Hey you guys! Sorry for the long absence. I'm just trying to cherish as much of my winter break as I can. Anyway, here are my most anticipated albums of 2009. Most Anticipated Albums of 2009
2008 was a great year for music. Axel Rose finally decided to come out of his cave and unleash the long-awaited Chinese Democracy. Other metal greats like Metallica and AC/DC proved they still have what it takes to rock out with the best. The generous Trent Reznor delighted fans with a double-whammy of free material, offering The Slip and Ghosts. ‘08 was also the year of electronic dance-rock with astonishing, breakthrough releases from MGMT and Crystal Castles.
2009 looks to be just as amazing, with releases from prominent rock greats such as Green Day and U2. Also, with the ever-changing advancements of the internet and blooming use of innovative digital technology, music of all kinds are more accessible than ever, allowing for many new artists to more easily have the ability to put their fresh music out there for audiences to hear.
Here are some of the artists that I’m most excited for:
Franz Ferdinand
Title: Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
Producer: Dan Carey
Release date: January 27, 2009
>>In an interview with the Scottish quartet, the British Newspaper The Independent reported that the band’s third album would have some African influences. Singer Alex Kapranos stated "The last record was...like a teenager having sex. This one's a bit more assured and a bit friendlier for the dance floor." Expect some more groove-shaking tunes, with an extra side of glazy synths.
Lily Allen
Title: It’s Not Me, It’s You
Producer: Greg Kurstin
Release date: February 10, 2009
>>2008 was a tough year for the British songstress, amidst all the media blitz that surrounded her, of her wild, late-night partying, miscarriage with father Ed Simmons of The Chemical Brothers, topless photos freely available, bouts of depression, and not to mention the well-known public beefs against Amy Winehouse and Katy Perry. Allen has put all that behind her and is ready to take back her title of the raucously witty, unique, in-your-face female artist du jour. With her new album, Allen states that she’s heading in a “new direction,” rationalizing “I did a retro thing last time, And since I did that, a lot of other people did it too. I wanted to separate myself from the group and move forward". We can’t wait to see where this new direction will take her.
Taking Back Sunday
Title: New Again
Producer: David Khan
Release date: expect it early 2009
>>The future of TBS looked rather glum, as crucial member Fred Mascherino departed from the band in order to focus on his solo career. With the introduction of new member Matt Fazzi of Facing New York (who will replace Mascherino on guitar and vocals), the band again breathes new life, aptly titling their upcoming record New Again. Bassist Matt Rubano divulges that the forthcoming album is set to make “breakthroughs in their sound.” He continues, “"On this record, we challenged ourselves to write the best songs we possibly could while trying new things in an effort to push the envelope in terms of what it means to sound like Taking Back Sunday. I think this record has an honesty and an urgency that we haven't achieved before."
Silversun Pickups
Title: Swoon
Producer: Dave Cooley
Release date: expect it early 2009
>> The band identified as the second coming of the Smashing Pumpkins are tucked away in a Los Angeles studio, putting the finishing touches to their follow up of Carnavas, using the same man behind the soundboards, producer Dave Cooley. The album will include 17 tracks. Vocalist Brian Aubert iterates that instead of having a straight forward mid-tempo sound, "some songs are very quiet and delicate, [while] others are just fucking loud."
Yeah Yeah Yeah’s
Title: Untitled
Producer: ?
Release date: expect it early 2009
>>The spunky New York-based trio posted on their website last year: “Will it sound kind of like Show Your Bones? No, been there done that. What about Is Is? Is that more of the direction it's going in? Absolutely not, it sounds very different from last year's EP. Did we go back to our roots and write something closer to Fever to Tell? No, looking back now [is] silly, just full speed ahead. What does it sound like?? Not much like anything you've heard from us before. Does it sound like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs??? You bet your sweet ass it does."
Killswitch Engage
Title: Untitled
Producer: Adam Dutkiewicz, Brendan O’Brien
Release date: expect it Spring 2009
>>After releasing As Daylight Dies two years ago, the metalcore heavyweights entered back into the studio in October and are on track for a Spring release. The band is going for a first this time, as guitarist [and regular producer] Adam Dutkiewicz loosens the reins to let producer Brendan O'Brien step in to assist in the metal foray. KsE will more than likely give us a sample of their new stuff as they embark on the Music as a Weapon tour along with Disturbed.
Circa Survive
Title: Untitled
Producer: ?
