As I was scouring the neighborhood around 9pm last night after work looking for an open pet store, I flipped through the local radio stations looking for something new and interesting. I really didn’t expect to find much, but after awhile, I finally hit something with a cool beat and lyrics. Something that I hadn’t heard before and sounded different. I kinda liked it, but couldn’t place it.
It turns out that the station was previewing the new Green Day album, 21st Century Breakdown, (due out in stores and online today). I consider myself somewhat of a Green Day fan, despite the fact I only own Dookie and American Idiot. (And there’s a good, somewhat funny concert story related to the band mixed in there as well.) As such, I’ve been cautiously optimistic about their new album.
Fortunately, from what I heard in between futile stops at closed pet stores, it sounded pretty good, and I decided to buy it today. But as I made that decision, I realized that there are very few albums coming out soon that I’m genuinely looking forward to with anticipation and excitement. And I was truly surprised by how ambivalent I really felt about this release by a band that I know I like. Maybe that’s because as we get older, we become more picky and more frugal. Or perhaps we just haven’t heard anything awesome in such a long time, we figure it might be best to wait and see if we hear some buzz before we cautiously download a song, much less an entire album.
Who knows.
What I do know, is that the only albums I can currently recall that I am looking forward to are the upcoming Patty Griffin, Charlie Robison and Levon Helm albums. Griffin is always fantastic. Robison’s album has good advance buzz and is bound to be interesting given the time period in his life in which he wrote it. And I’m a recent Helm fan. But, help me out…there’s gotta be more!
Which albums coming out soon are you most looking forward to?
It’s not coming out soon, but I think the album I’m most looking forward to is “Story To Tell” from SheDaisy. Fortuneteller’s Melody made me really like them more than I did before, and earlier this year I bought Knock on the Sky and a few songs from “The Whole SheBang” and “Sweet Right Here.” I’ve come to really like this group and find the comparisons to the Dixie Chicks unfounded. They are two different groups with two different sounds.
Anyway, I was able to hear some of the songs from the new album and it was sounding really good. Looking forward to getting it whenever it comes out.
Funny you posted this because I’m really excited to go get the new Green Day album in the coming week. I read some pretty good reviews about the album, and I’m glad that the album centers around a young couple as they deal with the hard times of the present. I think it’s cool how Green Day has broadened their fans to two generations, Gen X and Echo Boom Generaion(or whatever you want to call it), without losing their artistry and gaining more. Now I should really get back on topic.
Shania Twain’s new album is probably the biggest one I’m looking forward too.
Others:
SHeDAISY’s “Story To Tell”
Faith Hill’s upcoming album
Tim McGraw
Michelle Branch’s new country album
Jessica Harp’s new album(I’m not sure I’ll buy it when it first comes out but I guess I’ll just have to see what her next single is.)
No Doubt
I also agree with the new SHeDAISY album. For a little while, they had a few songs on their myspace, and they were some great stuff.
Right now here’s what I got:
The E.N.D., by the Black Eyed Peas
-I love “Boom Boom Pow”, I just know I’ll want the clean version of the album
Keep On Loving You, by Reba McEntire
-I’m loving strange, and this album should be fun.
American Saturday Night, by Brad Paisley
-“Then” is okay, but my dad will get this album, and I think it will have some good stuff on it.
Emily West’s debut album (Hopefully)
-It better come out soon…
That’s all I have off the top of my head.
Whoops! I forgot Miranda Lambert’s upcoming album!
Patty Loveless. Big surprise. Miranda Lambert as well.
I can’t wait for Ryan Bingham’s new album.
I forgot about Miranda! September seems far away.
I’ve never gotten into SheDaisy. Song suggestions? I’m always open to conversion.
(Jake, you can download the new Green Day for $4.99 on Amazon right now.)
Despite intensely disliking “Barefoot and Crazy”, I’m looking forward to Jack Ingram’s new album as well as Miranda’s and Kendel Carson’s.
Most of the new albums I was especially excited about have already been released in the first quarter of 2009, but the Patty Griffin, Miranda Lambert, Charlie Robison, Levon Helm, and Patty Loveless sets that have already been mentioned are certainly things I’m looking forward to hearing.
Other things on the horizon: Tanya Tucker, John Anderson, Patterson Hood, Brad Paisley, Wilco, and Son Volt all have new albums due.
There are also some upcoming reissues that I’m interested in: George Jones’ Blue and Lonesome, Pam Tillis’ Above and Beyond the Doll of Cutey, and the vinyl-only special edition of Merle Haggard’s Mama Tried.
2009 has definitely been front-loaded in terms of quality (though I have to say I’ve been underwhelmed by the bulk of country albums I’ve heard thus far this year), but I don’t think things look all that bleak for the rest of the year.
I bought the Green Day album yesterday but I haven’t listened to it yet. I’m really looking forward to doing so.
I bought Green Day’s album today, I’m about 2/3 through it now, and I like it okay. It’s got a great story to it, and their music has never been better.
