Artist: Timbaland
Album Name: Timbaland Presents Shock Value 2 (Blackground/Interscope)
Why We Care: Mega-producer Timbaland is like that guy you know who knows everyone. And everyone loves him. And so naturally, you want this guy to throw parties because you know all the best people are going to show up and it’s going to be out of control. Well, as evidenced by his 2007 release, when Timbaland releases an album, it is that party. Everyone from Elton John to Fall Out Boy to Justin Timberlake showed up on the last one…and the line-up for the new album is just as promising. Plus, Timbaland is the musical Midas, so it’s gonna be good.
Release Date: December 8th
Artist: Animal Collective
Album Name: Fall Be Kind (Domino)
Why We Care: Because they’re Animal Collective! Okay, if you’ve read any music-related article I’ve ever produced, chances are you know of my abiding love for this trio of young, musical badasses. So no matter when they release something, it’s an event to me. That said, this little 5-song EP is more like a celebratory after-party following their immensely well-received and totally amazing last album Merriweather Post Pavilion.
Release Date: December 15th
Artist: Charlotte Gainsbourg
Album Name: IRM (Because)
Why We Care: 1) She’s Serge Gainsbourg’s daughter, 2) We recently loved watching her go psycho on Willem Defoe in Antichrist, and 3) her first two albums were, like, meh, okay I guess but this one was produced by…wait for it…the one and only Beck Hansen. So it could be amazing. The tracks we’re heard are very promising.
Release Date: January 19th
Artist: Spoon
Album Name: Transference (Merge)
Why We Care: Because Spoon is doing exactly what I’ve been telling them (by “telling”, I obviously mean “screaming to myself because why would they listen to me?”) to do for years: go back to their stripped down, Girls Can Tell days. I really do like the filled out, rockin’ last two albums and I don’t mean to be one of those blindly loyal, early-days-lovin’, hipster purists but Spoon really was better back then. And all the newer fans need to see what that was like. So I’m stoked.
Release Date: January 26th
Artist: Midlake
Album Name: The Courage of Others (Bella Union)
Why We Care: Simply put, we’re testing these 5 dudes. Their last album, The Trials of Van Occupanther was so uniquely what it was (sounded like the lost recordings of the best of Fleetwood Mac) that it might be a lightning-striking-twice situation. We sure as shit hope not because we were so digging that electric tingle. And they’re from our favorite small town ever, Denton, TX. You’ve never heard of it, I’m sure, but if you get the chance to go, go for it. I’ve never seen so many gloriously weird and creative young people in one tiny place before. Fingers crossed for you guys, Midlake.
Release Date: February 2nd
