If anything helped define the music landscape this year, it was the insane amount of high profile artist comebacks made throughout the year. From hugely popular artists like Justin Timberlake, Daft Punk, and David Bowie to less popular (but no less important) music groups like My Bloody Valentine, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Boards of Canada, it seemed like nearly every artist any big music fan wanted to return to the scene either released an awesome new album or went on a big comeback tour.
Well, almost every artist. 2013 saw many huge comebacks in the world of music, but I still can’t help but think of a few more big names that haven’t reared their head in quite some time. Some of these artists haven’t released an album in decades, while others have often publicly decreed they’d never get back together, but after seeing so many big returns this year, it seems like just about anything is possible.
Will 2014 be the year these artists finally come out of hiding? We’ll just have to wait and see.
Outkast
Surprisingly, this one may have actually beaten me to the punch. Andre 3000 and Big Boi, the two distinct halves of hip hop’s most eccentric duo Outkast, have been unofficially defunct for close to decade now, with their last album, “Idlewild,” being released back in 2006. But word has it that the duo are set to make a big return in 2014, with strong rumors of a tour and headlining set at Coachella currently in the wings.
If this is true, then it’s hard not to be excited. After all, this is the group that brought us such amazing songs as “Ms. Jackson,” “B.O.B.,” the mega hit “Hey Ya,” and many other timeless hip hop classics. It’s hard to be 100% certain that the two will in fact reunite (such rumors have spread many times before), but by the way things are looking, 2014 looks like it will be a big year for Outkast fans.
Talking Heads
One of the most important – and popular – groups in punk rock, art rock, new wave, and just about every musical trend to emerge to from the 70’s and 80’s, the Talking Heads have been all too silent for way too long, with their last album, “Naked,” released back in 1988.
Though they reunited briefly for one show at the 2002 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony, there have been few talks of a reunion since, with lead Head David Byrne consistently refuting any hope for a future comeback any time soon.
Still, it doesn’t seem impossible necessarily – Byrne has been highly active in the music world for many years since the band’s departure, and seeing as how their sound has influenced so many artists in recent years, I wouldn’t be too surprised if the band took the stage once again in 2014.
Aphex Twin
Though known to most for the frightening acid trip of a video for his abrasive 1997 single “Come to Daddy,” Richard D. James, better known by his alias Aphex Twin, is one of the single most influential artists in electronic music who innovated genres from ambient to techno to drum n’ bass with each iconic release.
However, while James never formally retired from music, the project has not seen a new release since 2001’s Drukqs. But a return from James under the Aphex Twin, though a long time coming, seems less like a matter of if but when, as James has reportedly mentioned having plenty of music completed which he plans to release some time in the future.
Besides, after such huge comeback from fellow electronic innovators like Daft Punk and Boards of Canada (not to mention the recent explosion of electronic pop music in recent years), I would definitely be on the lookout for Aphex Twin’s return this year.
Hüsker Dü
Hüsker Dü might not be much of a household name, but in the world of indie, punk, and alternative rock, they’re practically legends, with their distinctly melodic brand of punk carrying a profound impact for many years since they broke up in the late 80’s.
It’s been decades since the trio last played together, with their last album “Warehouse: Songs and Stories,” coming out in 1987. Though bassist Greg Norton has long been out of the music industry, key members and songwriters Bob Mould and Grant Norton have blazed their own distinct musical trails since splitting up and are both active today. Unfortunately, no word has come up regarding a reunion of the two in a long time, so I wouldn’t hold your breath on this one. But I can still dream, can’t I?
The Smiths
I saved this one for last not because I like them the least (they’re one of my favorite bands, in fact) or they are less popular or important than the previous four (the group maintains a huge following to this day and practically influenced all British rock and pop music since splitting up), but for the simple fact that if this band reunites, it probably means the world is going to end.
Founding members Morrissey and Johnny Marr are still very active in music today, and fan response would certainly be enormous to even a single show reunion. Yet the fact of the matter is that Morrissey and Marr still want nothing to do with each other years after the band’s split in the mid 80’s; the two reportedly turned down millions of dollars on multiple occasions to even do one show.
Of course, the band doesn’t necessarily need to reunite. After all, their importance to the music world is set in stone, and if they did reunite, it would probably be more bitter than sweet. I’d probably be lying if I said it wouldn’t be awesome to hear the band play classic songs from albums like “Meat is Murder” and “The Queen is Dead” for old times sake.
PHOTO TAKEN from metro.co.uk
