52 Reasons 2015 Will Be The Best Year For Music Since Ever

Thanks to a single, winking tweet from Adele, many fans expected the follow-up to her world-conquering sophomore album last year. However, 2014 came and went without so much as a song title and the project remains shrouded in mystery. In a recent interview, long-time collaborator Paul Epworth refused to comment on the sound or status of the album, saying only that it “will come when it's ready." Will she pull a Beyoncé? Collaborate with Pharrell? Make good on her promise to go country? Only time will tell because her people aren't talking.

Appreciators of G.O.O.D. music are starved for new ‘Ye after a 2014 in which a much-anticipated follow-up to Yeezus was teased repeatedly but never produced. One track allegedly leaked, while another made a brief and tantalizing appearance in a World Cup Adidas commercial. On New Year’s Eve, Kanye threw fans for another loop by premiering the first official taste of his next project — an emotionally devastating ballad written from the perspective of his late mother and featuring Paul McCartney. Dubbed “Only One,” the piano-driven tearjerker is about as far from the queasy pyrotechnics of Yeezus as you can get. And with several more McCartney collaborations promised in a press release, the only thing we know is that everything we thought we knew about Yeezus II is wrong. New day, new ‘Ye.

It’s been two years since Rihanna’s last album and expectations are at an all-time high. Once known for releasing a new album every year, pop’s hardest working hit-maker decided to take some time off in 2013. While she continued to listen to demos and "phuck round" in the studio, it wasn’t until October 2014 that she really buckled down and got to work. According to insiders, her eighth album — dubbed #R8 by fans — will be a mix of ballads and edgier, Hudson Mohawke-esque bangers. She's also reportedly recorded a song titled "Burritos," so, yeah, it sounds like this album will be worth the wait.

What we know: 1) “i” and the untitled track he performed as the last musical guest ever on Colbert both slay. 2) His last album Good Kid M.A.A.D City was a rare kind of insta-classic revelation that floored just about everyone exposed to it. 3) Kendrick himself is a rare music artist, unafraid to take risks, confound fans, and say what’s on his mind in this era where nearly everyone is content to play it safe. All that adds up to next-level anticipation for whatever it is King Kendrick has planned, and we’re told from a label rep who has heard the album that our expectations aren’t misplaced. “I can’t tell you anything about the album,” he told us. “Except it’s going to blow you away.” Of course, label reps are paid to make hyperbole sound natural, but we are completely inclined to agree here.

If you don’t know the name Troye Sivan yet, you will soon. Thanks to a startlingly self-assured EP and an enormously dedicated fanbase, the Australian YouTuber-turned-singer is poised for IRL stardom. His five-song debut, TRXYE, cracked the top five of the Billboard 200 with almost no press and just three days of sales. More than just a stylish collection of synth-pop, TRXYE established Sivan as an artist with things to say and a voice worth listening to; mixed in with the songs about love and lust are critiques of prescription pill culture and thoughts on toxic masculinity. His forthcoming debut album for Capitol is to likely solidify his standing as one of pop’s most exciting newcomers.

Little to nothing is known about the hotly anticipated follow-up to Frank Ocean’s Grammy-winning modern classic Channel Orange. Will it feature “Memrise,” the warm whisper of a demo posted to his Tumblr last November? Will it feature members of Odd Future, the Cali collective with whom Ocean has seemed increasingly distant? Did his sessions with producer Danger Mouse, revealed in early 2013, make the record? The reclusive crooner has left few clues. But we do know he’s been working — last year, he left Odd Future managers 4 Strikes for Roc Nation subsidiary Three Six Zero, and video director and Ocean-collaborator Nabil told BuzzFeed News that Ocean’s new album would “blow the sophomore album myth out of the water.” Good things come to those who wait.

A lot’s happened since Florence Welch, one of Britain’s most powerful and inimitable voices, last released an album. Justin Timberlake came back. Beyoncé became a verb. Vine was created. But this year Welch is not only back, she’s everywhere — Coachella, Governor’s Ball, Bonnaroo — suggesting that ambitions for her third, still untitled album are as formidable as her vocal range. Of course, Adele is also mounting an album campaign this year, putting these two friendly rivals from across the pond at the front of pop’s British invasion: 2015 edition. Move over Sam Smith, the girls are back in town.

