Kesha – High Road
Release Date: January 31st
Why We’re Excited: After releasing the more reflective Rainbow in the wake of her burdensome and distressing legal battle with Dr. Luke, Kesha is back to her glittery, grab-life-by-the-horns self on High Road. On early singles “My Own Dance” and “Raising Hell”, she combines feminist underpinnings with the youthful irreverence that once inspired whiskey tooth brushings and P. Diddy feels. Featuring Brian Wilson, Sturgill Simpson, and, uh, Kesha, High Road promises to be an early 2020 highlight. –Christopher Thiessen
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La Roux – Supervision
Release Date: February 7th
Why We’re Excited: British synthpop musician La Roux has only released two albums during the more than a decade she has spent in the music industry, but they’ve each been showcases for pristine songwriting and joyful ’80s influences. Her biggest single, 2009’s “Bulletproof”, sounds as fresh as it did 10 years ago. The two new singles from her upcoming record are gentler and grander — “Gullible Fool” is seven minutes long — but still outrageously hooky, suggesting a path of musical growth that will yield something beautiful. –Kayleigh Hughes
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Monsta X – All About Luv
Release Date: February 14th
Why We’re Excited: K-pop has been around since the early ’90s, but it wasn’t until 2019 that the average American music fan finally caught on to this global-dominating genre. As bands like BTS and Blackpink set records for album and ticket sales, groups like the six-member Monsta X patiently waited their turn. However, with an album, All About Luv, ready to drop next month, don’t be surprised if the talented, versatile pop act don’t claim more hearts and ears for the red-hot genre from overseas very, very soon. –Matt Melis
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BTS – Map of the Soul: 7
BTS, photo courtesy of band
Release Date: February 21st
Why We’re Excited: BTS’ latest EP, Map of the Soul: Persona, made history last year as South Korea’s best-selling album of all time. It’s a daunting achievement for any artist to follow up, but The Beatles-level K-pop sensation have proven time and time again that they’re more than up for the task. Hopefully, 7 will gift us with more addictive hooks and pitch-perfect production while continuing BTS’ pattern of exploring interesting new styles with each release. –Laura Dzubay
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Grimes – Miss_Anthrop0cene
Release Date: February 21st
Why We’re Excited: If Grimes taught us anything for 2020, between her unlikely relationship with Elon Musk, holding Azealia Banks hostage in the tech billionaire’s house, and calling her highly acclaimed 2015 record Art Angels a “piece of crap,” it’s to expect the unexpected and then still brace ourselves for the shock. So far, she has released singles inspired by nu-metal, artificial intelligence, and even North Korea’s all-female military band, Moranbong, for Miss_Anthrop0cene, on which, she wrote on Instagram, “Each song will be a different embodiment of human extinction as depicted through a Pop star Demonology.” –Natalie Barr
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Click ahead for more pop albums we’re anticipating in 2020…
