The Crystal Ball

Deciding an album of the year for 2006 is going to be a particularly tricky task. We’ve already had highly worthy contenders from TV On The Radio, Scott Walker, Matmos, Cortney Tidwell, Gnarls Barkley, Johnny Cash, Hot Chip and much more besides. This will no doubt result in weeks of chronic indecision at the end of the year, exacerbated by this hugely impressive release schedule. It’s all a little bit quiet for the summer months, but things really do start to get interesting again:

22/8

BROADCAST – Future Crayons (B-sides and rarities set)
LAMBCHOP – Damaged
JASON MOLINA – Let Me Go, Let Me Go, Let Me Go (one of several Magnolia Electric Co. related projects scheduled for release in 2006-7)
PAJO – 1968
M WARD – Post-War (a third album in as many years?)

28/8
BOB DYLAN – Modern Times (inevitably a major talking point)
THE ROOTS – Game Theory

5/9
HIDDEN CAMERAS – Awoo

11/9
BASEMENT JAXX – Crazy Itch Radio
MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC CO. – Fading Trails
NINA NASTASIA – Title TBC
YO LA TENGO – I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass (now there’s a title!)

18/9
BONNIE “PRINCE” BILLY – Then The Letting Go
DANI SICILIANO – Slappers

25/9
SOLOMON BURKE – Nashville
THE LEMONHEADS – Title TBC
SPARKLEHORSE – Dreamt For Light Years In The Belly Of A Mountain (ugly title!)

2/10
THE DECEMBERISTS – The Crane Wife
CLINIC – Visitations
CALIFONE – Roots and Crowns
BLOOD BROTHERS – Young Machetes
MICAH P. HINSON – Micah P. Hinson and The Opera Circuit

17/10
SQUAREPUSHER – Hello Everything
We’re also expecting new albums at some point from:

CANNIBAL OX
EL-P
FEIST
JARVIS COCKER (yes!)
JUNIOR BOYS
THE SHINS
SPIRITUALIZED (will Jason Pierce’s recent brush with serious illness bring him back to the top of his form?)
PATRICK WOLF
GILLIAN WELCH