Six Anticipated Music Returns in 2012

It’s about time these artists came back

No Doubt

It’s been over 10 years since the last No Doubt album. The wait has been too long. Frontwoman Gwen Stefani went solo after their Grammy-winning, highest-selling album ever, Rock Steady. As a soloist, Stefani travelled nowhere without her crew of Harajuku girls, who were supposedly a figment of her imagination so no one was allowed to talk to them. Insert bewildered reaction of choice here. We just want the old Gwen back with Tony on bass. Here’s hoping their album this year gives us just that.

The Cranberries

It’s not possible to talk about music in the ‘90s without bringing up The Cranberries. Remember “Linger?” “Zombie?” Trust me, you would if you heard them. After dropping their last album in 2001, they split and went solo. But they’re back and they’re back big! Their album, Roses, drops this month and their tour kicks off shortly after.

Outkasts

Although it’s still somewhat unconfirmed, there are rumours that Outkast plans to release an album this year, their first together since 2006’s Idlewild, which also the soundtrack to their musical movie of the same name. They’re also each still working on their solo projects and with an album due out from each Andre 3000 and Big Boi this year, an Outkast album might be too far of a dream.

Death From Above 1979

In 2006, Toronto band Death From Above 1979 called it quits with one of the saddest posts on their blogs ever from bassist Jesse F. Keeler, saying that he and drummer Sebastien Grainger had grown apart and hardly ever spoke anymore. “We both changed so much that the people we were by the end of it, probably wouldn’t have been friends if they were to meet for the first time again,” he wrote. If you hadn’t seen the band play live in the short few years they were active, at this point you thought you never would. But then they reunited! Thanks for playing with our hearts, guys. They came back with a riot, literally, at South by Southwest. They also played Lollapalooza and Coachella this year. We can only expect another amazing album sometime soon.

Justin Timberlake

If it feels like Justin Timberlake hasn’t left the spotlight, that’s because he hasn’t. Although he hasn’t been creating more baby-making music (could FutureSex/LoveSounds have been a better name?), he’s been trying his hand at the silver screen. It’s been a bit hit (The Social Network) and miss (Bad Teacher), but let me say, I’ll be first in line when his “Best of” SNL DVD is out. So far, it’s just a rumoured 2012 tour. But if that’s true, an album can’t be far.

Fiona Apple

She’s back! She’s really back! Joining the Cranberries, this famed 90s songstress has finally confirmed that her much-delayed follow-up to 2005’s Extraordinary Machines will be out this year. Though the release date hasn’t been set, I’m just glad the wait is over.