We're only three months into the year, and we're already chomping at the bit to get the great albums that are coming out right around the corner. From old favorites to up-and-comers, these artists have put together albums we're excited by, enthralled by and, hopefully, impressed by. Here's a list of seven that will make an impact this year.
The Thermals - "Now We Can See" April 9 After composing one of the best political albums of the Bush years - the stellar "The Body, The Blood, The Machine," a concept album about the escape from a fictitious Christian theocracy that's light on preaching and heavy on the pop-punk hooks - The Thermals are releasing their fourth album, "Now We Can See." The title track, which has been available for a few months, shows the same enthusiastic post-punk as its predecessor while offering something fresh for a new American era. It sounds - pardon the hackneyed cliché - hopeful.
Bob Dylan - "Together Through Life" April 28 Save the snark - everyone knows that Dylan's voice sounds like a teddy bear caught in a lawn-mower - but 2006's "Modern Times" proved that the prolific songwriter still has the ability to recreate himself again and again. His newest album promises to continue the trend that "Times" started, featuring more of the same bluesy country with enough populist posturing to make people feel a bit better about their melting 401(k)s or at least forget about them for a little while.
Lil Wayne - "Rebirth" May So you've just completed what many critics consider the best hip-hop album in years, which then went on to sell over three million copies worldwide. You might be tempted to rest on your laurels, but Lil Wayne would never consider such a thing. "Rebirth" isn't just a title; it's a philosophy for a new era of Wayne's career. Stepping out of the hip-hop limelight, the ubiquitous artist takes on everything from upbeat dance-punk to the dreaded power ballad with a host of guest performers ranging from Avril Lavigne to Lenny Kravitz. If nothing else, it'll be interesting to see such a large departure for such a fabled performer.
Eminem - "Relapse" May 18 Eminem wants you to know that his new album "Relapse" is serious business. Forget all the embarrassing rumors about depression and sudden weight gain: The rapper's first album in four years is being produced by Dr. Dre himself and purports to be darker and more meaningful than the artist's former work. That might be a good thing of course - we're not sure if the world could handle another "Slim Shady" in the sorry state it's in now. Hopefully Eminem will be able to retrieve that massive fan base he had before he fell off the radar.
Wale - "Attention: Deficit" June A little hometown pride never hurt anyone, so any D.C. resident worth his mettle should be on the lookout for this new album from local rapper Wale. His latest single "Chillin" features the lovely vocals of Lady Gaga and samples M.I.A. and classic college fight songs, but the sound is anything but scatter-brained - it is a tightly focused, well-composed and blood-pumping take on a classic hip-hop sound. Look for this album to point to when your friends insist D.C. has nothing else to offer besides stiff suits.
Regina Spektor - "Far" June This Russian anti-folk darling caught a lot of attention for her last several albums, which contained the kind of absurdist wit, wry storytelling and twinkling piano tones that had fans rabid for more. While the singer seems to get quirkier with each album, she's enlisted the help of some top producers to help her with this effort, including Garret Lee of U2 and R.E.M. fame. Hopefully no amount of outsider influence will strip away the goofy charm of Spektor's uniquely personal songs.
Wilco - Title TBD June While the new Wilco album may not have a title, it is hard to imagine a group that manages to create more buzz with each album. While "Sky Blue Sky" may not have lived up to the sublime "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot," there is still a lot of excitement for Wilco's seventh album, which promises to continue the act's blend of country twang with the dense lyricism of the acoustic troubadour. Tweedy said in a Rolling Stone interview that "it is really our best album yet," so if you're looking for a challenging take on the alt-country genre, this might be the right place to look.
You can reach this staff writer at mrichardson@theeagleonline.com.
