Yesterday (the sick day; I'm feeling much better now after the rest) was a refreshing day. For the first time in a couple of weeks, I was able to spend some time on the internet, and I had some fun realizing which albums are being released in the next three months (Quarter 3). Here are some of the albums I'll be listening to in the near future. There are quite a few albums that are following up on recent weaker efforts, so this could be a very exciting or disappointing quarter. And oddly enough, the list includes several bands I listened to a decade ago...weird.
Project 86 - Picket Fence Cartel (July 14) - the OC post-hardcore trio rocks on, and the new stuff sounds great!
Our Lady Peace - Burn Burn (July 21) - Sure, they may have peaked a decade ago, but I will always have a soft spot for OLP, even if they're mostly pop now. It's bound to have at least one solid single.
Neon Horse - Haunted Horse: Songs Of Love And Defiance (July 28) - The much-musically traveled trio known as Neon Horse brought forth one of the more energetic and enigmatic albums of 2007, and I'm interested to hear if they can duplicate their effort once more. Knowing the members of the band (Mark Salomon, Jason Martin, and members of P86), they will.
Mute Math – Armistice (Aug 18) - The spotlight is on and the wait is over. I can't wait.
Needtobreathe – The Outsiders (Aug. 25) - Their previous album, 2007's The Heat, was a slow burner (pun intended), and though the rockers are occasionally given to more mainstream-style modern rock, there is a lot of lyrical and musical depth to their work. And I'm curious to see if they connect this third album to the S.E. Hinton novel.
Skillet – Awake (Aug. 25) - Collide was a strong album, but Comatose was a sleeper. I hope Awake can bring Skillet back its mojo. I'm close to not being a Panhead anymore if this album should have hit the snooze button.
Collective Soul – Rabbit (Aug. 25) - They're back on a major label (Roadrunner), and although Afterwords was underwhelming, I just can't give up on the Soul. The first single sounds great, and I've got to hear the rest of the album.
Chevelle – Sci-Fi Crimes (Sept. 8) - Another group whose last effort lacked staying power. This album might make or break my attention to the trio.
Muse – The Resistance (Sept. 14) - The follow-up to Black Holes and Revelations seems even more eclectic, with a three-part space-rock opera and acknowledged influenced of Orwell's 1984. Bring it on.
David Crowder Band – Church Music (Sept. 22) - Whether this album is ironically titled or not remains to be seen, but I certainly hope that DCB continues to show more creativity than most of their CCM brethren, and that the title does not limit the contents.
There are a few more albums that I am planning to listen to, including the new Moneen, Pearl Jam, and Creed (if it releases, and more for nostalgia than for actual expecation of musical artistry), along with the new Derek Webb album Stockholm Syndrome (of the profanity controversy). And then the list of albums in the final quarter looks promising: confirmed releases (no dates yet) from Switchfoot – Hello Hurricane, Coldplay, Thrice – Beggars, Relient K – Forget and Not Slow Down, Mae – (m)orning), (a)fternoon), (e)vening EPs, Johnny Cash – American VI, and rumoured releases from John Reuben, Neverending White Lights, Blindside, The National, Rush, the White Stripes, the Rocket Summer, Radiohead, and the follow-up to No Line on the Horizon, U2's Songs of Ascent (which, judging from their touring schedule, may wait until next fall). Sounds like fun!