Looking Forward

If we could do a cage match between all of the music released in 2008 and the music released in the first three months of 2009, which side would you put your bets on? Looking at MBV’s list of upcoming releases, there are at least two, maybe three or four or five albums that are contenders for best of the year status. Mind you, I’ve heard none of them—it’s just conjecture based on past pleasures. But what else is the internet for? Here’s a rundown of a handful of albums I’m keeping an ear out for.

Andrew Bird, Noble Beast + Useless Creatures (Jan. 20)
Me, excited for an Andrew Bird album? Shocker, I know. My only fear surrounding this album is that it will render my blog redundant. How many years in a row can I wax rhapsodic about Andrew Bird? Let’s try for three, shall we? By the way, don’t sleep on the limited-edition double-disc version. Usually I’d say an album’s worth of bonus instrumentals is not essential—Spoon’s Get Nice! addition to Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga springs to mind as a mildly entertaining but forgettable treat—but Andrew Bird plus a couple guys from Wilco sounds like it could be good. Not to mention all the instrumental tracks coloring the last two Bird albums have been as good as the proper songs.

• Stream the opening track, Oh No

Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion (Jan. 20)
I’m a latecomer to Animal Collective, having found pleasure in the band via Strawberry Jam and working my way backward through their catalog. Of everything I’ve heard, I still find Strawberry Jam their most compelling work, so I look forward to MPP as an outgrowth from that. I haven’t heard a lick of this record yet but it’s definitely the most exciting and unpredictable prospect of everything listed here.

A.C. Newman, Get Guilty (Jan. 20)
On the one hand, pretty much everything Carl Newman has done through the New Pornographers has been golden—yes, including Challengers. On the other, Newman’s other solo album, The Slow Wonder, is good but not great. It’s so close to, but not, the New Pornographers. Like coffee without the caffeine. So I’m intrigued enough for the new record and will probably check it out, though I’m not losing my shit in anticipation.

• A.C. Newman: There Are Maybe Ten Or Twelve

Polvo, Cor Crane Secret (Jan. 27)
Volcano Suns, All Night Lotus Party and The Bright Orange Years (Jan. 27)
I’ve had 90s indie rock on the brain for the last couple of months, particularly groups that didn’t seem to make as lasting an impression as one might have predicted back in the day. Polvo and the Volcano Suns both fall into this category, so I’m glad to see these reissues hitting shelves. I feel like there’s a lot of fifteen- or twenty-year-old indie rock just waiting to be rediscovered. Maybe it’s these bands, maybe it’s others, but I do predict a collective revisiting of the 90s canon soon.

• Polvo: Can I Ride
• Volcano Suns: Jak

Beirut, March of the Zapotec (Feb. 17)
Though I liked The Flying Cup Club, arguably even more than Beirut’s debut, I was still left lukewarm on Zach Condon the songwriter. I summarized that feeling in this post. Part of me feels that Zapotec will be a kind of final test for my tolerance of Beirut. He’s gone to Mexico for inspiration this time around! It feels like too much of a shtick. If his overall prowess as a crafter of great songs has improved, then it won’t matter. Good is good. But that remains to be seen.

Neko Case, Middle Cyclone (Mar. 3)
Unlike Carl Newman, Neko Case’s solo material is a world apart from her contributions to the New Pornographers, so I’m considerably more excited for Middle Cyclone than I am for Get Guilty. 2006’s Fox Confessor Brings the Flood was an incredibly slow burner for me. Despite buying it when it came out, it wasn’t until earlier this year that the album truly revealed itself to me. I appreciate that Case has grown beyond her Patsy Cline croon into a more mature songwriter. Hopefully she’s continuing on that trajectory (though I wouldn’t mind a few more uptempo numbers this time around).

Midlake, Courage of Others (TBA)
Peter Bjorn & John, TBA (TBA)
Not sure if these will come out by the end of March or not, but they're right up there with Andrew Bird and Animal Collective for most-anticipated album of the year. I spent most of 2007 listening to The Trials of Van Occupanther and Writer's Block. Unlike Bird and Animal Collective, I’m more anxious about this record—that is, less confident that the follow-up will equal or surpass the previous peak. I want these albums to blow my mind (especially the Midlake). Will they?

There's plenty of other albums on MBV's list; what's got you excited?

Comments

[Alex]

In addition to your list, I'm hopeful about the Franz Ferdinand (maybe they really can deliver on the promise they once showed), Ben Kweller, and Decembrists albums. And I'm also looking forward to the amazing out-of-left-field surprises that always seem to pop up!

Happy New Year!

[Sam/RaptorAvatar]

*Casiotone's 06' record, "Ettiquitte" was pretty underrated.
*Abe Vigoda I'm psyched for (though I think it might be a reissue, which is good because I only caught like 1/2 of their vinyl stuff first time around.)
*Thermals are hopefully going to exceed the heights they reached on "The Body, The Blood, The Machine." I'm at least expecting an unequivocal AOTY contender for the smartest third of Warped Tour Kids.
*Dan Deacon seems promising, based on what I've heard of the new stuff live. "Crystal Cat" is still his only great song as far as his recorded stuff. I guess he has either really good luck or a lot of untapped potential.
*I really want Trail of Dead to make a late-carreer masterpiece. "Madonna" and "Source Tags" are both so good but they just seem committed to making bad records these days.

[scott pgwp]

Alex - I'm always hopeful that the Decemberists will grab my ear again, the way they did with the first couple of records. I think it's a case of "it's not you, it's me," but kinda stopped paying attention to them around the time of the Crane Wife or the Tain.

Sam - I've heard none of the bands on your list (except for the first couple of AYWKUNBTTOD albums). Something about the blog love for Dan Deacon repulses me before I can bring myself to hear the actual music (Jay Reatard is the same way).