Albums to look forward to in 2015

It seems we just finished voting on the best albums of 2014 only moments ago, but it is never too early in the year to look ahead to the exciting releases ahead. Jeff Rosenstock recently announced the details of his second solo album. We Cool? is out on SideOneDummy Records on March 3. Best known for his work in Bomb the Music Industry!, Rosenstock has put out just as high quality material since that band dissolved. His new band with Chris Farren, Antarctigo Vespucci, released two EPs in 2014. He was also heavily involved with the 2014 incarnation of The Bruce Lee Band, which put out some of my favorite music of the year.

We Cool? features John DeDomenici of Bomb the Music Industry!, Kevin Higuchi of The Bruce Lee Band and Mike Huguenor of Hard Girls. This is the first album Rosenstock recorded outside of his apartment since the last BTMI! record, Vacation. The album's first single, "Hey Allison!" is already stuck in my head and is likely the first thing I will say to any Allisons I meet in the foreseeable future. An acoustic demo of "Naseua" appeared on the 2013 release Summer +. Listen to "Hey Allison!" below. Jeff Rosenstock heads out on tour with labelmates Andrew Jackson Jihad and The Smith Street Band. They stop at the Metro on March 27.

The release of the first new Sleater-Kinney album in nearly a decade is only 9 days away. There had been rumblings about a possible reunion of the influential riot grrrl group during the last year, but it seemed far from a sure thing. Even if they got back together, I assumed it would be for a festival gig and maybe a quick tour. Instead, we are getting the whole package: a full tour and a new album. No Cities to Love is out on Sub Pop Records on January 20. The label is also pressing a deluxe edition on white vinyl with two bonus tracks on a second disc. Sleater-Kinney plays a sold out show at the Riviera Theatre on February 17.

Screaming Females release their sixth album, Rose Mountain, on February 24. This New Jersey trio caught my ear with 2012's Ugly. They continued to hit high points on my radar by playing a killer set at Riot Fest in 2012 and recording a live album at the Hideout in Chicago last year. Read about that show here. No one shreds like Marissa Paternoster. The fact that she can sing while playing lead guitar the way she does amazes me. Screaming Females may be a throwback to the 70s guitar god era, yet their music is anything but outdated. Listen to "Criminal Image" off of Rose Mountain below.

War On Women's forthcoming self-titled record is the only debut album on this list. The Baltimore punk band released the excellent 10" Improvised Weapons in 2012. Songs like "Broken Record" make the band's feminist position clear. The band spent a good portion of 2014 on tour with Propagandhi and RVIVR. One EP has drawn a lot of attention to this band, and rightfully so. War On Women is out on Bridge Nine Records on February 10. The label is pressing 100 copies on clear vinyl (which are already sold out) as well as 300 on white and 600 on red. Listen to the album opener "Servilla" here.