009 collaborative effort with John Parish, A Woman a Man Walked By), this sees Harvey embrace a series of narrative voices in songs worked out on autoharp, guitar and, says Harvey, "unusual tunings". Not Alexandra Burke, then. February 14
HUMAN LEAGUE CREDO
It's been 10 years since the studio album from Sheffield's Human League (that would be Secrets, and what, pray tell, have they been up to in between?), but this promises to make up for lost time. Infectious pop is the name of their game. Time to play. March
WANDA JACKSON THE PARTY AIN'T OVER
Courtesy of a long life and Jack White comes a new album from the First Lady of Rockabilly. Jackson, now in her 70s, teams up with White plus members of The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather on songs written by the likes of Jimmie Rodgers, Bob Dylan and Amy Winehouse. January 21
JESSIE JTITLE TBC
JJ, still just 22, has been tipping along the backroom corridors for the past few years, running a commercial sideline as songwriter to the stars (Miley Cyrus, Alicia Keys), but always holding out for a record of her own. If you like her smasheroo Do it Like a Dude, then you'll love what's coming. April
JOAN AS POLICEWOMAN THE DEEP FIELD
Joan Wasser returns with more finely wrought songs that fuse gorgeous melodies, self-examining lyrics and compelling vocals. One of 2011's best? January 21
LADY GAGA BORN THIS WAY
You can say what you like about Gaga's art-rock proclivities (how about boring?), but you can't deny she has a way with a modern pop tune. Recording it on the hoof in her portable studio between shows, co-producer RedOne has said the album is going to be "shocking, shocking, shocking". June
LYKKE LI WOUNDED RHYMES
Hoping to capitalise on the success of her acclaimed 2008 debut album, Youth Novels, Sweden's Lykke Li Zachrisson has trumped herself with an album that references the likes of Velvet Underground, Leonard Cohen and archived blues and field recordings. We are looking forward to this one. February 25
GEORGE MICHAEL FAITH
Lack of new material? Record label cash-in? Or just a simple reminder to fans that Michael was once a helluva soul/pop songwriter? Either way this is a winner, as it arrives in multiple special formats, including a limited-edition, numbered collector’s box set. January 28
MOGWAI HARDCORE WILL NEVER, BUT YOU WILL
What we love about Mogwai is their fervent dedication to bridging art and rock music. The Scottish band's seventh studio album sees them develop their brutal/beautiful sonic template to the point where they become virtually indivisible. February 11
PLAN B THE BALLAD OF BELMARSH
Ben Drew's sequel to his superb The Defamation of Strickland Bankswill feature urgent hip-hop-flavoured tunes that tell what fate befalls Banks, with no stone or explicit word left unturned. Summer
PRIMAL SCREAM SCREAMADELICA
One of 2011's most eagerly awaited reissues. It comes in a collector's edition (four CDs, double vinyl album, DVD documentary), and the album has been remastered by Bobbie Gillespie and Kevin Shields. March 7
REM COLLAPSE INTO NOW
Utilising Irish producer Jacknife Lee again, REM's 15th studio album sees them, as bassist Mike Mills has it, "breaking the rules". With songs that reference production locations (New Orleans, Berlin, Nashville) and a guest list that includes Patti Smith and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, this could be the old-guard album of the year. April
SPARKTITLE TBC
She's 18, her real name is Jessica Morgan, and she's armed to the oxters with a guitar, a keyboard and the kind of girl-pop confessional that makes Lily Allen and Kate Nash sound like Hinge and Bracket (ask your gay uncle). The album is produced by Starsmith, who has previously worked with Kylie, Cheryl Cole and Ellie Goulding. Summer
THE STREETS COMPUTERS AND BLUES
According to Mike Skinner, this is the final album from The Streets. What to expect, then? Referencing the title (and so says its maker) it's dark, futuristic, grubby, insane. You have been warned. February 4
U2TITLE TBC
One of four albums in the can (says Bono), this one features 12 tracks produced by Danger Mouse. With such a maverick on board, this is bound to be different, then – and better, surely – than the disappointing No Line on the Horizon? May
KANYE WEST JAY-Z WATCH THE THRONE
Interesting title from the two kings of contemporary hip-hop. What was once an EP project is now a full album, and there is surely no one out there expecting this collaboration to be a dud. Summer
AMY WINEHOUSETITLE TBC
Whoa! Five years after Back to Blackcomes the follow-up, and while we'd never bet on a specific date, Winehouse has said that June or July is the prospective drop date. Recording is taking place in St Lucia and Jamaica, which is nice. Summer
AND MUCH LATER IN 2011
Bell X1, British Sea Power, Anna Calvi, Coldplay, Gang of Four, Iron Wine, Kasabian, Noah the Whale, Paulo Nutini, The Low Anthem, Mumford Sons, Florence the Machine, Pet Shop Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gil Scott-Heron Jamie xx, The Rolling Stones, RoySeven, The Strokes
