Music: The Most Anticipated Albums of 2016

The powerhouse country singer makes a return to the genre with her new bank Wynonna & The Big Noise. Expect a big noise indeed with belting country tacks You Make My Heart Beat Too Fast and Ain’t No Thing.

Ronan Keating
Title: Time of My Life
Release: February 12

The loved-up Irish pop star returns with a guitar-driven sound that harks back to his early solo output. We hope it’s all as catchy as Let Me Love You.

Chuck Wicks
Title: Turning Point
Release: February 26

Eight years after releasing his debut Chuck Wicks releases follow-up, Turning Point, featuring singles dating back to 2013 – surely that’s some sort of record? Still, we’re glad to have the country star back.

Loretta Lynn
Title: Full Circle
Release: March 4

The country icon puts out her first studio record in over ten years. The set features a mix of covers and originals – as well as features with Elvis Costello and Willie Nelson. Listen to the first taster here.

Pet Shop Boys
Title: SUPER
Release: April 1

Britain’s favourite dance duo are back with a brand new studio release this April and have teamed-up with regular collaborator Stuart Price to do it. If we get another Love Is a Bourgeois Construct we’ll be very happy.


All Saints
Title: Red Flag
Release: April 8

The British girl group are back with Red Flag which is preceded by new single One Strike. We’re also hoping for a Pure Shores 2.0 please ladies.

Cyndi Lauper
Title: Detour
Release: May 2

Another star embracing their country roots this year is Cyndi Lauper. Her album Detour is his first in six years and features collaborations with Willie Nelson – but lets face it, it’s easier to pick country albums that don’t feature the octogenarian country star.

The rest of our list do not have set release dates but are all expected within 2016. 

Jake Owen

Since releasing Real Life back in May 2015, fans have been perched for an album announcement from country star Jake Owen. We’re yet to get one, but Owen is expected to release his fifth album this year.

Dierks Bentley
Title: Black

Bentley has described his upcoming LP Black as a relationship record and given the title we wouldn’t be surprised if this was quite a downbeat affair. However, single Somewhere On a Beach has us optimistic about the full album.

Shania Twain

A staggering fourteen years after her greatest and most recent LP Up!, Shania Twain will finally release her fifth album. Last we heard she had been listening to Lana Del Rey, however, we’re still hopeful there might be some Mutt Lange bops in there too.

Steven Tyler

After two country singles, Love Is Your Name and Red, White & You, Steven Tyler is set to release his first solo album (surprisingly) celebrating his country roots.


DNCE

The Joe Jonas fronted pop outfit has been gathering steam thanks to catchy debut Cake By the Ocean and released a well-received EP last year. Jonas has slated August as a potential release date for their full, funky album.

Nick Jonas

The other Jo-bro, Nick, releases his second full solo LP later this year also. The album is set to focus on a more R&B sound than his first pop-orientated release with most-recent track Area Code seeming like fair indication of what to expect.

Keith Urban
Title: Ripcord

Keith Urban’s Ripcord has been a long-time coming but we’re hopeful of a 2016 release. Released tracks so far, John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 and Break On Me, have set the eclectic tone of the record.

Chic
Title: It’s About Time

Surely a fitting title for the Nile Rodger’s fronted group’s upcoming LP which the ever-busy frontman has been teasing for quite some time. The album is said to drop around April and if 2015’s I’ll Be There is an indication of what to expect then get your dancing shoes on.

Mans Zelmerlow

Expect this one in time for Eurovision with Mans on hosting duties in Stockholm this year. The Heroes singer is reported to be working on new music in time for release during the contest.

Lady Gaga

The Countess releases her fifth full LP which sees her reunite with RedOne – as well as collaborate with Mark Ronson and Elton John.

RuPaul

The drag superstar is likely to have a new release ready in time for the eighth season of Drag Race kicking off this Spring.

Britney Spears

As well as her Las Vegas residency the pop icon is said to putting out a new LP that is her first since 2013’s lacklustre Britney Jean. Hopefully we’ll get the solid pop hooks and polished production that her previous album failed to deliver.

Christina Aguilera

Another big diva of the pop world is set to release an album upon us in 2016. If this is half as good as her vastly underrated Lotus we’ll be OK.

Jennifer Lopez

As well as busying herself with a Vegas residency and new television series, Lopez is working on her first LP since 2014’s A.K.A. Rumoured collaborators include Ne-Yo, Liam Payne and The Monsters – let’s hope we’ll get a Pitbull assisted dance smash too.

Culture Club
Title: Tribes

Don’t hold your breath for this one as the famously unreliable band are prone to false promises and bust-ups. New album Tribes was supposed to drop last year and despite a successful PledgeMusic campaign, yet still has not materialised. Releasing the album during Boy George’s stint on The Voice might have been a smart move, but there is no sign of this happening.

Nicky Byrne

After his selection as Ireland’s Eurovision entry, the former-Westlife singer was pleased to announce he had signed an album deal with Universal Ireland. The album is likely to drop around the time of the contest.

Geri Halliwell

Ginger Spice’s long-awaited fourth album is said to feature a more guitar-centric sound, but don’t let that put you off. We’re keen to see what our favourite former Spice Girl has been cooking up. All we request are a couple of bangers.

Grace Jones

Another one that is a little sketchy is Grace Jones’ Hurricane follow-up in which she’s teamed-up with Ivor Guest. The album dates back to 2013 but we are cautiously optimistic that it might be coming our way this year.

Zayn

We were reluctant to put Zayn in here since we’re not really the target audience for his previous material with 1D – but the singer’s keenness to distance himself from his past has us intrigued. We’ll know if we made the right call to be excited about his upcoming album when first single Pillow Talk is released this Friday.

Chris Lane

The country hunk is set to release a full-length album with Big Loud Records after the positive response to his EP Fix.

Justin Timberlake 

Timbaland has hinted that Justin Timberlake is working away on a country album which wouldn’t be a surprise after watching his duet with Chris Stapleton at the 2015 CMAs.

The Jacksons

Now we wade into incredibly dubious waters with this unlikely 2016 release but yet we hold out hope that this year will be the year The Jacksons release their long-awaited comeback album.

La Toya Jackson

The addition of La Toya to our anticipated albums list is always wishful thinking on our part. The Jackson sister has teased her final studio album for some time now and we hope 2016 will be the year she delivers on this promise. Recent studio photos with Sean Kingston have us hopeful that La Toya will be coming to reclaim her throne as the Pope of Pop. Please La Toya!

Note: