Rather than write a new year post about resolutions unfulfilled or a silly recap of a wild, new beginning year of 2012, I figured I would just stick to music. Some new albums have already dropped in 2013 that have made many music fans happy. A$AP Rocky's album, Long Live A$AP, was my first listen to any of his music. I can say, as a matter-of-fact, that I was simply blown the fuck away. If the album had not already been released, it would be number one on this list, without a doubt. Songs such as "Goldie," "Hell," which features a fantastic feature of Santigold, and "Fuckin' Problems," A$AP is climbing up the underground ranks and should find himself with a nice set-time come Coachella 2013. Back to what has yet to hit stores, though. This list of albums are what I am looking out for. I tried to incorporate something from each genre because there is a plethora of funky tunes out there. Some are new artists, some are of an older cut, but all should be making headlines with their releases this year. Take a look:
Artist: Alkaline Trio
Album: TBA
Release Date: TBA
Arist: Johnny Marr
Album: The Messenger
Release Date: February 25
This legendary alternative-rock guitarist will be embarking on his first solo effort since, well, ever. That's right, throughout Marr's progressive run with The Smiths from 1982-1987, his brief stint with The Pretenders in '88, and his studio work with well know artists such as Modest Mouse over the next fourteen years, the man never recorded a solo album. If I had it my way, this album would be completely instrumental. What ruined Slash's solo gig, in my opinion, were the bullshit features he had on every song. Hopefully Marr just sticks to guitar (that rhymes) and a small tour of indie-clubs soon follows. Marr's influence on rock music as a guitarist was undeniable. His rhythm matched Morrisey's soothing voice on "I Have Forgiven Jesus," his gritty guitar ripped through Modest Mouse classics such as "Dashboard" and "Florida;" I hope I do not need to say more. We should all be very excited this album is finally going to drop.
Artist: Kid Cudi
Album: Indicud
Release Date: TBA
If any of you have even remotely followed The Kid Named Cudi's twitter page (@ducidni), this album will not need a whole lot of background information. Cudi has proposed Indicud to be "the greatest album of all time," acknowledging it will be his version of Chronic 2001. Basically, Cudi will rap on some songs, produce others exclusively, and, at the end of the day, have a shit ton of features. I can dig. I have been a Cudi fan since Freshman year of college attending Santa Clara when the homeboy @trillbau gave me a couple of Scott Mescudi's mixtapes. I was all on the hype and have loved both of his studio albums: Man on the Moon I and Man on the Moon II. Speaking of Coachella, Cudi is my surprise guess as a second-tear headliner for Weekend One. Bang.
Artist: Killswitch Engage
Album: Disarm the Descent
Release Date: April 2
Look Mommy, we listen to metal, too! With their sixth studio album coming up, Killswitch Engage jumped back into the recording studio with original lead singer Jesse Leach. With uplifting lyrics and sometimes religious message, do not think Leach is peacefully singing these tunes. His howling scream has been missed on the last couple of Killswitch albums and I know some metal heads out there who are happy to have him back. While fill-in lead singer Howard Jones did a fine job, his high-pitched Dio-esque voice was a complete 180 from what Killswitch was founded on and what people came to love them for. I am relieved to know one of the founding bands of metalcore have reunited with their lead singer. Mr. Leach, we now give you the premission to head-bang the fuck out.
Artist: The Joy Formidable
Album: Wolf's Law
Release Date: July 21
Ah, the curse of the potential sophomore slump. Let's be honest, Mumford's Babel was great, but it is no Sigh No More, and Bon Iver's Bon Iver was mesmerizing, but I am not sure any indie album will ever come close to For Emma, Forever Ago. Which brings me to my next artist who I have incredibly high expectations for - The Joy Formidable. Their debut album, The Big Roar, grabbed hipsters by the ears and did not let go of their ear drums for for a good solid year. I found out about these guys at Outside Lands in San Francisco exactly one month after they debuted. Amazing. "Whirring" is still on every playlist I make and the opening track "The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie" is a haunting, psychedelic, hard-rock adventure all put into a seven minute jam. Critics describe their music as shoegazing, whatever that means. All I know is that Ritzy Bryan is one of the coolest front ladies in the all the land. Let's just hope their second release lives up to the hype of the first. I'm voting yes.
Artist: Bad Religion
Album: True North
Release Date: July 22
The legendary LA punk band is at it again. Yes, those God-defying, red-line-through-a-cross-logo lunatics are back in the punk scene...for the 16th time, no less. Bad Religion, the saviors of the melodic hardcore genre, are releasing True North just two years after their release of The Dissent of Man, an album which was thought to be their last. Rumors began to circulate in the spring of 2012 that front man Greg Graffin and co-lyricist/guitarist Brett Gurwitz had rallied the troops and were recording new songs. Said to have been inspired by Pennywise's latest release, All or Nothing, Bad Religion said they went into the studio with the mindset of writing a fast punk record, similar to 1987's Suffer and 1989's No Control; two of their most prized pieces of work. The first single off of True North, "Fuck You," does have quite the old school Bad Religion sound to it, as expected. All punk fans should be pumped for this one. However with this excitement comes the high probability that this is, in fact, Bad Religion's last piece of work. Happy 32 years, boys.
Artist: Atoms for Peace
Album: Amok
Release Date: February 25
Flea and Thom Yorke. Need I say more? Okay, here it goes... These two cats got together back in 2009 with three other dudes (who are all, in one way or another, connected to either the Red Hot Chili Peppers or Radiohead) and began playing live shows together. Most of the music was originally written, but with the mega-status of both the Chili Peppers and Radiohead, no one expected anything other than just a couple of live shows and maybe some small time touring. Atoms for Peace played a Coachella show and since then have not done much; well, at least not to my knowledge. All that is about to change, though, with their February 25 release of Amok. I guess there is quite a bit of experimental wackiness going on here (go figure) and also a hefty dose of Yorke's electronica talent. In any event, I cannot wait for what this album could potentially do to the alternative/indie scene. How many bass solos are going to be laid over an electronic computer? How many times is Thom Yorke going to sing about shit I don't understand? Should be fun.
Artist: Pusha-T
Album: My Name is My Name
Release Date: TBA
Signing to Kanye's G.O.O.D. Music record label, collaborations with Tyler, the Creator, and already a couple beefs with Lil Wayne, Pusha-T is a solo artist in the game to be reckoned with. Woo! This is hands down the album I am most looking forward to this year. His first official mixtape, Fear of God, was produced with such high quality and was lyrically so genius that P came right back with his extended play, Fear of God II: Let Us Pray...another solo masterpiece. Pusha will not hesitate to remind you of the love he has for his brother and co-Clipse member, Malice, but he is on a one man mission for right now and that does not end until his debut album, My Name is My Name, is released. I saw this guy back in November of 2011 with Stoye and Pusha was already promoting it. Expect all new production, all new lyrics, same old Push. His mixtapes have had some okay features on them, but I expect this album to be one of the best hip-hop has to offer this year. Rick Flair, na mean? Also, as a quick aside, don't be surprised if we see a new Clipse single drop around the time Pusha-T's album is released, he enjoys shocking us.
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