Top 10 Albums You Should Be Excited For In 2018
If you thought 2017 was a good year for music, wait until these albums drop. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we'll be counting down the Top 10 Albums You Should Be Excited for in 2018.
For this list, we're looking at the most anticipated albums of the year ranging across genres. While not all album release dates are set in stone, we're only looking at albums that the artists have said to expect, not just rumored projects like a new Beyoncé album.
#10: “Culture II” (2018) Migos
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Even though the Migos only put out their critically-acclaimed album, “Culture,” in January 2017, the music world is clamoring to see what they do next. The trio shaped the sound of rap in 2017 with hits like “Bad and Boujee,” and “T-Shirt” remaining on constant repeat. After a short delay, Migos confirmed that they’d put out “Culture II” on January 26th, 2018. “MotorSport,” the first single from the album, is already a hit, as is the second promotional single, “Stir Fry,” which was produced by Pharrell Williams. With singles like these, we know the album will further cement their status as icons of the genre.
#9: “Little Dark Age” (2018) MGMT
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It’s been five years since MGMT dropped their self-titled album back in 2013, so it’s long overdue fans got something new from the band. In the summer of 2017, they started teasing that their fourth album, “Little Dark Age,” was almost finished, but it wasn’t until they put out the single of the same name in October that fans finally had new MGMT music in their lives. Since October, they’ve released two more singles, “When You Die” and “Hand It Over.” They have a new sound with the album that’s a little darker, but still playful and unique. If the rest of the album, which is set to be released on February 9th, is in the same vein, we’re in for a treat.
#8: "Boarding House Reach" (2018)  Jack White
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Jack White is one of those artists who continually pushes his craft and the boundaries of what music can be, so the music world is always anticipating what he’ll do next. In November he announced that his new album would be “a bizarre one” and with the release of the teaser, “Servings and Portions From My Boarding House Reach,” we’re inclined to believe him. The tracks sound miles away from “Lazaretto,” the lead single from his last album, but even the weirdest thing from Jack is better than half the stuff of the radio.
#7: TBA Florence + the Machine
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No one has a voice quite like Florence Welch. Anytime she wants to grace the world with her angelic vocals, we’re here for it. We haven’t heard much from the band since 2015’s triumphant “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful” but eagle-eyed fans noticed that the band has an upcoming show at Poland’s Orange Warsaw Festival, which led to speculation that a new album may be coming this year. This was later confirmed, and in a 2017 interview with the Daily Telegraph, Florence did say that her fourth album would explore the “black hole” she experienced in her personal life due a break-up and alcohol abuse. All of this points to her most personal album yet.
#6: “Man of the Woods” (2018) Justin Timberlake
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Justin ruled the airwaves with 2016’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” for the “Trolls” movie soundtrack, but it’s about time JT released another full-length album. Justin was recently announced as the halftime act for the 2018 Super Bowl, and to capitalize on the show, he’s putting out his much anticipated, “Man of the Woods” album on February 2nd. He’s released a promotional trailer for the album, which promises to be a return to his Tennessee roots and will have an “earthy” sound to it. His lead single, “Filthy” doesn’t quite fit that bill, but it’s sparked even more interest to what the full album will sound like.
#5: TBA Cardi B
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No other artist came close to dominating 2017 in the same way as Cardi B, whose rise became a cultural phenomenon. Breaking records left and right, she became the first female rapper to have a number one solo hit since 1998, and also became the first female rapper to simultaneously have three singles in the Hot 100 and the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart. Her guest verses on “MotorSport,” “No Limit,” and “Finesse” prove she can hang with some of the biggest names in music, but we’re most excited to see what a full-length album from her will entail. If her newest single, “Bartier Cardi” is any indication, she’ll continue to rule 2018.
#4:TBA Arctic Monkeys
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Even though we’ve received side projects from the band’s frontman, Alex Turner, in the form of a 2016 Last Shadow Puppets album, it’s an Arctic Monkeys’ project we’re really clamoring for. It’s been five years since the lauded “A.M.” and the group’s bassist, Nick O’Malley, recently told For the Ride magazine that if a new album didn’t come out in 2018, “we’ve got problems.” We hope that’s not true because the group is one that continuously changes its sound to give listeners a new experience each time. We’ve grown up with them, and want to continue doing so for as long as possible.
#3: TBA Childish Gambino
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Donald Glover has been killing it in the film and television world with his role in the upcoming Han Solo movie, the critically acclaimed series “Atlanta”, and his multiple Grammy nominations for 2016’s “Awaken, My Love!” We don’t know when this guy sleeps, but we’re happy he doesn’t if that means more Childish Gambino music in 2018. He’s teased new music in interviews, including a possible mixtape with Chance the Rapper. Any form of Childish Gambino is welcome, especially if he continues to build off of the experimental psychedelic sound of his last album.
#2: “Mitsubishi Macchiato” (2018) Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend has gone through some changes since 2013’s “Modern Vampires of the City,” with the departure of Rostam Batmanglij being the most notable. His leaving could have broken up the band, but Ezra Koenig quelled those fears when he tweeted to fans that they were 80% done with their new album. He went on to say that it may be called “Mitsubishi Macchiato,” which sounds both absurd and lyrically clever. That’s exactly what we want from the group, and hopefully 2018 is the year they deliver it. Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions: TBA CHVRCHES TBA Carly Rae Jepsen TBA Father John Misty
#1: “Turbo Grafx 16” (2018) Kanye West
Kanye has been through a lot since the release of 2016’s “The Life of Pablo,” including his wife’s robbery, a public mental breakdown, a break in his relationship with Jay-Z, and having a new baby on the way. Because of all of this “Turbo Grafx 16” could be the album of his career, one that gets us back to the old Kanye, a more personal Kanye. Or he could spin it in the complete opposite direction and become another reinvention of himself. Either way, Kanye has been working in the studio and reportedly mending fences with old collaborators like Kid Cudi. Whatever he’s brewing up is bound to get people talking and shape the sound of music in 2018.
