The 34 Most Anticipated Albums of 2023

A new year means a new batch of albums to which we can look forward. Some, like Gorillaz’s Cracker Island, feel like they’ve been on the way for as long as we can remember. While others, like Mac DeMarco’s Five Easy Hot Dogs and Popcaan’s Great Is He, seem to have taken us happily by surprise. And, of course, there are the records shrouded in mystery, the ones we hope to see, that feel as likely to drop tomorrow as they are to stay locked away at the studio—we’re looking at you, Rihanna, Cardi B, and Normani. Here are some of the most anticipated albums of 2023. (As of January 9, all release dates have been confirmed. But as usual, everything is subject to change.)

February 10

Andy Shauf thinks in scenes. The Canadian songwriter broke through with 2016’s The Party, a heartfelt account of a single night out told with grace and precision, which was followed by the astute The Neon Skyline in 2020. After a brief detour with the 2021 surprise album Wilds, Shauf’s upcoming album, Norm, is another character-driven comedy, this time focused on a single fictional person. The album’s lead single, “Wasted on You,” finds Shauf pondering the afterlife and wondering what to do when a lover dies. –Rob Arcand

TBA

When Beyoncé dropped Renaissance last year, it came with the tantalizing subtitle “Act I,” with two more promised to follow. Does that mean two more full-length albums? Will “Act II” be the teased visuals for Renaissance’s music, and “Act III” an accompanying world tour? It’s hard to say, but after the superstar’s outstanding seventh studio album shook the table yet again for pop, R&B, and dance music, whatever comes next will be icing on the cake. –Eric Torres