AAA Backstage Archive

5 Unexpected Music Releases of 2013

The music universe is all a flutter since Queen B dropped her new self-titled album on us last week. We all want to know if this was all a sneaky ploy to stick one to the man or simply the best early Christmas present we could ask for?

But surely Beyonce isn’t the only one to have done the surprise album drop? So we have put together a list of  “5 unexpected music releases of 2013” to hit our itunes and spotify accounts.

2013 – Beyonce “Beyonce”

The unexpected but definitely welcomed release of Beyonce’s 5^th studio album “Beyonce” was a surprise to us all. Last week B released the groundbreaking new album, without any promotion what so ever. Past releases have been leaked to the public early; this clever ambush release ensured that wouldn’t happen this time around. Even with the lack of promotion the album has shot to No.1, it broke iTunes due to the number of people flocking to buy it at once and has possibly change the future of music promotion.

2013 – Lorde “No Better”

After her breakout album ‘Pure Heroine” had us addicted, Lorde kept us on the line by releasing another new single. “No Better” is a little something extra that didn’t make the album but deserved to be heard. A nice little holiday present form Lorde to her minions.

2013 – DAVID BOWIE 
"The Next Day"

Bowie announced "The Next Day" on his 66th birthday last January, only his closest collaborators saw it coming. "The Next Day" was recorded in total secrecy and stretched over two years, Bowie even insisted on non-disclosure agreements to make sure news of the album wasn’t leaked. “The Next Day” was Bowie's first album release since "Reality" was released way back in 2003.

MY BLOODY VALENTINE
"mbv" (2013)

More than 2 decades after the release of My Bloody Valentine's 1991 album "Loveless" My Bloody Valentine released "mbv”. The 21 year gap was filled with a decade of nothing, followed by various reunions and half hearted promises of a studio return. Frontman Kevin Shields announced to a London crowd of My Bloody Valentine fans in January, that the long over due follow-up ablum would be out "in two or three days". Surprisingly MBV finally delivered on their promise, releasing "mbv" on their website on Feb. 2.

JAY Z
"Magna Carta… Holy Grail" (2013)

Less than 5 months before his Beyonce dropped her surprise album, Jay Z shocked everyone by revealing his twelfth studio album, "Magna Carta… Holy Grail". He announced the new album via a commercial during the NBA Finals last June with no warning that a new solo album was in the picture. "Magna Carta" was released just 2 weeks later, with no music leaking to the public ahead of time. 

It is undeniable that this form of promotion or lack-there-of is extremely successful in creating hype and driving record sales. This is a game changer for the music industry and we will be seeing a lot more of it, I'm sure!