Labels tend to save their bigger album releases for the last quarter of the year—the better to nab sales during the holiday season, of course (among other reasons). However, it feels like hotly anticipated albums are starting to arrive earlier and earlier in the year. In fact, many of AP’s can’t-miss fall 2011 albums are arriving well before fall even begins. In light of this, let’s just call the following list a collection of late-2011 albums we’re stoked to hear—and you should be excited about, too. In no particular order...

Writers: Matthew Bemer [MB], Amber Wade [AW], Annie Zaleski [AZ]