This year is already shaping up to be a healthy one for albums from my favourites. I’ve been listening to The National on repeat a lot of late, and the as-yet-untitled follow-up to their blog-busting Boxer is scheduled for release in May. Says songwriter Matt Berninger:
We started out trying to make a fun pop record. I had the word HAPPINESS taped to my wall. We veered off that course immediately. We’ve narrowed it down to about 15 songs now and it’s going to be our best record (one song you can dance to) but it can’t be described as happy.
Cannot. Wait. Tour dates are already beginning to emerge, but there’s only one scheduled for the UK at present – 6th May at none other than the Royal Albert Hall, which I can’t see as being anything other than pretty freaking special indeed.
Details are also beginning to emerge for my man Malin’s next release. Jesse Malin and new band St Marks Social – perhaps a deliberate billing to mess up iTunes libraries everywhere, given the artist’s legendary contempt for the digital? – will release Love It To Life on Side One Dummy Records, 27th April 2010. And to celebrate? The band have an NYC residency at the Bowery Electric over February and March. Jealous? Me?
I’d list the dates, but I may as well just direct you to the website in a funk 
Malin’s current labelmates The Gaslight Anthem are rumoured to have a new release later this year as well, and I’m also getting pretty excited for Joanna Newsom’s forthcoming triple album!!!!, Have One On Me.
What releases are you looking forward to in the next couple of months?
Coming up on LYG later this week, or as soon as I get around to it: an exclusive interview (!) with David Bazan, and a review of the new Frightened Rabbit album.
I’m pretty psyched that Jesse’s finally coming back to Montreal. He hasn’t been here since 2004. Far too long.
Thanks for reminding me I have absolutely no right to whinge! Hope he’ll be over here soon, but you have a brilliant time.
Up coming releases that have my attention:
Johnny Cash – Ain’t No Grave
Drive-by Truckers – The Big To-Do
Jesse Malin – Love it to Life
Rumoured new Fleet Foxes and Arcade Fire. And the spangly bonus feature packed reissue of “Terror Twilight” by Pavement in the Autumn.
Monty x
So what you think of Love it to Life then? Spotted it on we7.com and thought I’d give it a listen. Still listening, next day, so it must be good!
Recently had a great night out around St Marks Place, so Jesse’s links to that part of New York, expressed in a few of these songs, are keeping me there mentally. Which I like!
Should be pointed out I’ve never listened to him before, so can’t compare it to anything else he’s done, but based on what I’ve heard here I might be forced to rectify that!
You should! Previous albums have, I think, been much more immediate – it took a good few listens before this one cemented itself in my affections. The first four tracks are stunning. There’ll be a proper review soon.
I know what you mean about being kept in the places Malin sings about mentally, I always figure he’s doing what he means to if he makes me miss a place I’ve only actually visited in the real world once
Thanks for stopping by! x