Release date: expect it Spring 2009
>>The experimental/progressive rock band have rented a house in Pennsylvania, where they are busy, working hard on their third album, their first not released by the familiar Equal Vision Records. Frontman Anthony Green spent most of last year focused on his solo album Avalon, but all the while, craving the taste of Circa Survive. Green reveals a descriptive scrap of what the next record will sound like: “A lot of what I’m hearing is way faster and more upbeat…But at the other end of the spectrum, there’s this super-melodic, really atmospheric space.”
Paramore
Title: Untitled
Producer: ?
Release date: expect it Summer 2009
>>2008 was a whirlwind of a year for these emo/pop-punk rockers. The platinum studded Riot! catapulted the young Nashvillans to the top, as they made their mark everywhere from music to movies to video games, garnering regular rotation on MTV, a Grammy nod, key tracks for the hit movie Twilight, and appearances in the wildly popular Rock Band and Guitar Hero, adding even more pressure to the fledgling group as apparent through their well-publicized internal issues. With personal troubles behind, they are recording in their hometown, and plan to have something in the summer. Singer Hayley Williams reveals that the biggest inspiration for her lyrical formation is life: "[We've been getting inspired by] life, really. It's not one specific instance or record or book or anything. We're constantly taking in new music — that's what we're passionate about — but I think life has given us a lot to say, and I'm really excited…”
All Time Low
Title: Untitled
Producer: Matt Squire, Butch Walker, and David Bendeth
Release date: expect it Summer 2009
>>These young, boisterous pop-punkers did quite well for themselves last year, as they gained popularity with their commercially successful full length So Wrong, It’s Right, coveting treasured spots in (the now-defunct) TRL and Jimmy Kimmel Live, and landing the cover of Alternative Press magazine’s Band of the Year issue, while captivating the hearts of little, teenie fangirls everywhere. Their last album was a tasty morsel of pop punk confection, but, as for the new album, vocalist Alex Gaskarth explains, “We’re just trying to look at writing a great record. Last time, we really did go into the studio saying we wanted to make a consistent pop-punk record. Now, we’d like to just kid of make sure we write good songs.”
Against Me!
Title: Untitled
Producer: ?
Release date: expect it Fall 2009
>> 2007’s New Wave was a polarizing force, dividing the opinions amongst many long-term fans, with cries of “sell-out” being tossed around. The sociopolitical punk quartet spent much of last year on the road, with plans to start writing, and tentatively begin recording in late spring, and towards the end of that year, vocalist/ braintrust Tom Gabel debuted his solo EP, an assorted amalgamation of folk punk rock, not too far from the vein of New Wave. Gabel explains his vision of the upcoming album: “I want it to be the next logical step, and I want it to be something different…I can guarantee it won’t sound like New Wave, and I can guarantee it won’t sound like anything we’ve done before.”
Here are some tentative speculations. Though many are said to have been working on some new material, a release this year is totally up in the air. Let’s cross our fingers we’ll get at least a tiny taste from these preeminent bands:
Brand New
>>The band’s website announced that they had been in and out of the studio since about March, with roughly fifteen tracks to play with. During an acoustic concert on July 17 with Kevin Devine, frontman Jesse Lacey debuted some of the first material from their upcoming album.
Radiohead
>>What else is there to say about this band? With their revolutionary release of In Rainbows, these rock heavyweights are at the top of their game. Of course, absolutely any piece of news about them would be of interest to everyone. The Fly (of the UK) revealed that the band has finished “the main bulk of it,” as quoted by guitarist Ed O’Brien. But, who really knows? This band always has its fill of surprises. Let’s hope they give out their next release for free, again.
Glassjaw
>>These post-hardcore legends’ next full-length has been expected for a while now, and fans are skeptical of it ever being released. They have posted little tidbits of new material up on their website, including "You Think You're John Fucking Lennon.” From our understanding, most of the group have completed their parts for the new album, they’re just waiting on the vocals. C’mon Daryl, throw us a frickin’ bone here…please! Well, here’s hoping they’ll give us something, at least, by the year 2022.
Muse
>>In a Q&A with fans on the official Muse message board, bassist Christoper Wolstenholme stated that "It would be nice to have the album out in the second half of next year (2009) but we have not set ourselves any targets. It is more important for us to make the best album we have made to date and if that means it comes out in 2010 then we don’t mind. Hopefully it will be sooner though".
Deftones
>>These metal juggernauts have been working on the new album since Fall 2007, and started recording on April 14, 2008. The making of their next release titled Eros has been well-documented, as the band posted a number of videos on MySpace and their blog, showing the recording process. They have been well into the mixing stage. On November 4, 2008 bassist Chi Cheng was involved in an unfortunate accident, resulting in a coma. We’re not quite sure how Chi’s condition will affect the release, but keep up those prayers for him.
(Taken from Spin.com, Hayley Williams/Gwen Stefani)