Spring Music Guide

Pitchfork released their “Guide to Upcoming Releases: Spring 2009” this week. For those of you unfamiliar with Pitchfork, it is an internet site, or webzine, dedicated mostly to indie rock and independent music. Sometimes I find it hard to keep track of new releases, which forces me to regularly visit record stores to see if anything interesting has been released since my last visit. Thus, I am glad Pitchfork simplified things for me by publishing this guide. You can find the guide at http://pitchfork.com/news/34972-the-pitchfork-guide-to-upcoming-releases-spring-2009/ or go to the main site to browse the numerous music news, reviews, and criticism articles at http://pitchfork.com/. Here is the list of albums I am most looking forward to over the next 3 months:

April 6
Title Tracks: “Every Little Bit Hurts” single
-Normally I wouldn’t bother with getting a single, but I really did like their show a few months ago. In fact, they are playing another show on April 7 as an official single release party.

April 7
Bob Mould: Life and Times
The Felice Brothers: Yonder Is the Clock
The Hold Steady: A Postive Rage (live CD and DVD)
The Thermals: Now We Can See

Also coming out this date is a reissue of Beastie Boys Check Your Head and an Arcade Fire DVD called Miroir Noir.

April 14
Silversun Pickups: Swoon

April 21
Camera Obscura: My Maudlin Career
Chairlift: Does You Inspire You reissue
Depeche Mode: Sounds of the Universe
- Apparently this album is supposed to sound like Violator. We shall see.
Pet Shop Boys: Yes
- I put this one on the list for my friend Matt who is a die hard Pet Shop Boys fan.
Sinead O’Connor: I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got reissue
Tinted Windows: Tinted Windows
- If you haven’t heard about Tinted Windows, they are a “supergroup” consisting of guitarist James Iha, formerly of Smashing Pumpkins, bassist Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne, drummer Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick, and singer Taylor Hanson of, well, Hanson. Can any band with Bun E. Carlos be that bad?

April 28
Bob Dylan: Together Through Life

May 5
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band: Outer South
Cracker: Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey
- Good to see that David Lowery is still making music.

May 15
Green Day: 21st Century Breakdown

May 19
Eminem: Relapse
- Welcome back Slim Shady.
Iron & Wine: Around the Well
Jarvis Cocker: Further Complications
White Rabbits: It’s Frightening

May 26
Grizzly Bear: Veckatimest

June 2
Eels: Hombre Lobo
Elvis Costello: Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
Neil Young: Neil Young Archives, Vol. 1: 1963-1972
Spinnerette: Spinnerette
- Spinnerette is a new band featuring Brody Dalle, also known as Brody Homme since she is married to Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age. Brody Dalle used to be married to Tim Armstrong of Rancid. Rancid is also releasing an album on June 2. Coincidence?

June 9
Dirty Projectors: Bitte Orca
Mos Def: The Ecstatic
Sonic Youth: The Eternal

June 16
Lil Wayne: Rebirth
- This is Lil Wayne’s “rock” album. It could be a complete disaster.

June 23
Dinsaur Jr.: Farm
The Lemonheads: Varshons

Other Albums in June
The Dead Weather: Horehound
- The Dead Weather is Jack White’s new third band. He plays the drums and sings on some songs. The other members are singer Alison Mosshart of The Kills, guitarist Dean Fertita of Queen of the Stone Age, and bassist Jack Lawrence of The Raconteurs (Jack White’s second band).
Regina Spektor: Far
A still untitled Wilco album