If there’s anything we learned about Drake in 2014 it’s that he’s omnipresent, able to dominate radio and occupy the cultural conversation without relying on mere mortal conventions such as “singles” and “albums.” Hell, “0 to 100 / The Catchup,” a 4.5 minute twofer he uploaded unceremoniously to Soundcloud, was even nominated for a Grammy. But whether or not Drake needs to make albums, he’s still pretty great at them. Having grown from an unlikely upstart to rap’s center of gravity with his first three, each new Drizzy project is duly greeted as an ~event~ by the ~youths~ who have tracked his come up. Rest easy in 2015: The 6 God is with us.

They’re from London, dress in all black, and are much cooler than you. The music they make switches seamlessly between tracks that’ll make you move your feet (“Islands”) or make you wish it was raining and dreary outside (“Infinity”). We’re fans of both the band’s speeds, and the Eurhythmics, Joy Division, and Siouxsie strain that runs through most of their work. After hitting the festival circuit hard in 2013 they’ve been holed up working on new music, and — if their previous releases hold any clues — we won’t be disappointed.

Shura’s output to date may be meager — just three songs uploaded to Soundcloud — but they suggest an ambition that’s anything but. Armed with a straightforward intimacy and the pillowy croon of ‘90s Madonna and Janet Jackson, fans of sincere pop music won’t want to miss her forthcoming full-length debut from Polydor.

We were going to say it’s hard to believe a guy who sings almost exclusively about sex and drugs can become as popular as The Weeknd has, but we do realize those two topics dominate a large portion of modern music. That said, The Weeknd does it better than everyone — you’ll find more melancholy and real world pathos here than celebration — and he’s made the transition from bedroom recording Lothario to collabing with Ariana Grande and penning tracks for major motion pictures (his “Earned It” for 50 Shades of Grey threatens to be sexier than the movie it closes out). His voice is reminiscent of great R&B artists of the past with a little Maxwell and — we’re going here — Tracy Chapman mixed in. We expect nothing short of a masterpiece from this mastermind.

Electronic wunderkind and DIY icon Grimes was all set to release her sophomore album last year, a follow-up to 2012’s celebrated Visions, when she abruptly pulled the plug — apparently dissatisfied with a project that was nearly complete. Still, fans were given a taste of Claire Boucher’s evolving ambitions via the single “Go,” an epic, EDM-influenced pop song originally intended for Rihanna. No longer an obscure indie curio but somewhere short of a mainstream pop star, Boucher’s next act seems sure to be one of this year’s most interesting.

If Kid A, OK Computer, or any of the albums in Radiohead’s impressive discog tell us anything it’s that you never know what you’re going to get with these guys. They live to keep fans on their toes, and — like true artists — follow whatever path their muse leads them down, perceptions be damned. Whatever they have planned for us this year, their first album since 2007’s In Rainbows (let's forget about King of Limbs, please), we’re interested, and not just because it means it’s likely to bring along with it more of Thom Yorke’s dancing.

Gwen Stefani has done so much over these last years — boss-ass coach on The Voice, CEO of LAMB, being the coolest mother ever to her three adorable sons — it’s almost easy to forget it was her music that first made us fall so deeply in love with her. With No Doubt she ticked off hits like it wasn’t no thang, and only shot further into the stratosphere of stardom when she cut the boys loose and teamed up with Pharrell on hits like “Hollaback Girl.” We’ve been given no clues what new Gwen Stefani will sound like, but rest assured that shit will be bananas. (B-A-N-A-N-A-S!)

Chance’s Acid Rap came out of seemingly nowhere and blew wigs clean back. A heady mix of trippy, well, acid rap, it came as billed, and — like Kendrick’s Good Kid M.A.A.D. City or Wu Tang’s 36 Chambers — was a wholly new animal that couldn’t be ignored. Since it dropped in 2013 Chance has been busy wowing crowds from festival stages and collaborating with other like-minded (read: very smart) artists like Childish Gambino, which has helped up his profile and ramped the anticipation for Surf, his first album backed by his live band The Social Experiment. Chance has ideas. And, as he told Billboard, his new live show is heavily inspired by the Broadway production of The Lion King. Whatever this kid is on, we want some.

After roughly 6,000 seasons we know American Idol is capital b Bad at producing stars who have consistent staying power. Proof? Quick, name three AI winners who are still relevant. We can think of only two offhand: There’s (maker of incredible quizzes) Carrie Underwood, of course, and then there’s Queen KC, the OG of this American Idol shit, Kelly Clarkson, whose ability over the years to hammer us with sweet sweet danceable tracks, heartfelt ballads, and gold standard cover choices is unmatched. Sure, the first taste we’ve been given off of Piece By Piece sounds an awful lot like a Jimmy Eat World song, but we’re not complaining. Clarkson can do no wrong in our eyes and we can’t wait for the new one.

