A Year of Attempted Follow-Ups to Classics
Arcade Fire
2004’s Funeral might have been the most resonant rock album to come out of Canada since Moving Pictures by Rush. So naturally, when Arcade Fire’s fan base (among which are celebrity collaborators David Byrne and David Bowie and almost every music critic in the US, including me) caught wind that they were back in the studio last year, school girl giddiness ensued. The ecstatic throng was overjoyed further by the radio debut of new single “Intervention”. With its huge humming organ and Win Butler’s lyrical appeal to the devout religious person who has neglected his family and friends, “Intervention” shows promise that the new album, entitled Neon Bible, will be just as evocative and great as its predecessor.
Modest Mouse
A few recent developments have made Epic records’ insurance policy, Isaac Brock & Co. an even hotter commodity than anyone ever imagined. First, they recruited Ex-Smiths Member/Guitar God Johnny Marr. Then yesterday, on their MySpace profile, they released an infectious pop single “Dashboard”. Of course, we can’t jump to any conclusions that “Dashboard” will be indicative of the album’s direction. Last record Good News for People Who Love Bad News had “Float On” and “Ocean Breathes Salty”, neither of which accurately illuminated Good News out of context. The only certainty is that the Issaquah, WA darlings are bound to have a huge year.
The Shins
It has been an awful long wait since clean, cut & dry masterpiece Chutes Too Narrow in the Fall of 2003 and admirers of James Mercer’s pop outfit are getting a little restless. But if the wait between their debut and second album of almost three years was any tip-off, The Shins are deliberate songwriters who provide big payoffs when they finish piecing together the tunes. Luckily for us, a new effort, Wincing the Night Away, is on the way and we shouldn’t have any reason not to expect continued brilliance from a band whose sophomore “slump” was probably its most beautiful collection to date.
Hitoshi Sakimoto
For all you game music lovers, especially followers of the Final Fantasy soundtracks, a state-side release of the Final Fantasy XII Soundtrack would be a welcome addition. Hitoshi Sakimoto, who took over genius Black Mage Nobuo Uematsu’s music production duties for this FF iteration had some awful tough work ahead of him and huge expectations to meet and he bucked the challenge incredibly. The themes for each unique zone were interesting and added a second life to the already great game.
More Upcoming 2007 Releases after the jump.
Other notable releases expected for 2007:
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Some Loud Thunder
Norah Jones Not Too Late
Air Pocket Symphony
LCD Soundsystem Sound of Silver
Bright Eyes Cassadaga
Massive Attack Weather Underground
MF Doom & Ghostface Swift & Changeable
Architecture in Helsinki [Title TBA]
New Pornographers [Title TBA]
PJ Harvey [Title TBA]
The Postal Service [Title TBA]
Eisley [Title TBA]
The Go! Team [Title TBA]
Ween [Title TBA]
What say you?!