Liam Gallagher returned to the fore with his post-Oasis band Beady Eye with huge fluster, declaring that this new guise were going to become 'the biggest band in the world' and overtake the legacy of his previous one. Debut album 'Different Gear, Still Speeding' had its moments, but after a brief honeymoon period, the glaze seemed to fade somewhat and it's now considered (even by Liam himself) to be a bit of a flop. So, Round Two, and one of the biggest egos in music faces the slightly awkward situation of having something to prove yet again. Noises are good though from Camp BDI, with Liam declaring it as the most 'experimental' thing he has done, and the band selecting a wild-card choice of producer in Dave Sitek (of TV On The Radio). So far, precise details are vague, but we know to expect it sometime in Spring and that live track 'World Not Set In Stone' will probably be a part of it. Love or hate Liam, you will find yourself listening out for this.
EXPECTED: Spring
It's been a very long time since we've been treated to a QOTSA album. But it's not just the return of Josh Homme and Co. for the first time since 2007's 'Era Vulgaris' that makes this one of the year's most anticipated returns. It's the fact that Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl returns to the drums, for the first time since mega-hit album 'Songs For The Death'. Listen to 'No One Knows' or 'Go With The Flow', and you'll understand the power that man gives to this band, but also the supreme songwriting talents of Homme and the innate coolness to his ever-changing group. Homme sent an extremely cryptic letter to MOJO Magazine, that only served to whet the appetite as he described the album as sounding like 'running in a dream inside a codeine cabaret'. It's going to be good.
EXPECTED: Spring
Don't lie, no-one saw it coming. Bowie shocked the music world (in a good way) this month when he returned with a new song and news of an album due out in March. The insatiable search for details has begun but not too much has been found out; Bowie is adamant he will not be doing interviews or live shows and, despite being in the age of Twitter and album leaks, this is genuinely the first we heard about it. Producer Tony Visconti has lifted the lid slightly on a couple of songs and promised an 'extremely strong and beautiful' album that harks back to Bowie's heydays. Just the fact one of Britain's greatest ever rock-stars is returning was enough to fire this album into one of the most anticipated albums this year.
EXPECTED: March 11th
This one is hanging in the balance. We lack any definitive news but rumours are abounding that The Strokes will be returning this year with their fifth album, a release that has been talked about basically the second that last album 'Angles' was released. Their fourth record together was varied but interesting, was received well and put the New York five-piece back towards their early-2000's peak. Ever since however, various band members have talked about an even better record in the making; songwriting sessions going better, the band getting on better and the songs being produced sounding better. These rumours have multiplied a hundred-fold, as a US radio station is claiming to have the first listen of new Strokes track 'All The Time', and stating 'you won't be disappointed'. IF these rumours are true, I'm sure that we won't.
EXPECTED: Nobody knows!
Fresh from conquering Reading and Leeds last year, Black Keys seem keen to continue their unassailable surge towards the upper echelons of rock this year with a new record. They seem to have done everything right so far; building up a fiercely loyal following for their early blues sound, crossing over to the world with their sixth and seventh albums, 'Brothers' and the superb 'El Camino' respectively. Now they have confirmed that sessions are booked for this month for album number eight, to go along with a recent UK tour that ended with dates at the O2 Arena. It can't be long before Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney are headlining stadiums, and a few cracking tunes on their up-and-coming release certainly won't hurt their cause.
EXPECTED: Latter part of the year
There's my top five but don't worry, there's plenty more to sink your teeth into. Namely from Biffy Clyro, Vampire Weekend, Stereophonics, Palma Violets, Paramore, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and many more to keep us entertained for the next twelve months. Who knows, we may even get to hear something from The Stone Roses or Arctic Monkeys if we're very lucky. But just to keep you going for the moment, here's the new single from Biffy Clyro, 'Black Chandelier', to whet your appetite for the year ahead. Brace yourself, 2013, it's going to be a good'un.
NWR
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