Riffing off of Bob Ham's recent piece looking ahead to some of what's to come in 2009, I can't resist highlighting some of the upcoming releases that find me waiting with bated breath (whatever that is). To be more accurate, some of the albums don't even have release dates yet-- some aren't even releases-- but these will be what are getting me out of bed and through this Portland winter over the next two or three months...
To begin with the non-local, the venerable Willie Nelson has three (3!) releases slated for 2009, although it depends on how you look at it. There are actually two credited to the man himself, the first of which is a collaboration with western swing outfit Asleep At the Wheel that drops in February. The third, meanwhile, is actually an album recorded in the fashion of Nelson's 1975 homage, To Lefty From Willie, by Brooklyn-based act Phosphorescent. To Willie is the simple title of the all-Nelson covers album out February 3rd on Dead Oceans, and Matthew Houck (the only constant member of the band) ably pays tribute with eleven re-workings of largely lesser-known classics like "I Gotta Get Drunk," and "The Last Thing I Needed (First Thing This Morning)."
MP3: Phosphorescent- "A Picture of Our Torn Up Praise"
Closer to our old Portland home, Loch Lomond unveiled the first track from their upcoming full-length awhile back along with the positively eerie video you see below (stick around for the ending!). "Blue Lead Fences" is our introduction to the upcoming Little Me Will Start a Storm, an album that has neither a label nor a release date at this point. If this song and their recent set opening for The Decemberists at the Crystal Ballroom are any indication, we're in for very good things from Ritchie Young and co.
Also on the horizon, not a new local release, but the return of a local musical institution, Mississippi Studios is scheduled to be back in action at some point in the not too distant future. Of course, we've all been waiting patiently since its temporary close last year and subsequent construction-- and they've been keeping us updated with an interesting music and video series borne straight from the rubble at razingmississippi.com. Included in the mix is a new song from Weinland (speaking of anticipated 2009 releases), plus music turns from Laura Gibson, Chris Robley, Nick Jaina, and James Low, among others. Here's hoping one of the best live music venues in Portland makes a triumphant return soon.
Add to that new efforts from Andrew Bird, M. Ward, A.C. Newman, Neko Case, and The Decemberists-- not to mention those newly-discovered gems that always pop up along the way-- and 2009 is off to a more than promising start.
A happy new year to you and yours from us and ours! The thread's all yours...
January 3, 2009 at 11:25pm by bendlistener
I can hardly tell the difference between King Khan and The Strokes. Am I the only one? Like them both.
Thanks for yet another great show.
January 3, 2009 at 11:40pm by Jeremy Petersen
I don't think King Khan has enough Velvet Underground in 'em to sound like The Strokes. Meanwhile, The Strokes don't have enough Rolling Stones-- just my take.
Thanks as always for listening!
January 3, 2009 at 11:53pm by bendlistener
Thanks for the insight.
Pretty good sale going on at the Amazon mp3 store, by the way, 50 albums for $5 each, including some from the favorites lists here.
January 3, 2009 at 11:55pm by Jeremy Petersen
Heh, better yet, if you do it from one of our Amazon links you benefit opbmusic, too!
I think that's called a win/win.
January 3, 2009 at 11:59pm by bendlistener
I've used the links, but thanks for the reminder.
January 4, 2009 at 0:04am by Jeremy Petersen
Well, I knew you would-- just dropping it in case some didn't realize....
January 4, 2009 at 9:53pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel
Ah Georgie Jones - they were hit and miss for me, but v good at times - 'Cake Parade' was for me the stand-out track and later I realised it was very similar to an earlier Dresden Dolls song "Sex Changes" which is also excellent... you might play those back to back sometime.
As for requests as my #1 Finn Riggins didn't get any exposure in the year end specials perhaps you could squeeze in the hilarious "Glove Compartment" from their release. BTW They play the Doug Fir in Portland on Thursday JAN 15th with Jared Mees & The Grown Children + World's Greatest Ghosts (who I saw last night - another great live act).
January 4, 2009 at 10:14pm by Jeremy Petersen
So, as I said, not an intentional neglect of Finn Riggins. Very good album, great live band, and we go way back to the Idaho stomping grounds. I'm looking forward to the show on the 15th.
Happy new year!
January 4, 2009 at 11:30pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel
A great '09 to you - Bjork - Hyper-Ballad I'd forgotten it was from 'Post', I was relistening to her 'Homogenic' last week - a stunning top-shelf release.
Thanks for the request!
January 4, 2009 at 11:57pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel
R.L. Burnside - anyone wondering how 'real' new soul and new blues revival artists are could use artists like this as a comparison (usually "no comparison"). One local band who do well is Hillstomp, they cover Burnside but have written many songs themselves that sound like the genuine article - play Landlord Blues for instance: "I asked for whiskey - she bought gasoline; that is the meanest woman that I ever...
January 5, 2009 at 0:02am by Jeremy Petersen
Always happy to play 'em-- a well-oiled machine, Finn Riggins. Maybe we'll see you at the show on the 15th.
January 5, 2009 at 9:04am by Robert Ham
@inmemoryofjohnpeel I would also recommend - for some local blues flavor - Ghostwriter. He's a one man blues stomper in the R.L. tradition. Great great guy. He's album from last year, "Wreck The City", will give you whiplash if you're not careful.
January 5, 2009 at 10:18pm by gunky
School of Seven Bells - Very coincidental that I would catch that on opb just now. This morning I was listening to my Morning Becomes Eclectic podcast from KCRW on 12/8, where School of Seven Bells was featured. Never heard of them before but they caught my attention on the podcast. All of a sudden you're playing them. Whoa, dude.
Burning Spear - very nice little addition. Thanks for that.
I'm looking forward to Mississippi Studio's reopening. I hope they manage to preserve the intimate feel and the acoustics. Best place in town to hear music, before.
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