Albums to get excited about in 2008

By: Grant Snider

Posted: 1/14/08

Whether you obtain your music through the iTunes empire, a file-sharing Web site outside the grip of the Recording Industry Association of America, your endangered local record shop, or some shady looking dude on the corner of 39th and Broadway streets, here are some promising 2008 releases, grouped conveniently by genre.

Indie Rock

1. Mountain Goats, "Heretic Pride" will be released Feb. 19. Lyrical genius (I don't use that term lightly) John Darnielle returns with a full band and some more deeply personal, darkly hilarious tunes. Some suggestive song titles: "How to Embrace a Swamp Creature," "Marduk T-Shirt Men's Room Incident" and "Michael Myers Resplendent."

2. Colin Meloy, "Skulls, Ship, Sheep" will be released April 8. Decemberists frontman's first solo offering of original material. Perfect for fans of Edward Gorey, Lemony Snicket, Morrissey or the Decemberists.

3. Silver Jews, "Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea" will be released sometime in April. Lyrical genius (I swear, I don't use that term lightly) David Berman weaves existential fables, bridging the chasm between country rock and art rock.

4. Sun Kil Moon, "April" will be released April 1, which is fitting given the album title.

5. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks "Real Emotional Trash" will be released in March. Apparently this Malkmus guy played in some band called Pavement a decade ago.

Rap

1. Lil Wayne, "Tha Carter III" will be released Feb. 12. Despite my aversion to most Southern rap that isn't OutKast, I do enjoy this fellow's sharp wit.

2. Dr. Dre, "Detox" will be released in June. Detox? Maybe Dr. Dre is a psychiatrist specializing in addiction to "The Chronic."

3. The Roots, "Rising Down" will be released April 29. It's not the politically and socially articulate rhymes of Black Thought that power The Roots. It's Questlove's hair.

Nineties Top 40 Radio Nostalgia

1. Counting Crows, "Saturday Nights, Sunday Mornings" will be released March 25. "Mister Jones and me" look forward to it.

2. Alanis Morissette, "Flavors of Entanglement" will be released in April. "You, you, you, oughta know!"

3. Ace of Base's remix album, untitled as of yet, will be released in September. "I saw the sign - and it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign!"

4. Presidents of the United States of America, "These Are the Good Times People" will be released March 11. There will be "Millions of peaches, peaches for me! Millions of peaches, peaches for free!"

5. Lenny Kravitz, "It Is Time for a Love Revolution" will be released Feb. 5. If it really is time for a love revolution, I certainly hope I'm invited.

The Jackson Family

1. Michael Jackson, "Thriller - 25th Anniversary Edition" will be released Feb. 12. This classic album has been re-mastered, with seven bonus tracks added. The new tracks include remixes by hip-hop emissaries, both potentially great (Kanye West), and potentially embarrassing (Fergie).

2. Janet Jackson, "Discipline" will be released Feb. 26. If America is lucky, Janet will have another Super Bowl halftime performance lined up to promote her new album.

3. Ringo Starr, "Liverpool 8" will be released Jan. 15. Ringo is technically not related to the Jacksons, but Michael does own rights to most of The Beatles' songs.

gsnider@unews.com