Most Anticipated Albums Of 2008
01.My Bloody Valentine - TBA
Release Date: Spring
My most anticipated album of the year will also be the album that will be under probably some of the highest expectations in the history of music. My Bloody Valentine haven't released an album since 1991's hugely groundbreaking Loveless, and Loveless was their second album. Since the release of Loveless the band has continued to gain more and more fans as the years have gone by. To follow up on that of course the expectations will be through the roof. They are planning to self-release the new album, and then tour in the summer of 2008. I really can't wait to hear what they come up with.
02.Weezer - TBA
Release Date: Spring (?)
as some of you may know, Weezer are my all-time favorite group in the case of the artist I know the most about and was really the first artist I got a great connection with. They have been disappointing me however with their last two albums, so my fandom for them isn't as strong as it was a few years ago. However, I am still very much looking forward to their new album. It will be produced yet again by Rick Rubin, and will feature the other band members getting chance to sing lead. It should hopefully be a very different, and interesting record. I hope to not be disappointed again.
03.The Roots - Rising Down
Release Date: April 29
While my fandom for Weezer has died down a bit, my fandom for The Roots has skyrocketed. Their 10th album was originally supposed to come out this fall, but ?uestlove decided that it was way too packed and moved it to April. It's going to be a very different record for The Roots. I'll let ?uestlove tell you about it:
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Originally posted by ?uestlove
"Rising Down is an electric record, more synthy. The darks are darker and the lights are lighter. But all I know is making quality hip-hop stylistically. We tried to do something we never did before. Kamal had to be the sacrificial lamb this time. The one instrument that has defined the Roots has been the Fender Rhodes . This is the first year he's had to change his instrumentation and try other sounds out. We have a bunch of keyboards and synthesizers we're using on this record. It feels like the musical equivalent of 'Blade Runner' sometimes. We've also added a horn section has divulged that while the album's direction is as yet uncertain, keyboardist Kamal Gray is utilizing more synthesizers than Fender Rhodes in his playing this time around."
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There will be appearances by Peedi-Peedi, Dice Raw, and Malik B who will be on Rising Down more then he was on Game Theory. There will be the afro-beat infused "I WIll Not Apoligize", a Go-Go song, and the pop like "Birthday Girl". Rising Down should be another quality album to be added to The Roots' mantel.
04. Coldplay - TBA
Release Date: First Quarter
I know some people aren't fans of Coldplay, but I still like them. Their fourth album should be their best to date. The main reason why i'm excited about the new Coldplay album? It's produced by Brian Eno, hugely legendary producer. I think Eno and Coldplay are a great fit, and should make some great stuff together. It's apparently going to be 42 minutes long with 9 Songs. Should be great stuff.
05.Rancid - TBA
Release Date: Summer
This was on my list last year, and there's really nothing new to report. There was luckily the Tim Armstrong solo album to tide us over, but really yeah. Not much new to report besides that they will begin recording in January and that this will be the first Rancid album without the Classic Lineup . highly looking forward to it though!
06. Lil Wayne - The Carter III
Release Date: First Quarter
This record will be massive. The opening week sales will be gigantic. The Carter III is Lil Wayne's victory lap from all the critical admiration and fan support he has gotten since The Carter II came out. The Carter III will officially prove to the naysayers that Weezy is on top of the world right now. Ya'dig?
07. U2 - TBA
Release Date: Fall
This was also on my list last year, and like Rancid, not many details have come out. Rick Rubin was initially producing the album, but now U2 have moved on to Brian Eno & Daniel Lanois who have done tons of records with U2. Looking forward to it.
08. Big Boi - Sir Luscious Left Foot
Release Date: First Quarter
This will obviously be awesome. Big Boi is back with another solo album, and the production will mainly be handled by Organized Noize. How can you go wrong with that? Big Boi also announced that he would release the new single on New Years Eve. Big Boi also reported that Andre 3000 should be releasing a solo album in 2008 with Andre rapping (!!!!). Don't worry Outkast fans, as Big Boi said after both of these albums are done that they would go ahead and make a brand new Outkast album for 2009. In the mean time, we should be getting two amazing hip-hop albums in 2008 to tide us over until that happens.
09. Clipse - TBA
Release Date: sometime in the year
The Clipse are free from Jive!!!!! Finally! Jive was a terrible fit for the Clipse since they rarely got promoted over there. Now they are over at Columbia Records which should give them a fresh start. Before the third Clipse album, The Clipse are planning to release the first Re-Up Gang album which should also be great stuff. As for the third Clipse album, It will be the first album without the entirety of the production done by The Neptunes. The Neptunes will still produce on it, but not the whole thing. Other names given out that will be producing on the album include Timbaland, Danja, and Dame Grease. The Clipse are one of of my favorite hip-hop groups so I am definitely looking out for their new albums next year.
10. Nas - ******
Release Date: February
Ah, yes. The ever controversial N word album. He will be working with Sean C & LV of The Hitmen, DJ Toomp, and Jermaine Dupri (thieving from the American Gangster production team I see) which is great cause one of the main complaints Nas gets is that he has a terrible ear for beats. They should supply him with some great production.
I really hope Nas makes a great concept album with this. Because, to be honest, with two shock titles in a row it's becoming a bit stale. However, if Nas can do a great thought provoking concept album, then that should be great. If the album is just him rapping over crappy beats with songs that have nothing to do with the concept of the album, then people will start realizing what Nas is doing. Just giving albums shocking titles to sell more records. I really hope he hits it out of the park with this album, because I am forever a big Nas fan.
That about does it. I'm looking forward to a bunch of other albums like Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 (which was my #1 last year), the new Metallica album, new Gnarls Barkley, new Bun B, MURS' Murs For President, and whatever else i'm forgetting.
Part 6 will be up tomorrow.
