Music albums to get excited about in 2022

By Javier Herrero

Madrid, Jan 4 (EFE).- Beyoncé, Madonna, Rosalía and Kendrick Lamar, among other music superstars, have already started preparing for their return to the world’s stage by releasing new albums or going on world tours all the while with a watchful eye on the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

Reports on Monday revealed that Canadian artist The Weeknd will kick-start the year by releasing a new studio album this Friday Dawn FM, his first since the successful album After Hours in 2020.

Friday also brings excitement for electropop fans, with Years & Years, a solo project by British singer Olly Alexander, releasing an album called Night Call.

Only a few upcoming albums have dates to their names — Elvis Costello will make his return on January 14 with his 32nd studio album titled the Boy Named If, and American rock band Eels will release their Extreme Witchcraft album two weeks later.

January will also mark other notable returns, including English progressive rock band Jethro Tull, with The Zealot Gene, their first album in 19 years, which is to be released on January 28, the same day on which American alternative rock band Urge Overkill will release Qui, their first album in over a decade.

On the pop front, Time Skiffs is the title of the forthcoming album by American band Animal Collective, to be released on February 4, while British band Bastille is scheduled to release Give Me the Future.

On the same day, American nu metal band Korn is going to release Requiem, and a week later English indie rock band Alt-J will drop The Dream, Eddie Vedder will release Earthling, and Spoon from Texas will issue Lucifer on the Sofa.

On February 18, American musical duo Beach House is scheduled to release their One Twice Melody album, and Metronomy will release a new album titled Small World. As the list continues, February 25 will feature several releases, including Everything Was Beautiful by Spiritualized, The Tipping Point by Tears for Fears and Happiness Not Included by Soft Cell.

Now the list gets even more dazzling, as albums by the heavyweights could actually see the light in 2022. The likes of Kendrick Lamar, Arctic Monkeys, Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Janet Jackson, Lizzo, Lykke Li, Megadeth, Megan Thee Stallion, Morrissey, and the Cure are all up for business.

While Rihanna fans could be kept waiting for another album, despite years of anticipation, superstar Beyoncé has been clearer about her plans, especially after her August 2021 interview for Harper’s Bazaar magazine, during which she stated that she feels “a renaissance emerging.”

“I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible. I’ve been in the studio for a year and a half. Sometimes it takes a year for me to personally search through thousands of sounds to find just the right kick or snare,” Beyoncé said.

Madonna, the 63-year-old music icon, announced in recent weeks there would be “Surprises in the New Year” after she posted an Instagram photo while in the studio “making music again.”

The legendary Red Hot Chili Peppers confirmed their new work was almost ready and that guitarist John Frusciante has returned to the band, and even hinted at a spring release.

Stars of the Latin world are also in for a treat form the likes of Colombia’s Maluma, who already released the song “Sobrio” in summer 2021, and Puerto Rico’s Bad Bunny, who confirmed a new album sometime in the next few months.

Christina Aguilera reflected on her Latin roots by releasing the Somos Nada single, her first song in Spanish 20 years after releasing Mi Reflejo, the major winning album of the 2001 Latin Grammy Awards.

Spain’s Rosalía confirmed that 2022 will be the year of Motomami, her third studio album.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, she said the album’s degree of lyrical, rhythmic, and sonic experimentation attracts a range of influences.

“I’ve been listening to a lot to Hector Lavoe, I’ve been listening to a lot to Nina Simone, Patti Smith, Bach, dembow, classic bachata, and as I mentioned before, a lot of reggaeton. Vivienne Westwood amazes me, inspires me, Michele Lamy inspires me, Pedro Almodovar continues to inspire me,” Rosalía said.

Uncertain of what follows after the 2020 album Vertigo, Malaga’s Pablo Alboran told Efe that he was “writing non-stop” and confirmed that he has two songs already done, one of which will be released this month, although he did not dare to specify a date for his new album. EFE