As the weather stops being oppressive in the Northern Hemisphere, a number of potentially great albums from countless genres are on the way. Here’s a list of ten that have us excited, including efforts from Isis, MF Doom, Coalesce, Prefuse 73, Mr. Lif, and more.(MF) Doom: Born Like This (Lex, March 23)
Dropping his “MF” prefix, incomparable rapper and Marvel-inspired supervillain Doom prepares a disc full of two-minute hip-hop masterpieces for his newest solo album.
Dan Deacon: Bromst (Carpark, March 24)
This electro-spazz solo artist emphasizes live instrumentation for this anticipated follow-up to Spiderman of the Rings. On Bromst, Deacon’s sonic evolution is highlighted with lively marimba and glockenspiel melodies, live drums, and “real” singing.
Mastodon: Crack the Skye (Warner Bros., March 24)
Mastodon’s publicity team has done a great job of building the buzz for Crack the Skye, an album whose themes deal with wormholes and astral travel. Even if it turns out to be a disappointment, it likely will be better than 95% of all metal albums released this year.
Jerseyband: Beast Wedding (late March)
This incredible unsigned band is in the mixing stages of its new album, one that should further the band’s “lungcore” style with mathy grooves, heavy horns, and metal breakdowns.
Staff Benda Bilili: Tres Tres Fort (Crammed Discs, April 7)
This group of paraplegic Congolese street musicians is releasing an album of inspiring material via Crammed Discs. The band’s feel-good music will also be celebrated in a forthcoming documentary.
Karl Sanders: Saurian Exorcisms (The End, April 14)
The newest solo album of Nile linchpin Karl Sanders is another beautiful acoustic release of Arabic flavors mixed with Western structures. Following Saurian Meditation from Relapse in 2004, this album will be released through The End Records.
Prefuse 73: Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian (Warp, April 14)
Guillermo Scott Herren’s newest album as his glitchy alter-ego is meant to be a linear work — one that Herren describes as both straight ahead and obscure.
Mr. Lif: I Heard it Today (Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises, April 21)
Continuing a great few months for independent hip-hop releases, outspoken rapper Mr. Lif issues his newest full-length on his own, collecting songs meant to reflect on the recent political landscape and meant to inspire others.
Coalesce: Ox (Relapse, April or May)
Following the outstanding Salt and Passage 7″ from late 2007, this recently reunited pummeling hardcore group unveils a proper follow-up to 0:12 Revolution in Just Listening from 1999. Taking the Salt and Passage release as a portent, the decade between albums should be worth the wait.
Isis: Wavering Radiant (Ipecac, May 5)
These purveyors of epic, accessible heaviness have gotten progressively more melodic. Whatever this new album sounds like, it should take another step forward while remaining heavy as hell.