Spring Break
Albums to get excited about in 2008
Grant Snider
Issue date: 1/14/08 Section: Culture
Whether you obtain your music through the iTunes empire, a file-sharing Web site outside the grip of the Recording Industry Association of America, your endangered local record shop, or some shady looking dude on the corner of 39th and Broadway streets, here are some promising 2008 releases, grouped conveniently by genre.
Indie Rock
1. Mountain Goats, "Heretic Pride" will be released Feb. 19. Lyrical genius (I don't use that term lightly) John Darnielle returns with a full band and some more deeply personal, darkly hilarious tunes. Some suggestive song titles: "How to Embrace a Swamp Creature," "Marduk T-Shirt Men's Room Incident" and "Michael Myers Resplendent."
2. Colin Meloy, "Skulls, Ship, Sheep" will be released April 8. Decemberists frontman's first solo offering of original material. Perfect for fans of Edward Gorey, Lemony Snicket, Morrissey or the Decemberists.
3. Silver Jews, "Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea" will be released sometime in April. Lyrical genius (I swear, I don't use that term lightly) David Berman weaves existential fables, bridging the chasm between country rock and art rock.
4. Sun Kil Moon, "April" will be released April 1, which is fitting given the album title.
5. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks "Real Emotional Trash" will be released in March. Apparently this Malkmus guy played in some band called Pavement a decade ago.
Rap
1. Lil Wayne, "Tha Carter III" will be released Feb. 12. Despite my aversion to most Southern rap that isn't OutKast, I do enjoy this fellow's sharp wit.
2. Dr. Dre, "Detox" will be released in June. Detox? Maybe Dr. Dre is a psychiatrist specializing in addiction to "The Chronic."
3. The Roots, "Rising Down" will be released April 29. It's not the politically and socially articulate rhymes of Black Thought that power The Roots. It's Questlove's hair.
Nineties Top 40 Radio Nostalgia
1. Counting Crows, "Saturday Nights, Sunday Mornings" will be released March 25. "Mister Jones and me" look forward to it.
Indie Rock
1. Mountain Goats, "Heretic Pride" will be released Feb. 19. Lyrical genius (I don't use that term lightly) John Darnielle returns with a full band and some more deeply personal, darkly hilarious tunes. Some suggestive song titles: "How to Embrace a Swamp Creature," "Marduk T-Shirt Men's Room Incident" and "Michael Myers Resplendent."
2. Colin Meloy, "Skulls, Ship, Sheep" will be released April 8. Decemberists frontman's first solo offering of original material. Perfect for fans of Edward Gorey, Lemony Snicket, Morrissey or the Decemberists.
3. Silver Jews, "Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea" will be released sometime in April. Lyrical genius (I swear, I don't use that term lightly) David Berman weaves existential fables, bridging the chasm between country rock and art rock.
4. Sun Kil Moon, "April" will be released April 1, which is fitting given the album title.
5. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks "Real Emotional Trash" will be released in March. Apparently this Malkmus guy played in some band called Pavement a decade ago.
Rap
1. Lil Wayne, "Tha Carter III" will be released Feb. 12. Despite my aversion to most Southern rap that isn't OutKast, I do enjoy this fellow's sharp wit.
2. Dr. Dre, "Detox" will be released in June. Detox? Maybe Dr. Dre is a psychiatrist specializing in addiction to "The Chronic."
3. The Roots, "Rising Down" will be released April 29. It's not the politically and socially articulate rhymes of Black Thought that power The Roots. It's Questlove's hair.
Nineties Top 40 Radio Nostalgia
1. Counting Crows, "Saturday Nights, Sunday Mornings" will be released March 25. "Mister Jones and me" look forward to it.
Be the first to comment on this story