Well, for some unknown reason Mogwai's new The Hawk Is Howling album isn't available on eMusic yet, which is odd when y'realize that new Matador releases are usually available on eMusic on the street release date. For example, the new Brightblack Morning Light album was available on the 23rd, the same day Mogwai was supposed to come out. Huh.
This got me to thinking: there's still a few albums that will be released before the year's up, which is nice considering that, let's face it, 2008's output has been kind of underwhelming thus far. As you can tell from my most recent Best Albums of 2008 list, there have been a lot of decent albums so far this year, but few that have truly knocked me on my (admittedly fat) ass. (Full disclosure: since I compiled that last list, I've been blindsided by how awesome the new Metallica album is. Man, it's weird to be thinking of Metallica again as one-of-the-best-if-not-the-best bands in the world instead of an embarassing shell of their former selves. Kudos to you, you Pro Tools-worshipping, Armani-wearing bastards!)
So enjoy this delightfully incomplete list for what it is. And yes, I hate the term "the skinny" as much as you do, if not more. Shudder.
The Best Albums Still to Come in 2008
Jay Reatard - Matador Singles Compilation (10/7)
The skinny: the esteemed Mister Reatard has drawn raves with his recent series of Matador singles, which have sent collectors a'scramblin' to secure each successive one (there's a gradually smaller amount available for each 7"). For those of us who can't fit a record player in their apartment, Matador will be kindly collecting each of these sides on CD. Blood Visions was good, as was the recent In the Red compilation, but this is supposedly the best of the lot. Fuck yeah!
The Clash - Live at Shea Stadium (10/7)
Recorded while the band was opening for the Who in 1982, buying this one will allow me to remunerate ever so slightly for all the Clash bootlegs I've downloaded over the years. Although this documents the band after their prime, it should be at least decent, no?
AC/DC - Black Ice (10/10)
It's too easy to simply dismiss this offhand as terrible, since Ballbreaker and Stiff Upper Lip were fucking dreary affairs. Does Metallica's comeback make this one more or less likely to suck, or is there no effect? Discuss.
Times New Viking - Stay Awake EP (10/21)
The skinny: Rip It Off fucking smokes (#8 so far this year), and since I've enjoyed pretty much everything these guys have put out up until this point, I'd have to wager that this one will be a worthwhile purchase.
Deerhunter - Microcastle (10/28)
The skinny: I love these guys so I'm biased. Cryptograms was one of '07's finest albums (third best, according to me). Seen 'em live three times so far in '08 (including this show in early September), and the new material has blown me away each time; much more of a straighforward rock thing going on rather than the dense sound experiments of Cryptograms, although, fortunately, some of the trademark weirdness remains. Call me a cheeseball, but the finger-tapping coda on "It Never Happened" is pretty much the greatest thing ever.
Eagles of Death Metal - Heart On (10/28)
The skinny: Peace Love Death Metal rocked, while Death By Sexy was too heavy on obviously copped Stones licks to be any good. Seriously, every other song sounded like "Brown Sugar" or "Gimme Shelter" or whatever. I doubt this one will be worth it, but let's face it, I'll eventually hear this one. I'm a bored, bored man.
The Who - Live at Kilburn 1977 (11/28)
The skinny: hmm, I probably shouldn't be including this because apparently it's a DVD. Probably not that essential either way given the vast amount of extremely high quality Who bootlegs that are readily available. A quick scan through Tuddd archives reveals a definite lack of Who boots from 1977. But no matter, The true gem on this set is the "bonus" material which comprises a complete run-thru of Tommy from the band's live peak, in 1969. Who the fuck am I kidding, I'm definitely buying this, although I'll probably wait to get it used on eBay.
Raveonettes - various EPs (I'm lazy and stoned)
The skinny: they've already put out two of these bad boys over the last couple of weeks, one of which (this one) I haven't heard yet, and the other of which is kinda boring, although said second one does find Sune n' Sharin setting out on a direction (electronic) different than anything they've focused on up 'till this point. They're putting out two more EPs over the coming months, including one Christmas-themed deal.
Shawen Acres - The Precious Blood Festival (who knows)
Former Guided by Voices rhythm guitarist/blacked out superstar Nate Farley has apparently cobbled together a-long-in-the-making first album, although I have no idea how to get my hands on it. Under the Shawen Acres name, there have been songs kicking around -- some of 'em pretty damn good -- for some time now... seriously Nate, get your shit together, man! In the meantime, check out some mp3s here and here.
Chris Cornell - Turdburglar Deluxe (who cares)
I was listening to Badmotorfinger (still awesome incidentally) the other day when it dawned on me that Mr. Cornell's newest solo album was produced by Timbaland. Somewhere, Cinnabon daytime supervisor Kim Thayil is fucking pissed.
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While Googling excessively for this entry, I came across a few albums that originally were rumored to be out in '08 but won't be out now until '09. Here's a few of the more interesting ones:
Franz Ferdinand -- liked the first album okay, thought the second was a pile of arrogant crap. Meh, I'll probably buy this one.
Science Faxtion - Living on Another Frequency -- starring Bootsy Collins, Buckethead and Brain, this promises to rival Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains for awesomeness, although this collab replaces said Claypool with Bootsy (good) but loses Bernie Worrell (not good). I predict equal parts weirdness and chops, which can be fun in the right hands.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs -- these guys always seem to have a lot on their plates with side projects. If they can put out an album-length Is Is, this will be one of '09's best.
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Okay, I was going to make this longer but I'll try to start another one reasonably soon going into more depth about albums that are out already that I haven't yet heard. Should be a real humdinger!
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NOW LISTENING:
Bobby Bare Jr. playlist
Now there are some notable omissions, but so far here's what's on there. If you've ever seen the man live (as I did very recently), you'll notice it resembles an average (read: awesome) Bobby Bare Jr. set although it's notably light on the slower songs ("Demon Valley," "Mayonnaise Brain," "Borrow Your Girlfriend" and others will eventually make it on here in some capacity).
1.) I'll Be Around - from OK I'm Sorry EP
2.) Flat Chested Girl From Maynardville - from OK I'm Sorry EP
3.) Uh Wuh Oh - from The Longest Meow
4.) Valentine - from OK I'm Sorry EP
(segues into)
5.) Mother Ucker - from OK I'm Sorry EP
6.) Let's Rock and Roll - from Nick Nacks and Paddy Whacks
7.) Dig Down - from Nick Nacks and Paddy Whacks
8.) Terrible Sunrise - from Nick Nacks and Paddy Whacks
9.) Borrow Your Cape - from The Longest Meow
10.) Stop Cryin' - from The Longest Meow
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Holy shit, I just realized I'm seeing Robert Pollard's Boston Spaceships tomorrow night. This is huge. See you there/Tuddd out.
