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Anticipated Albums of 2009

I mean to have this post done a couple weeks ago but, as usual, real life got in the way. Here's a quick rundown of some of the albums I am most anticipating in the coming year. First up, the ones with firm release dates over the next several months:

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino) out 01/20/09
Their last album was my number 2 album of 2009 and, judging by all the buzz this is already gathering, I'm expecting huge things for these guys. Each consecutive album has been better than the last, so this could be one for the ages.

Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Domino) out 01/27/09
It feels like forever since we last had new Franz Ferdinand, which I think actually works in the band's favor - they were in danger of wearing thin after that second disc. I've heard positive rumblings about this one and I'm interested to see where they take their sound next.

Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You (Capitol) out 02/10/09
I was little a worried about this one, but lead single "The Fear" has me feeling a little more confident. It's a bouncy melody filled with Allen's sly wit and leaves me hoping that this disc lives up to her still thrilling debut.

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - The Century of Self (Richter Scale) 02/17/09
Yes, these guys have been very hit or miss since Source Tags & Codes, but I've found at least a handful of songs to love on every album since. When they're on ("So Divided", "Caterwaul") these guys are on. Let's hope for a better hit to miss ratio this time out.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Communion (Yep Roc) out 03/03/09
A criminally underrated band that was left in the cold once that whole "garage rock revolution" fizzled out, which is a shame because the band has been on a great streak since then. This is a double-disc opus that looks to be filled with their special brand of psych-influenced rock.

Handsome Furs - Face Control (Sub Pop) out 03/10/09
I enthused about their debut album back in May of '07 and I've been eagerly awaiting more material from Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry. This is shaping up to be a good year for Sub Pop.

Mastodon - Crack The Skye (Reprise) out 03/10/09
Without a doubt my favorite metal band going right now. Blood Mountain was my favorite album of 2006 and I can't wait to see what they unleash upon us next.

The Decemberists - Hazards of Love (Capitol) out 03/24/09
This seems like a band with a schtick that should have worn thin about two albums ago, but somehow they keep battling my expectations and releasing solid album after solid album. Hopefully this one will be as filled with lit-prog as the last.

Beyond that, things get a little sketchy, but I'm also looking forward to new releases from:
Ambulance LTD, The Avalanches *, Between the Buried and Me, Baroness, Blur *, Built to Spill, Doves, Dr. Dre *, Eminem, Fugees *, Jay-Z, Metric, New Pornographers, Pearl Jam, Prince, Jay Reatard, The Shins, Silversun Pickups, Slayer, Stars, Wilco, Patrick Wolk

* - indicates "yeah right, I'll believe it when I see it", but one can hope