Largely silent in 2014 — save for a few choice guest features for up-and-comers like Tinashe, Shy Glizzy, and Sam Smith — can A$AP Rocky reclaim his spot as one of hip-hop’s most promising new superstars? In the over two years since his well-received debut Long.Live.A$AP, peers Kendrick Lamar and Drake have generated more heat, while understudy A$AP Ferg has emerged as an arguably more interesting character. Like Snow White’s evil queen gazing jealously over the landscape, expect this Pretty Motherfucker to come back with a vengeance in 2015.

Following his 2014 viral success and inclusion on the Lorde-curated Mockingjay soundtrack, 18-year-old singer-songwriter Raury aims to cement his name in music history. “I definitely plan to release the best album of the year 2015,” Raury confidently proclaimed in a recent interview. His breezy approach to folk and hip-hop has drawn comparisons to both Andre 3000 and Bon Iver, but Raury aims to make a name for himself in 2015.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Ashley Monroe's 2013 album, Like A Rose, became a critical darling thanks to its confessional lyrics and staunchly traditional production, overseen by country legend Vince Gill. It's a formula she intends to repeat for her highly anticipated follow-up, due out later this year. While she's remained tight-lipped about details, Monroe has confirmed that there's a song co-written by buddy Miranda Lambert and Gill's teenage daughter contributes backing vocals on a poetically titled track called "I Buried Your Love Alive."

Thanks to a series of protracted legal battles, it's been almost a decade since JoJo's last album. The singer's last big hit, "Too Little, Too Late," came out back when George W. Bush was president and all the cool kids were carrying RAZR phones. Fortunately, the singer has changed just as much as the times. Instead of allowing herself to be stuck in limbo while lawyers tried to extract her from a deadbeat label, the pop&b singer independently released three well-received mixtapes, an excellent remix of "Marvin's Room," and one of the great, underrated singles of 2012. Newly signed to Atlantic, her currently untitled third album could make her this year's comeback kid.

Reigning queen of eccentricity Björk returns this year with Vulnicura in March, coinciding with the Museum of Modern Art’s Björk visual exhibition and 3D film chronicling her colorful career. With song titles like “Stonemilker” and “Notget” and sounds provided by Kanye West and FKA Twigs producer Arca, Björk plans to remain on the cutting edge of music.

Shamir’s brand of infectious funk-pop and his countertenor voice have landed his music on best-of lists and Chanel runways. His influences range from Tyga to The B-52’s, and he refuses to limit himself to the idea of a genre. The self-identified musician, comedian, and twerker (along with a multitude of other titles) will release an album via XL Records in “spring 2015.”

Genre-crosser doesn’t begin to describe Chicago rapper and singer Tink; she’s collaborated with everyone from Sleigh Bells to Timbaland. Though her well of features presumably won’t dry up anytime soon with her recent feature on Future Brown’s Room 302, Tink is solidifying her own sound alongside Timbaland for her first official major-label release, which will see the light of day sometime this year. Until then, give her mixtapes a listen and discover her blend of vocals and well-crafted rap.

Solange’s follow-up to her True EP was originally slated as an “early fall” 2014 release. But with her late 2014 wedding to music video producer Alan Ferguson and collaboration with Puma, it seems the release was put on hold for her other endeavors. Solange hasn’t made a peep about a 2015 album release, but that hasn’t stopped gossip rags from speculating. Whatever the case may be, we hope to hear some of those 25 self-written joints sometime soon.

Few details are known about the pop star's ninth studio album. Here's what we do know as of this moment: the lead single will most likely be a collaboration with Iggy Azealea, who featured on a number of hits throughout 2014 and may be what Brit needs to reemerge on top of the charts. And the album won't shy away from divulging details on her personal life; “I’m gonna have a lot of ‘I hate men’ songs and then a lot of ‘I love men’ songs,” Spears said in an interview with On Demand Entertainment, referencing her recent breakup with David Lucado.

With an all-star team of producers on her tracks (Charli XCX, Passion Pit’s Michael Angelakos, Cashmere Cat), up-and-comer Ryn Weaver has received a fair amount of criticism and suspicion. "People were saying, 'Well, with all these collaborators, it might technically not be her,'" Weaver said in a recent interview. But she refuses to let the detractors keep her from working with her friends; she’s putting the finishing touches on her debut LP alongside Angelakos, which will be released via producer Benny Blanco’s Friends Keep Secrets label.

