Top 10 for 2009

One of the best things about the end of the year are “Best of Lists.” I’m a little late to the game to post my own “Best Albums of 2008”, so I decided to post a “Top 10 Most Anticipated Album Releases for 2009.” In no particular order:

• Kings of Convenience, Quiet IS the New Loud (working title, TBA)
• M. Ward, Hold Time (February 17; the guest collaborations are incredible)
• Neko Case, Middle Cyclone (March 20; the album art is Neko-riffic)
• U2, No Line on the Horizon (March 3; let’s hope the $96 box set is worth the price)
• Andrew Bird, Noble Beast (January 20; sneak peak the entire album at NPR.org)
• Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion (January 13; it’s already being hailed as mind-blowing)
• AC Newman, Get Guilty (January 20; the leaked tracks are very, very promising)
• Indie.Arie, Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics (February 10; yes, honestly.)
• Morrissey, Years of Refusal (February 16; watching him evolve is always interesting)
• Kelly Clarkson, TBA (March 17; let’s hope she returns to “since you’ve been gone” form)
• David Bazan, TBA (will he continue his post-Pedro day sadness and cynicism? let’s hope so!)
• Noel Gallagher, TBA (I can only imagine…)
• Whitney Houston, TBA (let’s hope she’s finally over the drugs and Mr. Brown)
• New Pornographers, TBA (looks like its a busy year for Mr. Newman and Ms. Case. This is good news for the rest of us!)
• The Postal Service, TBA (Hopefully Mr. Gibbard’s finance, Zooey Deschanel,
• makes a guest appearance or two)
• Stars, TBA (the EP Sad Robots was a nice little tease)
• Gillian Welch, TBA (the new album can’t come any sooner… it’s been too long since the last one)
• Wilco, TBA (I’m curious to see their direction with this one…)
• Mark Olson and Gary Louris, Ready for the Flood, TBA (yes!)

Okay, there’s more than 10, and there’s a lot more not listed. She & Him are working on Volume 2. The National is back in the studio. Holy Cow! It’s going to be a good year for music.

Any other upcoming releases to add to the mix?