2009: The first half in music

Heyo! The year's almost half over, and it's looking to be twice as bad as 2008(!) —crumbling financial structure, overblown epidemics, escalating situation in Afghanistan — even Hulk Hogan is depressing, brotha!

The year in music has been OK, here's the play list (in no particular order):

Animal Collective - My Girls



Dan Deacon - Woof Woof



M. Ward - Rave On




Japandroids - Heart Sweats

Heart Sweats - Japandroids

The Decemberists - The Wanting Comes in Waves



Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - Inspiration Information (from the "Dark Was the Night" charity album)



Black Lips - Trapped in the basement

2009?

2009 is already shaping up to be a good year for music. Previous posts provided links to stream the new Animal Collective disc (which is living up to the hype - I just received my copy in the mail today), new M. Ward album (sounds as good as 2006's "Post War") and the new Andrew Bird album (I haven't listened yet).

On the horizon is self described flower-punk act The Black Lips follow up to its breakthrough 2007 album, "Good Bad not Evil." The new record, "200 Million Thousand," drops on February 24.

Wilco I believe is set to release a new record this year, I dunno when, let's hope they take a couple big steps away from 2007's boring and guitar-cliche riddled "Sky Blue Sky."

And on March 24 the Decemberists will release their concept album "The Hazards of Love" (how many times will Meloy using the word beyonette? listen to find out ...).
You can download a track off the album here: http://www.decemberists.com/

Throw in a couple debuts like last year's Fleet Foxes and Vampire Weekend and the decade might just close out on the right foot. Oh yeah, its time for a new White Stripes album, too, but Jack's been pretty fucking busy with the Raconteurs ... we can always hope.