The new year has brought me a ton of new music — and looking ahead, there’s much, much more to come. Here’s the latest list of what’s queued up for me:
Ben Kweller – Go Fly a Kite
I’ve always been a big Ben Kweller fan, but I’m especially interested in Go Fly a Kite. I have no idea how he’ll follow up the countrified Changing Horses. If it’s anything like his last four, Kweller’s fifth will be a great pop album.
John K. Samson – Provincial
The Weakerthans are one of my favorite bands. So of course I’m excited about frontman John K. Samson’s new solo album. Provincial probably won’t differ too much from Samson’s main project. From what I’ve heard, it’s pretty close to a Weakerthans album. I’m not sure I’d want it any other way, though.
Jónsi – We Bought a Zoo Soundtrack
Jónsi wrote two brand new songs and nine orchestral pieces for Cameron Crowe’s We Bought a Zoo, and the soundtrack is rounded out by songs from his debut solo album, Go, and one Sigur Ros song. I’m hoping this soundtrack is as phenomenal as it should be.
Kathleen Edwards – Voyageur
Justin Vernon has proven himself to be quite a producer. After self-recording and producing his own albums, including my favorite of 2011, he’s also produced albums by Land of Talk and the Rosebuds. His latest production effort is Voyageur, the fourth studio album by his new girlfriend Kathleen Edwards. Voyageur supposedly pushes Edwards outside of her usual alt-country sound, and I’m interested to see where Vernon takes her.
Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan
Now I can’t promise that I’m actually going to listen to all of this. The collection of 76 songs is almost five-and-a-half hours long, and honestly, I can’t listen to more than three seconds of Silverstein butchering “Song t0 Woody.” There are more than a few questionable choices to cover Dylan’s work on here, but I’ll happily pick and choose. Johnny Cash with the Avett Brothers, Gaslight Anthem, Elvis Costello, My Morning Jacket and even Pete Seeger covering some of Dylan’s finest is enough for me.
