11 big albums to get excited about before the end of the year

Ah, 2015, we barely knew you. Is it really going to be all over soon?

We're now in the final three months of the year (just 83 days until Christmas guys!) and as ever, there are loads of big exciting releases lined up - and hopefully one or two surprises coming our way before the year's end.

Before it all really kicks off, we take a look at the big releases you can expect to see dominating the Official Chart before you tuck into the Christmas turkey.

Little Mix – Get Weird

Release date: 6 November

2015's been a big one for The Mix, scoring their first Number 1 for three years with Black Magic. The lead single from Get Weird spent three weeks atop the Official Singles Chart this summer and took the quartet in a poppier direction than previous releases.

What's more, their promo track Hair reached Number 35 on the Official Singles Chart and current single Love Me Like You opened this week at 21.

There are some serious hitmakers on board, with songs penned by the likes of Steve Mac (Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis), Jess Glynne, Ed Drewett and Anita Blay, perhaps better known by pop aficionados as CockNBullKid. In fact, they told us all about it in our recent interview: 

MORE: All Little Mix's hits in their Official Chart archive

Ellie Goulding – Delirium

Release date: 6 November

Ellie will be hoping for a hat-trick of chart toppers (and is going up against Little Mix!) with her third album, following the success of Lights (2010) and Halcyon (2012).

The set is confirmed to include Ellie's Number 1 Love Me Like You Do from the Fifty Shades Of Grey film - which spent a month at the top back in January - and new single On My Mind, which went Top 10 on its release this month.

"A part of me views this album as an experiment - to make a big pop album," Goulding said of the collectrion, adding: "I made a conscious decision that I wanted it to be on another level.

"It can be describing a really happy, crazy state, or it can be the complete opposite. I'm constantly in a state of delirium."

MORE: Official Chart archive for Ellie Goulding

One Direction – Made In The A.M.

Release date: 13 November

2015 has been quite a year for 1D. They're one member lighter, following Zayn's departure, and scored their first chart-topper in over two years with Drag Me Down.

Made In The A.M. is their fifth release, and their last one before they take a break. Will it be their fourth Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart?

“It’s definitely our favourite,” Harry Styles recently said of the record. "It’s hard because you say it every time you have a new one, but we’re very proud of this one and I think we think it’s the best one, so we just hope people enjoy it. We worked really hard on it and it was a lot of fun to work on so we just hope everyone enjoys it."

MORE: One Direction's Official Chart archive

Justin Bieber - Purpose

Release date: 13 November

No title for this one yet, but the Biebs has confirmed a new album is on its way.

Justin has previously said he's been working with Kanye, Skrillex and legendary producer Rick Rubin, who's worked on Adele's 21 and Ed Sheeran's x.

The album is set to include What Do You Mean, which was Justin's first ever UK Number 1 and broke the Official Chart streaming record, clocking up 3.87 million listens in a week.

Bieber appears to be gearing up for a good old fashioned chart battle with this album, which will go toe-to-toe with One Direction's Made In The A.M. Announcing the release date of his album on Snapchat, the star said other acts should be afraid to go up against him. Fighting talk, Justin...

MORE: Justin Bieber's Official Chart artist hub

Kylie Minogue - Christmas

Release date: November 13

She played the Absinthe Fairy in Moulin Rouge and now Kylie's set to be the fairy atop your Christmas tree with her forthcoming festive album.

The collection - aptly titled Christmas - features a mammoth 22 tracks on the deluxe edition (13 on the standard) and includes collaborations with James Corden on Only You, Frank Sinatra on Santa Claus Is Coming To Town and Iggy Pop on the Waitresses classic Christmas Wrapping (see the full tracklisting here).

And that's not all: Kylie has also teamed up with her sister Dannii on a brand new song called 100 Degrees, which has been described as a "disco Christmas classic", so polish off your glitter-baubles in prep!

MORE: Kylie Minogue's Official Chart archive

Ben Haenow - Ben Haenow

Release date: November 13

Last year's X Factor champ returns just in time for this series' live shows (coincidence?) with his self-titled debut. He's pulling out all the stops for its lead single, teaming up with Kelly Clarkson for the track called Second Hand Heart, which is out October 9.

