feature: Most Anticipated Albums of 2011.5-2012

We're at the halfway point for 2011, so it's time for two things: 1) taking stock of the albums released so far, and 2) looking at what's coming for the rest of the year. I've been keeping a running tally of my favorite albums of 2011 on the right-hand side of the page (I'm only a little bit behind on that -- been adding a lot of albums lately, will be adding more soon). The list below is some of the releases I'm most looking forward to in the second half of 2011.

First off, there's been some chatter lately about two of the most anticipated albums of the year. The first is the Kanye West/Jay-Z collab Watch the Throne, rumored to be coming out July 4th (It became available for pre-order July 4th; release date is August 2nd). The second is the long-awaited follow-up to Justice's †, announced for a fall release date. No title or specific date yet, but we do have a tracklist.



Check out the rest of the list after the jump.


I've left off reissues and albums that have already leaked.

The Cool Kids - When Fish Ride Bicycles (7/12)
Portugal. The Man - In the Mountain in the Cloud (7/19)
The Horrors - Skying (7/26)
Moonface - Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I Hoped (8/2)
Mister Heavenly - Out of Love (8/16)
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter IV (8/29)
The Rapture - The Grace of Your Love (9/6)
Blitzen Trapper - American Goldwing (9/13)
Nurses - Dracula (9/20)
The-Dream - The Love, IV (9/20)
Björk - Biophilia (9/26)
Spank Rock - Everything Is Boring and Everyone Is a Fucking Liar (9/27)
Twin Sister - In Heaven (9/27)
Zola Jesus – Conatus (10/4)
Drake - Take Care (10/24)
Real Estate - TBA (10/??)
M83 - TBA (10/??)

The details on the rest of these are pretty murky, but they should happen this year.

Grizzly Bear - TBA (??)
Mastodon - The Hunter (??)
Modest Mouse - TBA (??)
Neon Indian - TBA (??)
Santigold - TBA (??)
The Shins - TBA (??)
Sleigh Bells - TBA (??)