A new year means new music and new music means crazed speculation for which albums will be: 
The ArtsEtc. staff here at The Badger Herald is no exception to this, and here are the albums and artists that we think will rule 2016.
Animal Collective — Painting With
Animal Collective last left off with Centipede Hz, an album that satisfied intellectually with its experimentation, but left many fans yearning for the joyous and melodic sound that the band’s groundbreaking album Merriweather Post Pavilion brought. Their latest album Painting With promises to potentially deliver that sound again. Combined with the complexity of Centipede HZ, their solely released single “Floridada” is as enjoyable as it is entangled.
– Henry Solotaroff-Webber
Haim — TBA
Ever since sisters Alana, Danielle and Este Haim released their funky, pop-rock masterpiece Days Are Gone in 2013, the music world has been craving their stylish sound. But beyond joining Taylor Swift’s squad and gracing an admittedly satisfying cover of Tame Impala’s “Cause I’m a Man,” they have revealed little in way of new tracks … until now. In October 2015, they revealed working with a Vampire Weekend alum on new work. Can it be true for 2016?
– Audrey Piehl
Kanye West — SWISH
Yeezy season is here! After swirling rumors of the album’s mediocrity and the Chicago emcee ditching the music world all together, Mr. West has put all the doubts and doubters to rest with the two incredible singles — the reflective “Real Friends” and the cynically groovy “No More Parties in LA.” West’s new work is all but guaranteed to provide the listening world with nostalgia and newness alike.
– Henry Solotaroff-Webber
Flume — Skin
In this recent influx of EDM artists, Flume has stood out from the crowd and his new album Skin should only make him shine brighter. Flume is a crafty artist and truly incorporates the element of surprise in his music, which is what makes his brand so special. Hopefully the rising star will continue to use his outside-the-box techniques for what could be the hottest dance tape this year.
– Dan Chinitz
James Blake — Radio Silence
Despite two stellar album releases and numerous collaborations with high-profile artists including Chance the Rapper, the British producer and singer-songwriter is still shrouded in mystery. No one is quite sure what to expect from Blake’s next album other than that it should be amazing as well as potentially star-studded.
-Henry Solotaroff-Webber
Run the Jewels – Run The Jewels 3
Killer Mike and El-P are returning in 2016 in the form of the third Run The Jewels record, Run The Jewels 3. Not much is known about the record itself except for the 15-second blurb El-P released on his Instagram page. What is known is that the spotlight is shining on the rap duo brighter than ever before. The group has received an immense amount of attention in the last year due to critical success, insane performances and Killer Mike’s growing influence as a commentator on social justice. With increased attention comes increased expectations, and it will be exciting to see how Mike and El-P deliver with the pressure on.
– Brian Vanden Hogen
Pusha T — King Push
The album title says it all — Pusha T expects this latest album to put him at the top of the rap game. Based upon his recent releases My Name is My Name and King Push — Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude, this album should be banging. Pusha T has a proven record of creating music that’ll get listener’s head-bobbing and thinking at the same time, so anything short of one of 2016’s best albums will be a disappointment.
– Dan Chinitz
Red Hot Chili Peppers — TBA
The legendary rockers are back in the studio and it looks like they are back to rocking listeners’ socks off. It has been about four years since the replacement of guitar player John Frusciante with Josh Klinghoffer, and the chemistry is back. Anthony Keidis told Rolling Stone that legendary producer Danger Mouse is in the studio with them and Flea told them this record is “super danceable.” No matter how this album turns out, their live shows will always be raging, but until then there are high hopes for the timeless rock stars’ upcoming effort.
– Dan Chinitz
Lady Gaga — TBA
After a Golden Globe win for her performance in “American Horror Story: Hotel” and an Oscar nomination for “Til It Happens To You,” 2016 started as the year of promise for pop singer Lady Gaga. With a fifth studio album underway, fans wonder whether she will be reverting to the iconic pop sound in previous works such as Artpop, or re-branding her image as a more mature artist, like in her recent jazz collaboration album with Tony Bennett, Cheek to Cheek.
– Alice Vagun
Frank Ocean —TBA
The Badger Herald ArtsEtc. staff has no idea whether Frank Ocean’s album will come out this year or this century, but the remote chance that the elusive crooner releasing even a snippet of a song in 2016 has our hearts palpitating.
