Besides marking the dawn of the decade, 2020 is going to be a phenomenal year for music. While we won't forget the excellent records from Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish in 2019, the new pop album lineup for this year looks truly epic. In January alone, Selena Gomez came in hot with Rare, and Halsey perked up our ears with Manic. Besides traditional pop, pop-rock music will also be huge in the coming months. If you love a good air guitar session, you won't want to skip all the bangers that 2020 has to offer, which includes new projects by Green Day, Louis Tomlinson, and Tame Impala. Ahead, we've compiled a list of 2020's most anticipated pop albums — all confirmed, of course, so get your headphones ready!
Get ready to activate, Selenator hive, because Selena Gomez is back in full swing with all of the emotions. Coming four years after her sophomore album Revival, Rare emerges as a personal diary of sorts for the young singer. Notoriously referencing her past relationship with Justin Bieber, the album features new releases such as "Lose You to Love Me" and "Look at Her Now."
Release date: Jan. 10
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Halsey revealed that she wrote most of this album in a manic episode of her bipolar disorder, hence its title. Manic includes new songs such as "Finally // Beautiful Stranger" and "Suga's Interlude," the latter a soulful collaboration with rapper Suga from BTS.
Release date: Jan. 17
Channeling the buoyant energy of her "Tik Tok" days, Kesha is rolling out High Road with "pure and utter debaucherous joy." Rainbow had a more somber ambiance to it, released in 2017 soon after the musician's abuse allegations against Dr. Luke and legal drama. In contrast, this new album will take a more lighthearted turn with hits such as "Raising Hell."
Release date: Jan. 31
In addition to revealing to the world that she's a Lizzie McGuire stan, Meghan Trainor is making headlines this year with the release of her album Treat Myself. You might have heard her single "Wave" that, besides being a total bop, has a music video with utterly mesmerizing choreography.
Release date: Jan. 31
After churning out a handful of bops over the years since the great One Direction hiatus began, Louis Tomlinson is ringing in the new year with his debut album, Walls. The album features an emotional pop-rock vibe with songs such as "Don't Let It Break Your Heart," "We Made It," and "Two of Us."
Release date: Jan. 31
This year won't be the boulevard of broken dreams for punk listeners — Green Day's back with their 13th album! On the official YouTube video for the release of the "Father of All . . ." single, Billie Joe Armstrong had a lot of colorful things to say about the new project, calling it "the life and death of the party" and "not political."
Release date: Feb. 7
There's nothing more romantic than catching some psychedelic rock on Valentine's Day, right? After four long years, Tame Impala is returning to the music scene with its fourth album, The Slow Rush.
Release date: Feb. 14
Alternatively, if you're looking for a more traditionally romantic album, give Monsta X's All About Luv a listen. This is the Korean band's debut English album, which they dedicated to their "MONBEBE" (their fandom, more or less).
Release date: Feb. 14
The BTS Army is extremely pleased to hear that the widely adored K-pop band is dropping Map of the Soul: 7 in 2020. The group's fourth album will feature band member Suga's solo track, "Interlude: Shadow."
Release date: Feb. 21
Inevitably, we would have to stop listening to Matty Healy's ethereal BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge cover of "Thank U, Next." Thankfully, The 1975 is back with Notes on a Conditional Form with not only a handful of songs, but a whopping 22 new ones, including an introduction that features a Greta Thunberg essay.
Release date: Feb. 21
There's nothing ironic about Alanis Morissette coming back with a new album after an eight-year hiatus. A few months after the birth of her third child, the Jagged Little Pill musician returned to the charts with the album's lead single, "Reasons I Drink."
Release date: May 1
Justin Bieber began the new year with an announcement for his 2020 album. He started the decade off with the decidedly chill single, "Yummy," marketing the song with an overwhelming takeover of baby pictures on his Instagram page.
Release date: TBA
Along with an elaborate prank on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Dua Lipa is kicking off the new decade with her album Future Nostalgia, a project that features a generous dose of disco and pop. The singer even made things official with a fancy tattoo!
Release date: TBA