My Five Most Anticipated Albums of 2009

Maybe it's just me, but 2008 was a rather slow year for music - or, at least, for the sort of music that I listen to. In actuality, it was probably an average year, seeing releases from names like Lil' Wayne, Fall Out Boy, and Beyonce, as well as countless others.

But what about kids like me? You know, the insufferable fucking hipsters? That's not to say that I don't enjoy the music of the aforementioned (although Fall Out Boy is pretty hit or miss), it's just that 2008 seemed to bring little more than teasers and disappointment. The hiatuses of Godspeed and The Blood Brothers were made permanent, Stars and Manchester Orchestra released short EPs to whet the appetite, and Glassjaw remained silent (again). And all the while, heavy hitters like Death Cab, TV On The Radio (I seem to be alone on this), M83, and Of Montreal rested on their laurels, turning lackluster efforts that underwhelmed in every sense. Sure, there were some great releases, but that's for another post. The point here is that, after the year this has been, I am particularly excited to see what the next twelve months has to offer.

And so, without further ado, the five albums that I cannot wait to hear, be it in 2009 or 2099...

***
1. Brand New - ?

It took 3 years and a couple of leaked demos between Deja Entendu and The Devil And God (released in 2006). So, now it's 2009 - time for some more Brand New. As mentioned in their recent e-mail, Brand New should start touring sometime this year with an album to hopefully follow.

I'll be first in line to hear it.

2. Glassjaw - Glassjaw!

(You Think You're) John Fucking Lennon was a nice start, but amounted to little more than a tease. No more Head Automatica, no more United Nations. Daryl Palumbo, it's time to put up or shut up. I want Glassjaw, and I want it now.

3. This Is My Suitcase - ?

They're fun, and I want to hear more. Duh.

4. mewithoutYou - mewithoutYou & Friends

I know that nothing's going to top Brother, Sister. But I'd really love to hear them try.

5. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing

I'm Like A Virgin Losing A Child was a great major debut, and I think that Manchester Orchestra has a few great records left in them. When I saw them a couple weeks ago, they played a few new songs (one of which had the chorus "Mean everything to nothing"), and I was pretty impressed. Their EP was enjoyable enough, and I have high hopes for the forthcoming LP.

Songs of the week: 8/26/08

I figured it might be a good idea to add a regular feature to this website, if for no other reason than it guarantees at least one post per week during those droughts when I feel lazy and don't want to be a critic. So, songs of the week, and in no particular order - this week there are five, next week there could be three or there could be 117. Check in next Tuesday for more!

***songs of the week #1
1. I Will Survive (Cover) - Cake (I might actually like this cover better than Gloria Gaynor's (apparently not quite) superlative original.
2. In A Market, Dimly Lit - mewithoutYou (Everybody knows it - I'm a sucker for mwY, what can I say?)
3. Always New Depths - Bloc Party (My favorite Bloc Party song, by far. Shame it never got a proper album release...)
4. Piano - Glassjaw (I promise I don't hate most women quite this much - just one)
5. I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane - Peter, Paul & Mary (I just left home for three months earlier this week, cut me some slack.)