Mindy Smith new album due in August, and shawn Colvin live disc in June.
Lynn, Fortuneteller’s Melody is very good country pop, with Sweet Right Here being next. The former has the stunning “In Terms Of Love” and “She Gets What I Deserve”, their two best tracks.
I’ve been enjoying the new Green Day one today too. Most of the other ones that I’m interested in have already been mentioned. I’m curious to hear if Reba will have anything more interesting than “Strange” (which is good but not exactly daring) on the new album for the new label. Any word on whether or not the Dixie Chicks have been working on new music? I’m also looking forward to some new Rihanna music before the end of the year.
Maybe new music from Sara Evans or George Strait before the end of 2009 too!
Patty Loveless, John Anderson and somebody that I can’t remember right now.
Bill and I bought the Green Day album yesterday and listened to it on a road trip that we just got back from. While we don’t love it like American Idiot yet, it’s very good and we’ll probably like it even more as we get used to it.
Ashley Monroe’s album Satisfied, which was suppose to be released about three years ago but was only available online for a short period, is being released digitally by Sony May 19th. Pretty close for those looking for something who feel they have a long time to wait before they can be excited again.
While Leeann was lucky enough to snag it already, I’m looking forward to it getting into more people’s hands as it is an extremely well crafted album that I have difficulty accepting came from a 19 year old.
The one I’m most excited about is Miranda Lambert’s. I’m a HUGE fan of “Dead Flowers” and I’m excited to hear how she’s going to follow up Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. I’m also excited for Reba’s new one. I’m loving “Strange” so I can’t wait to hear the rest of the album. I’m also excited for Brad’s new one!
Oh yeah, Miranda Lambert is the other person I couldn’t recall last night, even though “Dead Flowers” has made me more nervous than excited.
I can’t wait for Miranda Lamberts new album, i’m also looking forward to new music from Patty loveless and Brad Paisley.
I have to agree with Miranda and SheDaisy, another that I am looking forward to — Trent Tomlinson — I was a big fan of his first album a lot of songs that showed he had a lot of potential and my husband is a fan as well.
I also agree that I am happy that Ashley Monroe’s album is coming out tomorrow — I was able to snag a copy when it was initially released and have to agree with William that it is hard to believe that it was crafted by a 19 year old….
I really haven’t been to big on new music this year. Like Lynn and many of you, I bought the new Green Day album, which I’m enjoying. I bought the new Eminem earlier this week but haven’t listened to all of it yet.
I’m more interested in reissues and compilations this year, at least looking at what’s been confirmed for release so far. It’s not a great album, but it will be nice to have Pam Tillis’ pop set in remastered sound.
I really can’t wait for those Beatles reissues this fall. I keep waiting for Amazon to finally put up a pre-order on the box set of all of their studio albums. I’m curious to see how WB will get a handle on Madonna’s entire career with the planned greatest hits, though I’m most interested in the new tracks.
Nothing much in country to look forward to that I can think of. I’m curious to hear the Miranda Lambert album, though “Dead Flowers” has hardly whetted my appetite. I’m sure the Patty Loveless covers album will be decent, but I’d rather hear some new material from her instead.
Kevin,
Eminem? You’re going to be the hippest principal ever.
Kevin,
I hope that means we can expect the return of the best reissues/compilations countdown from you!
One reissue I’m super excited about now is Ray’s Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music. I hope the remastering doesn’t ruin the music.
Weighing in belatedly here thanks to the handy-dandy rotating feature blog feature showcasing this entry again.
Ashley Monroe’s album is terrific. It is downright criminal that Sony Nashville didn’t/couldn’t do anything to launch this woman’s solo career. At her best, she has this incredibly touching William Maxwell vibe to her songwriting and delivery.
Anticipated 2009 releases: Brad Paisley’s, despite not being a fan of “Then,” Josh Turner’s (no idea when it will be released but I have to think it will be this year; the first single was apparently selected a while back) and Carrie Underwood’s (with my fingers crossed that said album will be a better realization of her potential). And I’ll join the chorus of those really looking forward to new music from Patty Griffin and Miranda Lambert.
Speaking of Miranda, this is an opportune time for me to register a correction. In responding to Canadian Boy in Lynn‘s Stagecoach review, I cited an OC Register review as saying the other new song Miranda has been performing in concert is called “Money Train.” From reading Miranda’s fan board, that is not the case. The song in question is actually called “Maintain the Pain.” You can check out an attempted transcription of the lyrics and a couple of video clips in this thread at Miranda’s website.
Just finished listening to “21st Century Breakdown” and I absolutely love it.
I’m pretty excited to hear what Miranda will bring us with her next album…(hopefully not as much “Dead Flowers”), and I totally agree with Dudley “(with my fingers crossed that said album will be a better realization of her potential)” about the new Carrie album for the fall!
One of the only albums I’m looking forward to with anything approaching gusto is the next George Strait album “Twang” – and that lands in September!
I am not so sure about Brad’s “American Saturday Night”. I didn’t really rate “5th Gear” that much.