Now that 2011 is officially a thing of the past, it’s time to look ahead at what this brand new year has to offer us music fans.  2011 will be tough to top, but with a handful of my favorites all set to release new material, 2012 is shaping up to be a another great year.  So without further ado, here’s some of the music I’m most excited for in 2012…and please let me know who i’ve overlooked.

[p.s. apologies are in order. this post was originally planned for New Year’s Day, but between recovering from NYE festivities and holiday travels, it’s out a bit later than expected.]

 

Animal Collective

Title: TBA
Release: TBA

 

Azealia Banks

Title: Broke With Expensive Taste
Release: TBA
♪ 212

 

Blackbird Blackbird

Title: Boracay Planet EP
Release: TBA [expected early 2012]
♪ Tear

 

Chairlift

Title: Something
Release: 1/24/12
♪ Met Before [via soundcloud]

 

Grizzly Bear

Title: TBA
Release: TBA

 

Islands

Title: A Sleep & A Forgetting
Release: 2/14/12
♪ This Is Not A Song

 

Sharon Van Etten

Title: Tramp
Release: 2/14/12
♪ Serpents

 

Shearwater

Title: Tramp
Release: 2/14/12
♪ Breaking the Yearlings [via Sub Pop]

 

Sleigh Bells

Title: Reign of Terror
Release: 2/14/12
♪ Born To Lose

 

The xx

 

Title: TBA
Release: TBA
♪ Open Eyes (Demo)

 

Yeasayer

Title: TBA
Release: TBA
♪ Swallowing The Decibels

 

More noteworthy 2012 releases:
Air
Title: Le Voyage Dans La Lune
Release: 2/6/12

Andrew Bird
Title: Break It Yourself
Release: 3/6/12

The Beach Boys
Title: TBA
Release: TBA

The Big Pink
Title: Future This
Release: 1/17/12

Cat Power
Title: TBA
Release: TBA

Chiddy Bang
Title: Breakfast
Release: 2/28/12
♪ Ray Charles [via soundcloud]

Delta Spirit
Title: Delta Spirit
Release: 3/13/12

Dr. Dog
Title: Be The Void
Release: 2/7/12

First Aid Kit
Title: The Lion’s Roar
Release: 1/23/12
♪ The Lion’s Roar [via soundcloud]

Imperial Teen
Title: Feel The Sound
Release: 1/31/12

Lana Del Rey
Title: Born To Die
Release: 1/31/12
♪ Born To Die

The Long Winters
Title: TBA
Release: TBA

Lost in the Trees
Title: A Church that Fits Our Needs
Release: 3/20/12

The Lumineers
Title: The Lumineers
Release: March 2012

The Magnetic Fields
Title: Love At The Bottom Of The Sea
Release: 3/6/12

Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s
Title: Rot Gut, Domestic
Release: TBA (expect March 2012)

Miike Snow
Title: Happy To You
Release: 3/26/12
♪ Devil’s Work [via soundcloud]

Miniature Tigers
Title: Mia Pharaoh
Release: TBA
♪ Boomerang

Nada Surf
Title: The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy
Release: 1/14/12

of Montreal
Title: Paralytic Stalks
Release: 2/7/12
♪ Dour Percentage [via soundcloud]

Phenomenal Handclap Band
Title: Form & Control
Release: TBA (expected early 2012)

Santigold
Title: Master of My Make Believe
Release: TBA (expected spring 2012)

School of Seven Bells
Title: Ghostory
Release: 2/28/12
♪ The Night

The Shins
Title: Port of Morrow
Release: TBA (expected March 2012)

Sigur Rós
Title: TBA
Release: TBA

Spiritualized
Title: Sweet Heart Sweet Light
Release: TBA (expected March 2012)

The Temper Trap
Album Title: TBA
Release Date: TBA

Tennis
Title: Young and Old
Release: 2/14/12
♪ Origins [via soundcloud]