Albums we're looking forward to in 2024 so far

Virgin Radio

30 Dec 2023, 10:34

It’s been a pretty stellar year for music, but what does 2024 hold for us and our favourite artists? 

While we have to wait to see the full flurry of musical extravaganzas to enjoy next year, there are still some plots in the diary we’re so excited to get close to. 

Here are the albums we’re looking forward to in 2024 so far: 

Tom Odell - Black Friday (26th January) 

Tom Odell is preparing for his sixth studio album, called Black Friday, out in January. 

The Another Love hitmaker has already released the title track as well as four other tracks from the highly-anticipated record, which is a follow-up to 2022’s Best Day of My Life. 

Speaking about the themes of Black Friday the single, Tom shared: "It’s a song that explores the idea of loneliness and the desire to be looked at, a longing to not be on your own. There’s a lot of shame in it, but there’s a degree of self-awareness and humour as well”.

Not only can fans enjoy a new album, but Tom will also be hitting the road for his biggest UK and European tour next year, including two sold-out shows at London’s Roundhouse. 

Paloma Faith - The Glorification of Sadness (16th February)

Get ready for a new Paloma Faith with her empowering sixth album, The Glorification of Sadness. 

The singer is grappling with heartbreak and all that comes with it in the upcoming record, which features the personal yet powerful song How You Leave A Man. 

Speaking exclusively with virginradio.co.uk at the National Lottery’s Big Bash 2023, Paloma said: “Everyone keeps saying [this is] a new side, but I’m like ‘Actually, this is kind of the ‘I can’t pretend anymore’ side,” she shared. “Everyone who knows me is like ‘Oh it’s so great seeing you just be yourself.’”

“I don’t feel I’ve got a choice because I’m a bit done… I’m not pretending [anymore].”

Kaiser Chiefs - Kaiser Chiefs’ Easy Eighth Album (1st March) 

Virgin Radio’s Ricky Wilson and the Kaiser Chiefs are back with their eight album, aptly titled, Kaiser Chiefs’ Easy Eighth Album. 

Featuring the earworm track Feeling Alright, Easy Eighth features the likes of Nile Rodgers. 

Speaking on behalf of the band, Ricky said on his Drivetime show in October: “We’re excited about it." He then explained the album’s title, saying: “We wanted to make an easy eighth album as opposed to a difficult second…”

“So this was an absolute piece of cake,” he added.

The Libertines - All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade (8th March) 

The Libertines will be back for the first time in almost a decade with the release of All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade.

The indie rockers, fronted by Peter Doherty, have reunited for 11 new songs, including new single Run Run Run.

According to PA news, Doherty reunited with co-frontman and guitarist Carl Barat, drummer Gary Powell and bassist John Hassall to record All Quiet at their own hotel, bar and studio the Albion Rooms in Margate.

Speaking on the process of making the album, Doherty told the publication: "We really came together as a band. It was a moment of rare peace and unity, with all the members contributing."

Gossip - Real Power (22nd March) 

Another classic band making a comeback will be Gossip. 

The Indie-rock trio, fronted by Beth Ditto, set to release their first album in over a decade. The record, called Real Power marks a reunion with acclaimed producer Rick Rubin, who they also worked with on their 2009 LP, Music For Men.

Ditto and bandmates Nathan "Brace Paine" Howdeshell and Hannah Billie started recording the new record back in 2019 after completing a tour for the ten-year anniversary of Music For Men. Working with Rubin at his home studio in Kauai, the group had to put a halt to the record’s creation during the pandemic, but were able to continue when the restrictions were lifted. 

The eleven new songs are described as a “celebration of creative expression, and the power of chosen family in the aftermath of collective and personal trauma”. 

Sheryl Crow - Evolution (29th March)

Sheryl Crow’s upcoming twelfth studio album will come as a surprise to fans, after she previously shared she was done with making records. 

After releasing Threads in 2019, the country rock star stated her intentions to leave music behind, but she announced the impending release of Evolution just ahead of her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

“Everything is more song oriented now with streaming, and making an album is a huge endeavour,” Crow said in a statement in November. 

She added: “This music and these lyrics came from sitting in the quiet and writing from a deep soul place. I said I’d never make another record, thought there was no point to it. But this music comes from my soul. And I hope whoever hears this record can feel that.”

Dua Lipa - TBC

Not sure about you, but we’re struggling to get Dua Lipa’s new infectious pop banger, Houdini, out of our heads. 

With a new look and a freshly wiped Instagram account, it’s no surprise to learn that the Dance The Night hitmaker is getting ready to make album number three, which will be the follow-up to 2020’s Future Nostalgia. 

We don’t have a name, a date or even a concept just yet, but we’re itching to see what Dua does next and in a recent interview with T Magazine, the songstress teased: “The album is different—it’s still pop but it’s different sonically, and there’s more of a lyrical theme.”

Watch this space for DL3!

The Cure - Songs Of A Lost World (TBC) 

This one might be a bit of a long-shot, but fans are still desperate to hear more of The Cure’s very, very long-awaited fourteenth album - Songs Of A Lost World. 

Songs from the record, set to be their first since 2008, have been slowly drip fed to fans since 2022, and the last time we checked in with Robert Smith, he admitted the album was “very emotional” and “meaningful.”

Speaking at the 2022 Ivor Novello Awards, frontman Robert said: “It's taken me a long time to sing it, because a lot of the songs are difficult to sing. That's why it's taken me so long. 

“It doesn't have very much light on it. Unfortunately, it's pretty relentless, which will appeal to the hardcore of our audience, but I don't think we'll be getting any number one singles off it. Emotionally, it's been quite harrowing.”

He continued: “We recorded two albums in 2019. And I've been trying to finish two at the same time, which has proven impossible. So one's pretty much ready to go…”