Music Odds – Whose Creative Hiatus Is at an End?

The recent three-year hiatus of Frank Ocean is supposedly coming to an end with the (eventual) release of the much-anticipated Boys Don’t Cry. Depending on how the album turns out, both in terms of quality and sales, more artists may start seeing the value in taking their time to create music.

Long hiatuses tend to frustrate fans, but we have to remember that musicians are not chickens you can pump full of artsy hormones and expect to lay sonorous eggs. Once in awhile, entertainers need a break. Not just a week in Cabo on a yacht, but a real hiatus that pushes the reset button.

So many great artists have burned themselves out and wound up falling victim to the pressures and workload that it takes to be successful. A hiatus is no longer considered career suicide but a way to extend one’s career. It also allows some artists to relocate the creative spark that may have faded in a workaholic lifestyle. Look at the likes of Fiona Apple, Radiohead, and Adele. They all release records on their own time when they feel they have quality music to share.

Like Ocean, Adele took a three-year break only to return with a massive album, 25, that sparked a world tour. According to rumors, she is allegedly planning a five-year hiatus when the tour ends so that she can spend quality time with her young son. While that’s superficially bad news for Adele fans, we may all be rewarded down the road if it gives her the time and space she needs to create more musical mastery.

Not every hiatus has a happy ending, of course. Some musical acts never return from the abyss, like ABBA. But most do, and just this year, we’ve seen Guns and Roses, LCD Soundsystem, Beck, Aphex Twin, and indie darling Bon Iver get back in the game.

Who’s going to be the next musical act to come off a hiatus and bless us with their new sound? Similar to my previous post on band reunion odds, I’ve set the odds on who will be coming back from their long break in 2016/2017.

Odds on the Next Artist to Return from Hiatus in 2016/17

Usher: 1/19

For Usher Raymond IV, a “hiatus” isn’t really a hiatus at all. The man is multi-faceted and has his hands in many different business ventures, television shows, and acting gigs. But it’s been four years since Usher released Looking 4 Myself, and it appears that he certainly did find himself during his four-year break. A new album is dropping in 2016, or so he says; he keeps changing the release date for the album as he tries to “put the soul” in it.

Pink: 1/4

Pink has been a prolific performer over her 16-year career, releasing six studio albums that have sold over 40 million copies. But she still understands the value in having time to herself.

Back in 2012, she released The Truth About Love, which ended up being the second-largest record of her career with three top-ten hits. When the dust settled, she took time off to spend time with her young daughter, Willow.

But she’s already been working on her seventh studio album for over a year and recently released a single called Just Like Fire for Disney’s Alice Through the Looking Glass. Pink seems to be close to the release of a new full-length album, which is rumored to have collaborations with Kenny Chesney, Beck, and more.

Gorillaz: 1/4

The virtual band Gorillaz has released four studio albums since 2001. But 2011’s The Fall was the last collaboration between Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, who seemingly been living in virtual holes.

But great news! It appears that the group is back together and banging out a new record that will be ready for 2017. There have been rumors that they are collaborating with the likes of Massive Attack and Chicago-based hip-hop artist Vic Mensa. Put this one in the “highly likely” category.

Shania Twain: 2/3

Selling 85 million albums worldwide has no doubt anointed Shania Twain as country royalty. Back in her heyday, she was one of the world’s best-selling artists and the biggest thing to come out of country music since Garth Brooks. However, the Ontario native hasn’t released an album in 14 years. That’s one long-ass hiatus.

Shania’s extended break was due to personal and health issues, but with the success of last year’s Rock This Country farewell tour, it appears the goodbye may only be temporary. In a recent Instagram post, Shania stated she has enough new material for two full albums but is whittling it down for a new record that could be released before the year is out. There is also talk about another residency in Las Vegas in 2017.

Hootie & The Blowfish: 2/3

Don’t laugh! Hootie & The Blowfish are planning a reunion along with a new album. Mind you, this was announced back in 2015 and there still hasn’t been much in the way of concrete details.

Let’s just hope that lead singer Darius Rucker doesn’t decide to take the band into the realm of his newfound love of country music.

Recreating their original sound would generate a lot of interest from 90s nostalgics like me. If they want to go on tour and mix in old gems like “Let Her Cry” and “I Go Blind,” all the better!

Tool: 1/1

Tool has been on lists like this for well over ten years. Yes, it’s been just over a decade since their jaw-dropping 10,000 Days graced our MP3-loving world.

Lead singer Maynard J Keenan has a love/hate relationship with the band’s fans, calling most of them “insufferable.” Maybe that should be the name of the new album when it drops in 2030?

There were some reports that Tool is working on a 2.5-hour double album called Decem, but Keenan threw cold wine on that gossip with a one-word tweet: #Dumb.

But there is light at the end of the dark and melodic tunnel; Maynard and the gang are actually working on their long-winded and experimental rock songs four days a week. (Apparently the Sabbath stretches from Friday to Sunday for Tool.) But will those new songs be released in 2016? Stay tuned for the answer, coming in 2017!

Daft Punk: 2/1

A somewhat plausible Daft Punk promo video recently appeared online, putting people in a tizzy about a potential new album. But the video was completely fake and robotic hearts were disassembled.

But do not lose hope. There is a theory floating around that Daft Punk could complete the Alive tour/album trilogy. They have only ever done two full world tours (1996-97 and 2006-07). Each of those tours spawned a live album (Alive 1997 and Alive 2007). Alive 2017, anyone? And maybe a Coachella appearance? Please, Daft Punk, just One More Time.

System of a Down: 15/1

Spasmodic lead singer Serj Tankian is spending his time on film scores these days, but there has been some discussion of a System of a Down reunion and a new record. But nothing firm has been divulged or leaked. Could the current radio silence mean that there is something going on behind the scenes? With everything currently going on in the world, a heavy-handed political message from the legendary metal group could be exactly what the metal Gods demand.

Ms. Lauryn Hill: 30/1

Waiting for a comeback from one of the most influential voices in 90s music is not only painful but, at times, feels miseducated, misinterpreted, and misdiagnosed.

Ever since the release of her legendary album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” 18 years ago, Ms. Lauryn Hill has had to deal with some personal issues.

She’s spent her hiatus battling the tax man, doing some bizarre live appearances, and teasing us with an on-again-off-again new album that has reportedly been in the works since October 2015. Will it happen in 2016? Time is ticking and I think it’s highly unlikely.

But Hill is starting to get her ish together as she prepares for her MLH Caravan: A Diaspora Tour. Let’s see if she makes it through before we demand new material or officially say she’s back.

The White Stripes: 50/1

There have been rumblings that The White Stripes are secretly recording a new album. All of that is probably fandom gossip that equates to wishful thinking. Jack and Meg haven’t done anything together since 2007’s Icky Thump due to their much-ballyhooed breakup.

Jack has been busy with many musical projects including a ton of solo work. Meg, however, has been MIA and apparently the two never talk. As much as I want to jump on board the rumor train, I’m going to take Jack at his word that the two will probably never work together again. But who knows? It could all be a Denial Twist.

Feature Photo Credit: Lisa Liang (Lauryn Hill)