January 29th marks the first decisive stop on Popwreck(oning)’s 2008 “Dying To Have” list. That’s the date Barsuk Record’s Chris Walla, of Death Cab for Cutie fame, will drop his album Field Manual. A little controversy surrounds the album, which received a small amount of press in when Homeland Security officials on the USA-Canada border confiscated a hard drive containing the master copies of Field Manual, for reasons never entirely clear. That alone makes this album worth a look. Well, that and the fact that Walla is nothing short of a genius who can make anything he touches beautiful. Either way, look for Field Manual to shine.
Speaking of Walla, his counterpart Ben Gibbard appears on the Febuary 8th release of Nada Surf‘s new album Lucky. Other cameos on Nada Surf’s fifth album include Ed Harcourt, Martin Wenk of Calexico, and John Roderick of Long Winters. I’d pay for a ticket to that show, let’s just hope it works on an album.
In other Death Cab of Cutie news, look for the follow up to Plans to be released in May 2008. According to Walla it’s “in full swing; we’re six songs in. Thus far it’s pretty weird and pretty spectacular; lots of blood. It’s creepy and heavy… we’ve got a ten minute long Can jam, and had you suggested that possibility to me in 1998, I’d have eaten your puppy’s brain with a spoon.” I personally don’t really know what that means, but I’m all for a new Death Cab album.
In news that has nothing to do with Death Cab, look for 2008 to be a very productive year for Aftermath Records, with new albums from both Dr. Dre and Eminem scheduled for release.
Panic! at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, The Postal Service and Gnarls Barkley are all lined up to help Indie-friendly radio stations out. However, in the “holy shit they’re still a band” genre, 2008 will make way for releases from Aerosmith, The Cure, Def Leppard, Garbage, Guns N Roses, Michael Jackson, Lemonheads, Queen, U2 and REM. There have also be rumbling of a new David Bowie album being in the works.
2008 will also be the year of the pop-star country albums, starring both Jessica Simpson and Beyonce. Hell, if Mandy Moore can pull it off with Wild Hope, and Michelle Branch can make it in The Wreckers, why not let everyone have a try.
Final Fantasy’s Heartland should be worth a listen. At least, that’s what all the indie kids say.
This indie kid is overjoyed at the news that Rachael Yamagata will finally be releasing her follow up to the 2004 Happenstance. Four years is a long time to wait for such a breath taking voice.
Other confirmed albums that I’m looking forward to be released: Nine Inch Nails, N.E.R.D, Moby, Mates of State, Fugees, The New Frontiers, The Faint, Counting Crows, Blur, Built to Spill, David Bazan, Anti-Flag, Flogging Molly, and Alkaline Trio.
Rumored project that could be released in 2008, that I would really like to own: Kevin Devine, Imogen Heap, and a Get Up Kids album? I sure miss those boys. Please let the rumors be true.
