It seems difficult to recall the last time there was a 'bad year for music' what with so many artists continuing to deliver runs of exceptional work, and we have no reason to think 2019 will be anything less than stellar. Case in point? The ten albums we've selected that we know (or at least, feel very confident) will be headed our way this year.

From the long-teased Yandhi from Kanye West to Lana Del Rey's upcoming avant-garde Americana epic Norman Fucking Rockwell, these are the 2019 albums we need the most:

Gesaffelstein

The enigmatic French producer is making his long-awaited return with Hyperion, set to be released in the next few months. His new jam with The Weeknd is a banger, but that dulls in comparison to lead single "Reset," a slinky slice of dark electro that arrived with an ambitious, eye-popping meta-critique of a video. We have high expectations, to say the least.

Release Date: TBA

James Blake

After an all-too-brief appearance on one of the best rap tracks of 2018, our generation's king of crooning is back in the spotlight with Assume Form, his fourth album proper. While no music from the project has been released, a guest roster that finds him collaborating with the likes of Metro Boomin, André 3000, and Travis Scott is enticement enough.

Release Date: January 18

Kanye West

After what was summarily the worst year for his career and public persona on record, the future of Kanye's much-teased album Yandhi is anyone's guess; he could release it tomorrow, he could release seven other albums that aren't Yandhi first. After last year's ye, which objectively is among his weakest releases to date, and coupled with his current standing in pop culture, Yeezy is in desperate need of a comeback. Perhaps 2019 will be his year?

Release Date: TBA

Kendrick Lamar

Everything we've heard is hearsay, but that doesn't mean we're not holding out hope 2019 will indeed produce a new Kendrick Lamar record. Quite possibly on the hottest streak of his stratospheric career (following 2017's Pulitzer Prize-winning DAMN. and last year's Black Panther soundtrack), is there any doubt that whatever Kenny does next will be anything less than game-changing excellence? No, there isn't. That was not rhetorical.

Release Date: TBA

Lana Del Rey

By any measure, Lana Del Rey is on one. If the album titled Norman Fucking Rockwell didn't make that clear, the wild set of songs she has released from the project definitely do. "Venice Bitch" may be the most singularly ambitious and balls-to-the-wall bonkers track in her catalog, a proggy, 10-minute folk ballad epic that is, inevitably, Lana through and through. Get ready for kitschy takedowns of Trump's America.

Release Date: March 29

Lil Uzi Vert

Lil Uzi Vert decidedly owned 2017, but the time since the release of Luv Is Rage 2 has been noticeably quiet for the young rapper. Last year saw the launch of the phenomenal single "New Patek," promised to appear on the forthcoming Eternal Atake, but he started 2019 off by saying he "deleted everything" and is "quitting music." We sincerely hope he was just having a bad day in the studio, and since the album's title is (as of this writing) still his Instagram bio, here's hoping the record makes it out into the world.

Release Date: TBA

Rihanna

There's being thirsty for an album, and there's being parched in the desert after a sandstorm thirsty for an album. After a long three years since her most consummate album to date (the wonder that is ANTI), we are definitely leaning towards the latter kind of thirst for Bad Girl RiRi's upcoming project. So far we literally have a single tweet to go on, but the faith is real that we'll be getting new tunes this year.

Release Date: TBA

Solange

Back in October, Solange told the New York Times that her new album was coming in the fall, saying it would “likely arrive into the world fully formed at some mysterious and unexpected moment.” Considering it is decidedly not fall, the release date of the hugely anticipated follow-up to 2016's A Seat at the Table will at least be unexpected, if nothing else. Here's hoping its sooner rather than later.

Release Date: TBA

Tame Impala

While no word of a follow-up to their masterful 2015 LP Currents has been spoken of, Tame Impala's surprise headline slot at Coachella 2019 all but confirms a new album. In the interim, frontman Kevin Parker has been lowkey putting work on tracks from the likes of Kali Uchis, Travis Scott, and A$AP Rocky, ensuring that at no point has he lost his singular production touch.

Release Date: TBA

Toro y Moi

After the soulful balladry on display on 2017's Boo Boo, Toro y Moi has gotten significantly more pep in his step for follow up Outer Peace. If any one of the songs on this record come close to the bouncy, groovealicious funk of the streetwear-shoutout lead single "Freelance" (which made our cut of the Best Songs of 2018) then we are in for a true treat.

Release Date: January 18

Vampire Weekend

The first Vampire Weekend album since founding member Rostam Batmanglij exited the band in 2016, all eyes (er, ears) are on how one of this generation's most capable quartets will function as a trio. Over the summer, lead singer Ezra Koenig indicated the record was finished, but what the album will sound like remains an open question. We at least have his Instagram to tide us over in the meantime.

Release Date: TBA

Revisit our list of the Best Albums of 2018 here.