It’s easy to forget — what with him egging houses, pissing in mop buckets, and generally being a Grade A-Asshole — that Justin Bieber first made news by being an unquestionably talented kid from Canada. Remember: He’s a multi-instrumentalist with an ear for melody and a squeaky clean voice that won him millions of fans before Usher and music executive Scooter Braun hitched their wagons to his rocket ship. His “Baby” and “Boyfriend” are legitimate hits that only the most truly dedicated haters still bother poo-pooing. We can’t wait to hear the album The Biebs has made now that he has something to prove again.

As the winners of BBC’s Sound Of 2015 award, dance pop act Years and Years have huge shoes to fill; previous winners include Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding, and Adele. With the ink dried on their Polydor contract, members Olly Alexander, Mikey Goldsworthy, and Emre Turkmen are ready to transition from young, fledgling act to music trendsetters. Expect their debut LP early this year.

We’ll say it: “Birthday Sex” is one of the most important songs of all time — so important it was also recorded in French. But true as that might be, it also sold Jeremih short, because he’s so much more than just another sex-obsessed, get-it-and-quit-it R&B artist. Thankfully, his “Don’t Tell Em,” featuring YG, gives a broader insight into his songwriting talent, a point made abundantly clear when Lorde covered the track on the BBC last year. We can’t wait to stay up late nights with Late Nights.

After years of a false start, Sky Ferreira finally released her full-length debut, Night Time, My Time, in October 2013. The album married pop gloss and lo-fi fuzziness, announcing Ferreira as a singular pop voice. While Night Time, My Time sold less than 50,000 copies, it helped repair relations with her record label and landed the singer a spot on fellow bad girl Miley Cyrus’ Bangerz Tour. In between dates, Ferreira has been working with a slew of producers for her sophomore album, including Ariel Rechtshaid, Justin Raisen, and Bobby Gillespie from Primal Scream. The result? A commanding first single that’s unlike anything she’s recorded before. Soaring and self-assured, “Guardian” represents a fearless new Ferreira. If this is the direction she’s headed in, her sophomore effort is sure to be anything but embarrassing.

Like many an obscure rapper before her, Dej Loaf first rose to prominence thanks to a co-sign from Drake, who posted lyrics to her sweet and vicious debut single “Try Me” on Instagram. But don’t let the overnight attention fool you — Loaf, born Deja Trimble in Detroit, Michigan, 23, is more than just a flash in the pan. Her breakthrough mixtape, last year’s Sell Sole, matched promethazine-fueled bluster with pointed introspection, not unlike much of the work of Aubrey Graham himself. Her debut album for Columbia is an odds-on favorite for breakout rap record of the year.

Having dropped one of the best mixtapes of 2014, and having served as a fixture on artist-to-watch lists since 2012, Travi$ Scott’s time has finally come. The 22-year-old Houston native rose to prominence as Kanye West’s understudy and id, but now rules his own fiefdom as a dark prince of gothic hip-hop and progressive trap. A perfectionist like his mentor, Rodeo is likely to offer plenty of both, refined and raw in equal measure. Buck the haters.

One of the breakout acts of 2012 with psychedelic hits “Elephant” and “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards,” Australia’s Tame Impala cultivated a large and impassioned fan base with an extensive touring schedule in subsequent years. Singer/songwriter/producer/guitarist Kevin Parker has promised that the band's third album, due this year, will reflect a new, more refined sound: “Instead of a supreme pizza, where you just throw everything on, it's kind of just gonna be like a margherita,” he said in an interview on Australian radio. Great, now we’re hungry.

Less than a year after the release of her album Ultraviolence, pop's preeminent sad girl is already talking about her next project. Tentatively titled Honeymoon, Lana Del Rey's third album is expected late summer and will feature production from fellow nostalgic Mark Ronson. While she promises more of the cinematic imagery and lush orchestration, she warns fans of her sophomore album that Honeymoon will be close in spirit to Born To Die. It doesn't matter to us as long as we get a new soundtrack for our summertime sadness.

Brooklynites Wet made a splash with their self-titled debut EP, packed to the brim with breakup songs. Their four official songs have racked up nearly 4 million plays on Soundcloud alone. Wet members Joe Valle, Marty Sulkow, and Kelly Zutrau have been practicing and recording tirelessly, preparing for gigs and a future (possibly full-length) release. “It's exhausting,” said member Joe Valle in an interview with Billboard, “and so much fun at the same time.”

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis disappeared in 2014 for a reason: “We vanished purposefully. Been in the studio,” Macklemore said in a Hot 97 interview. The duo have been crafting the follow-up to their 2012 Grammy Award-winning album The Heist, and with the praise The Heist received, the duo have a tough act to follow. Look out for their follow-up album in the second half of 2015.