There’s always a tendency to look backward at this time of year. That’s fair, it’s a good point to reflect on what's happened over the past 12 months. It’s been quite a year in so many ways. Musically, we’ve seen some great releases in 2024. If you haven't seen this yet here’s one view of the 30 best albums of 2024.
As we approach the new year, though, it’s also a time to look forward. It looks as though we might all need some good music in 2025 for a whole raft of reasons. Perhaps to cheer us up, maybe to chill out, or as a distraction from everything else that’s going on in the world. Thankfully music can do all of that and a whole lot more.
Lady Gaga, Lana Del Ray, and a couple of Taylor Swift reworked album versions will all be amongst the big records we expect to see during the year. Alongside those are plenty more from new and upcoming artists, plus fresh sounds from established ones. I’ve got three in particular on my radar, they are all January releases from long-term artists and are highly anticipated.
Three highly anticipated new January 2025 albums
Franz Ferdinand - The Human Fear
A lot has changed for Glasgow band Franz Ferdinand since their breakthrough back in 2004. They got off to a flying start with their self-titled debut album winning the Mercury Music Prize. They brought their arty indie rock through some top singles like “Take Me Out,” but that success faded somewhat over time and the lineup moved on too.
Now we have frontman Alex Kapranos and bassist Bob Hardy, joined by Dino Bardot, Julian Corrie, and Audrey Tait filling gaps left by Nick McCarthy in 2016 and Paul Thomson in 2021. The new lineup is preparing for the launch of the band’s new album, The Human Fear, on January 10 and a 2025 tour.
Kapranos has talked of the band still retaining their identity. The early indications are that we should still expect the Franz Ferdinand sound from the new songs despite those personnel changes. That's no bad thing in my book; they always sounded fresh and new and I reckon they will bring that with this new release.
David Gray - Dear Life
David Gray has always brought his life and feelings to his music. That seems to be the case for his new album, Dear Life, due out on January 17. Gray is very passionate about what will become his 13th studio album. It brings 15 new songs and plenty of emotion collected by him over recent years.
His last album, Skellig, from 2021 was both beautiful and at times ethereal and a different approach to his music. Dear Life may see more of a return to poppier tunes and his folkier, at times, style. But it’s not a backward step by any means. Gray has talked of the new album as being good as anything he can do. Based on some of the previews out so far and early single “Plus & Minus” he could well be right. It's definitely one to look forward to.
Mogwai - The Bad Fire
It’s time for another release from another Glasgow band Mogwai. Their latest album, The Bad Fire, comes out on January 25. That will be their 11th studio album and follows 2021’s As The Love Continues. The new title is a term used in Scotland to refer to Hell. Recording this new album seems to have been cathartic for the band. The band has found life tough with a series of difficult times in their personal lives since that previous album came out.
If you like anthemic tunes, soaring and crashing guitars then this may well be your sort of album. An early taster, “Lion Rumpus,” gives an early flavor of what to expect. It includes a clever video featuring another Glaswegianand is set in Manhattan.
Mogwai will be on a worldwide in a whole series of dates, the first looks like an album release party gig in Glasgow on the day the bad Fire comes out. The tour runs through to May and the band has a few summer dates penciled in so far, including two at the famous Barrowlands in Glasgow in July.