(in no particular order)
Soft Are these guys brit-pop poseurs or the real thing? I’ve listened to the EP, seen them play, and the jury is still out. Its some damn catchy stuff, but we’ll have to see if they go anywhere.
Epic 45 These pastoral post-rockers (ala Hood) will follow up their promising England Fallen Over EP with the 7-track Drakelow EP in early 2006, with a full length “slowly taking shape”. I don’t look for these guys to conquer the world or anything, but they make some nice music.
CYHSY! How do these boys follow up on Hearsay’s concensus #1 record of the year? Don’t you just feel that Alec Ounsworth is already sitting on 3 records worth of songs with more on the way? I think their music and outlook positions them for a lot of growth and great things to come. If they’re smart they will tour the rest of the year, and probably won’t release a follow up until 2007. Expect lots of test material at the gigs, however.
Alec Ounsworth I actually saw Alec play two solo shows, before I got to have the full CYHSY! experience. Although his folksy solo stuff isn’t typically up my alley, I was entranced by his genius. A few of the demos on his website were in heavy rotation on my itunes this year, and I look forward to them seeing the proper light of day. He hasn’t abandoned this material as he continues to play out this month in NYC.
Wolf Parade These guys should probably also cash in on the success of last years debut, but have already tested a number of promising new songs at recent live shows
Interpol Notoriously slow songwriters, they have stopped touring to work on the follow up to Antics. This will be a make or break album for the band, showing if they have a career or just one great record.
Wilderness Having just released their magnificent debut LP on Jagujaguar in 2005, I’m not sure if we’ll see new records, but I feel like they are just scratching the surface and we will hear a lot more from them (at least on the road) this year.
Mogwai Their next record, ‘Mr. Beast’ (3/7/06) as stated by Matador “hints aplenty of the subtle beauty that adorned big chunks of ‘Rock Action’ and ‘Happy Songs…’, (but) there are an equal portion of headcrushers on this one that will leave you gasping for air”. Intriguing.
Mahogany Their long overdue ‘Connectivity’ LP due 4/13/06.
I Love You but I’ve Chosen Darkness Debut LP ‘Fear is on our side’ to be released 3/2006. Personally, I favor the tracks on their earlier ILYBICD EP, to the beat heavy Artikal 02 EP, so it will be interesting to see where they go with the full length.
[…] Seems i wasn’t giving the boys from Wilderness enough credit in my ‘most anticipated 2006′ list. Their website announces a new LP on Jagjaguwar and full north american tour this spring. Until then, they are playing the Cake Shop here in NYC 2/17, 18. I’ll be sure to check them out. […]
[…] The French Kicks have put up a microsite for their soon to be released 3rd LP “Two Thousand”. Although I didn’t pencil these guys in for my ‘most anticipated’ list this year, after hearing the 3 song teaser they’ve posted, I am very eager to hear the entire record. Since their Young Lawyer ep released way back in 2000, the band has continued to improve and evolve. Their revised bio on the microsite states that they’ve lost original member Matt Stinchcomb and wrote the new album using new songwriting and instrumentation techniques. The result is still undeniably French Kicks, with their complex arrangements and strong sense of melody. They’ve already announced some shows for late July and August with word there’s more to come in the following months. Check them out. […]