He's also teamed up with big-name songwriters for the LP, including Jim Duigud (Alex Clare's Too Close) and Amy Wadge, who co-write Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud for future single Slamming Doors. 

Discussing the album, Ben said: "I didn’t want to do an entire album where I was just taking songs from other people. I wanted to be in control too and have an influence so it was a record I was 100% proud and happy putting out."

Fleur East

Release date: TBC

Details on Fleur's debut album are scarce at the moment - except for its lead single Sax out on October 23 - but her recent chatter about the record is enough to get us excited.

“I just want people to react to it as though it’s a breath of fresh air,” Fleur told Fault Magazine of her new music, “It’s sort of old school meets new school. It’s got a lot of old school influences, old school funk, old school hip hop, sounds that people miss. Influences like Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, proper good music that we all love.

“It’s all very positive, very uplifting. I think that music can sometimes be taken too seriously. I enjoy what I do and I want people to feel that. I’ve put a lot of time and a lot of love into it and I hope that people really get behind me and enjoy the music as much as I do." Consider us on board!

Sia - This Is Acting 

Release date: TBC

It feels like just yesterday we were swinging from our chandelier to Sia's latest album, but the Aussie singer-songwriter is apparently eager to follow it up.

This Is Acting, so Sia says, is a "much more pop" affair made up of songs she originally wrote for other artists, including lead single Alive, which was originally submitted for Adele's new album. 

The star's latest record 1000 Forms Of Fear was her global breakthrough, despite being her sixth album. The record peaked at Number 5 on the Official Albums Chart (her first UK Top 40 LP) and includes the massive hits Chandelier and Elastic Heart. Will she go all the way with her next offering?

MORE: Check out Sia's full UK chart history

Olly Murs - Never Been Better: The Special Edition

Release date: November 20

It's not Q4 without an album repack; and this year's best looks to be from Olly Murs, who will release a special edition of his latest collection Never Been Better on November 20.

The expanded version will include seven extra songs including new single Kiss Me, and A DVD of his recent live show. With sales of the album currently at 600,000, could this new edition give him a third million-selling record? We eagerly await that big X Factor performance...

Adele

Release date: November, TBC

No, seriously, it's coming. It is. 2014 came and went without an Adele release, but this year we will be getting our Christmas wish.

The as-yet-untitled album will be Adele's third and contributors to the project include Danger Mouse and Ryan Tedder.

Sia's Alive, co-written with the star and Tobias Jesso Jr, was originally recorded for this album, it's been confirmed. Is that a sign of the sound to come?

Adele's last release, 21, from 2011, shifted over 4.7 million copies and is one of the biggest selling albums in the UK. No pressure then.

MORE: All Adele's hits in her Official Chart archive

Also on their way before the end of 2015 (click on links for more info)

October

Hurts - Surrender (October 9) 
Tom Jones - Long Lost Suitcase (October 9)
Selena Gomez - Revival (October 9)
Demi - Confident (October 16)
John Newman Revolve (October 16)
Maroon 5 - Singles (October 16)
OMI - Me 4 U (October 16)
5SOS - Sounds Good Feels Good (October 23)
Carrie Underwood - Storyteller (October 23)
James Morrison - Higher Than Here (October 30)
Guy Garvy - Courting Squall (October 30) 
Rod Stewart - Another Country (October 30) 
Elvis - If I Can Dream: Elvis With The Philharmonic Orchestra (October 30)

November

Anastacia - Ultimate Collection (November 6)
Charlie Puth - Nine Track Mind (November 6) 
Bob Dlyan -  The Cutting Edge: The Bootleg Series Vol 12 (November 6)
Seal - 7 (November 6) 
Phil Collins - Face Value And Both Sides (November 6)
Sam Smith - In The Lonely Hour: Drowning Shadows Edition (November 6)
Ben Haenow - Ben Haenow (November 13) 
The Vamps - Wake Up (November 27) 
Il Divo - Amore and Passion (November 27)
The Corrs - White Light (November 27) 

December

Bee Gees - You Should Be Dancing (December 4)
Chris Brown - Royalty (December 11) 

TBC

Emeli Sandé
David Guetta - Listen Again
Rita Ora
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis