The new year brings a wealth of new pop-culture phenomena: Apple's MacBook Air (seriously, check it out), words like "friendiligence" (which pertains to diligent approval of Facebook friend requests -- no joke, Google it) and a hearty and fresh supply of new music offerings. Yes, 2008 offers audiophiles some splendid new records as well as some fantastic live shows to look forward to.
First of all, Radiohead is finally taking last year's headline-making "In Rainbows" on the road. The world's first "pay what you want" downloadable album was a critical and commercial success for the band in 2007, and they bring their act to the road this year for the first time since 2006. And yes, D.C. made the short list of tour dates. But exactly when is not certain.
The Magnetic Fields also help kick off the new year with a bang. Just Tuesday, the legendary band released its eighth album, "Distortion." Other January releases include Cat Power's second album of covers, appropriately titled "Covers II," and Xiu Xiu's "Women as Lovers."
This Tuesday is Super Tuesday, and that day not only marks the insane number of presidential primaries that will take place around the country, but it's also the return of some of the recording industry's leading, albeit mediocre, figures: Sheryl Crow, Jack Johnson, Lenny Kravitz and k.d. lang.
But that doesn't mean music fans can't look forward to the arrival of Lil' Wayne with "The Carter III" and Michael Jackson's 25th anniversary re-release of "Thriller," featuring a remix by Akon. Nas will also release his, ahem, unmentionable album (clue: starts with an "N" and ends with an "er") sometime in February.
Another thing to look forward to in February is the return of Hot Chip, with their third full-length release, titled "Made in the Dark." Their 2006 release "The Warning" made quite the impression, so let's hope they can follow it up successfully.
It's a big year for fans of noise rock, as Japan's legendary Boredoms finally bring a full-fledged tour to the United States. D.C.'s 9:30 club will be the last stop on their short tour. Expect tickets to sell out early, so if you like these guys, plan accordingly.
Speaking of D.C. tours, Jens Lekman, the Mountain Goats and the Fiery Furnaces all have D.C. tour dates scheduled this spring. In fact, the Furnaces drop in at the 9:30 club Jan. 27. The Black Cat gets a double dose of awesome, as the Goats are set to arrive March 22 and favorite Swede folkie Lekman brings the house down April 2.
Fans of Swedish music will be pleasantly surprised to hear that Annie will bring her delicious bubble-gum pop back with a new release in 2008, first with an EP and followed later in the year by a much-awaited LP. Another highly anticipated return comes in the form of Antony and the Johnsons, who prep their hauntingly beautiful sound in "The Crying Light," set for a late 2008 release.
Three legendary bands are coming up big this spring, with My Bloody Valentine, The Breeders and Portishead all set to release new material and share their live musical talent with a small portion of the world. MBV is said to be recording new material now, but there is no confirmation of when we might hear this stuff. Their tour will take them to a few stops in Great Britain, so unless you have travel plans to somewhere in that vicinity this spring, I'd say wait for the new material.
The Breeders have already scheduled "Mountain Battles" for a release sometime this spring and also plan a short U.K. tour, along with a much-anticipated performance at the Coachella Music Festival in California at the end of April. Portishead will drop their new album in April and have scheduled only a few U.K. tour dates this year.
And everyone's favorite freak-folkers are set to have another extraordinary year, as Animal Collective prepares to take over the world. They plan on releasing an LP box set, a new EP and going on yet another world tour, stopping for three shows in Japan and one in Britain. Let's not forget a series of radio and Web broadcasts they have planned with the likes of the BBC.
Who can resist AC? Very few. Who can resist the timeless appeal of Scarlett Johansson? No one, I'd say. Well, this year marks the release of her first album. Yeah, that's right, album. It's called "Scarlett Sings Tom Waits." Creative, right? Who knew the girl could sing, though? With lips like those, I say sign me up.
