The Most Anticipated Album Releases of Summer

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories (May 21)

The same week we get new music from bands Vampire Weekend and The National, we also get an extra dose of 20-year nostalgia in the form of electronic duo Daft Punk. Returning with their first new record in eight years, Random Access Memories, Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel are back for your after hours party pleasure. Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, whose latest record dropped just last February, is just one of nine listed big name collaborators on the album.

The new LP's first single "Get Lucky" will likely refer to the duo's hopes that its new dance-inspiring sounds will get everybody moving, grooving and eventually screwing. Welcome back to 1998.

MGMT - MGMT ( TBD June)

American indie psychedelic synth-rockers MGMT are back with a third and self-titled new one in which they throw a few curveballs at the crowd. Experimenting with new ideas that they assume people won't get the first time around, the band is slow burning their album with hints of genius, along with a few easy-to-get-behind tracks. In addition, the quintent covers a 1968 Faine Jade track called "Introspection." Careful, kids, this record could be a thinker you might have to brew up some strong tea and light up incense for.

Wu Tang Clan - A Better Tomorrow (TBD July)

Rza, Method Man and the clan from Staten Island are about to bump your car stereo until its squeaky doors fall off. Back from more than six years without new material together, the gang has gotten all its solo albums and television guest spots out of the way for the time being to bring your sub woofers A Better Tomorrow. Hitting the stages of Coachella and other festivals, the clan has made their comeback clear, and with all the bitchin' new music coming back from the '90s, their timing couldn't be better.

Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork (June 4)

In a year where there's going to be new music from Justin Bieber, Hanson, The Backstreet Boys AND the Jonas Brothers, we're going to need all the heavier music we can get to balance things out. That's where Queens of the Stone Age come in with their latest, ...Like Clockwork, following up their 2007 album Era Vulgaris and a couple side projects, including Dave Grohl's Them Crooked Vultures.

After such a lengthy hiatus, the band will pick up where they left off with some heavy sounds, as well as some "bluesy and trancey" sounds, filling big arenas and many of the good summer music festivals just in time for the record release.

Beady Eye - BE (June 10)

The old Oasis crew follows up the its Noel-free lifestyle and 2011 debut Different Gear, Still Speeding with its experimental sophomore release, BE. The starting single "Flick of the Finger," a rocking thud with heavy emphasis on big sound and foreshadowing psychedelia just hit the airwaves in April, gearing up some rowdy anticipation in the U.K. for their awaited return to the stage.

Short for Beady Eye, as well as a simply stated, typical Beatles-esque reference, BE is the band's promise of a much better album experience that will be "really cool if you're into drugs." So strap on the headphones and get lost in some good old fashion rock 'n roll before it peels the paint off your walls, in a good way. The British rockers are already set to tear things apart in a few festival shows this summer overseas, then it's onto the states for more of that (Liam) Gallagher glory we crave every three years.

Alice in Chains - The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (May 28)

It's the closest thing we'll probably ever get to a Nirvana reunion, so we'll take it. It's uncertain if the band is mocking its old age with the album title, but regardless, Alice in Chains is oiled up and back with a long anticipated album, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here. Having planned on a much sooner release, the band has taken its time gathering up the new material, including its first single "Hollow" which premiered in late 2012, while lead man Jerry Cantrell has been healing up from a shoulder injury.

Now that the band has all the bells and whistles worked into the record, we can hope to be seeing more of the Alice in Chains we used to love in the '90s, hopefully along with some new acoustic sets to boot, a popular scenario for the tough Seattle grunge band.

Switchfoot - Fading West (TBD in May)

After a handful of years away from good clean rock, Switchfoot is back with more expected bleach blonde California anthems to follow its Grammy-winning 2010 Gospel record Hello Hurricane. With its "Fading West" documentary planned for a late summer release, the band hopes to have the music ready and out for an early summer release.

Lead singer John Foreman is also scheduled to unveil a new solo record that he's been concocting since 2012 in heavy anticipation after his four seasonal-inspired solo projects in 2008.

Jimmy Eat World - Damage (June 11)

If you're in need of a little musical clarity, Jim Adkins and the gentlemen of Jimmy Eat World will get you there. The Mesa, Arizona quartet is set to release their eighth studio record Damage following their last, quiet release, Invented. The first single "I Will Steal You Back" sounds a bit like the last couple records from the band, but the single EP will also feature a cover of Radiohead's early "Stop Whispering." For fans of their early work, Clarity or Bleed American, you'll find Damage is a nice mix of those sounds and some of their more recent radio rock.

Black Sabbath - 13 (June 11)

Did someone turn the clocks back? With lots of new music from familiar bands like Iron Maiden and AC/DC brewing for release later this year, this summer is finding itself covered in comeback bands, as well. Ozzy Osbourne's Black Sabbath, one of heavy rock's greatest, is no exception, and their first two uplifting singles "God Is Dead?" and "End of the Beginning" show they're not ready to go away just yet.

As the band begins their first tour in nearly four decades, it's undetermined if Ozzy will be singing or just mumbling sounds as the crowd responds with fierce enthusiasm. Here's hoping they don't scare the adult diapers off the 64-year-old frontman or any of his fans.

Deep Purple - Now What?! (April 26)

The album's title stresses the same question that the idea of a new Deep Purple record begs, Now What? Anybody whose first record player experience included the hard rock band's hit "Smoke on the Water" knows the band has been around almost as long as The Rolling Stones, only with much less to show for it.

The band whipped together a batch of 14 new songs in 2012, just in the nick of time before their co-founding member Don Lord passed away. With a new record in place and most of the founding members in their mid to late 60s, Deep Purple looks to be going until the whistle blows, as they continue to leave smoke on the water in the music industry.