  U2's "No Line on the Horizon," said to be their best effort since 1991's "Achtung Baby" (don't they always say that?), is due on March 3. |
"Nothing changes on New Year's Day," Bono once claimed. Maybe not. But a week later? That's another story.
On Tuesday, the first CDs of 2009 begin arriving in stores. And soon we'll be wading through a veritable blizzard of new tunes by everyone from U2 and Jay-Z to A.C. Newman and k.d. lang. (But not GN'R -- for the first time in all the years we've been doing this, we don't have Axl Rose to kick around anymore.)
Here's a sneak peek at some of the major titles due over the next few months. But before you start marking the calendar, remember: Everything is subject to change -- whether Bono approves or not.
JANUARY
A.C. Newman
Get Guilty
New Pornographer Newman takes another turn in the solo spotlight with his second solo album. Gee, wonder if it'll be poppy? (Due in stores Jan. 20)
Antony & The Johnsons
The Crying Light
Cabaret balladeer Antony Hegarty is already a sensation in Europe. Here's hoping this much-anticipated third CD brings him some North American love. (Jan. 20)
Franz Ferdinand
Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
Everybody's favourite Scottish dance-rock foursome named after an assassinated Austrian archduke return with their third studio disc. (Jan. 27)
Lisa (Left-Eye) Lopes
Eye-Legacy
Five years after her untimely car-crash death, the TLC vocalist gets her due in a posthumous outing, with the help of guests such as Missy, Lil Mama and Tupac. (Jan. 27)
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Working on a Dream
Five days after The Boss releases this 24th album, he'll play the Super Bowl halftime show -- potentially extending the whole affair by several hours. (Jan. 27)
Rush
Retrospective 3
Canada's beloved prog-rock power trio rewind the highlights from their last several albums -- and toss in a DVD of videos and live footage for good measure. (Jan. 27)
FEBRUARY
Dierks Bentley
Feel That Fire
Bentley's last two albums topped the U.S. country charts. With this fifth CD, he goes for the threepeat. (Feb. 3)
Chris Cornell
Scream
Former Soundgarden and Audioslave belter Cornell teams up with hip-hop producer Timbaland for his third solo album. Yes, you read that right. Unfortunately. (Feb. 3)
50 Cent
Before I Self-Destruct
Fiddy's fourth disc was pushed back from fall -- maybe to give him time to set up another fake feud with someone. We suggest Chris Cornell -- at least he'll win that one. (Feb. 3)
Morrissey
Years of Refusal
Heads up, Smiths fans: The mopey Moz's ninth solo set, originally due last year, is finally surfacing -- just in time for Valentine's Day. (Feb. 3)
Von Bondies
Love, Hate & Then There's You
Five years after Jason Stollsteimer gave us the Rescue Me theme Come On, Come On -- and got beyotch-slapped by Jack White -- he's back for another round. (Feb. 3)
Graham Nash
Reflections
The 'N' in CSNY looks back on his long and illustrious career with this box set. (Feb. 3)
Lily Allen
It's Not Me, It's You
The second CD from our Lil reportedly includes a song titled F--- You. Bet she can even make that sound sweet and sunny. (Feb. 10)
Missy Elliott
Block Party
The guests at Missy's Party include Pharrell, Danja and, of course, old pal Timbaland. We can only hope Tim didn't bring Chris Cornell along. (Feb. 10)
India.Arie
Testimony, Vol. 2: Love & Politics
The neo-soul songbird's Testimony Vol. 1: Life & Relationship came out more than two years ago. Hey, relationships take time. (Feb. 10)
Erykah Badu
New AmErykah Part 2: Return of the Ankh
Arie isn't the only soul mama putting out the second chapter in her multi-part musical story -- and to Badu's credit, hers only took one year. (Feb. 17)
Living Things
Habeas Corpus
The St. Louis post-grunge outfit's 2005 CD Ahead of the Lions is one of the best rock discs you never heard. Don't make the same mistake with this followup. (Feb. 24)
Lionel Richie
Just Go
Akon and Ne-Yo are reportedly among the young bloods who will be dancing on the ceiling with Richie this time. (Feb. 24)
JJ Cale
Roll On
Call him the breeze. Blues troubadour Cale just keeps rolling along on his 14th album, which includes a cameo from old pal Eric Clapton. (Feb. 24)
MARCH
U2
No Line on the Horizon
After bumping it from last fall, the Irish arena-rockers will release their 12th album in five different versions -- everything from a single-disc edition to a box set. (March 3)
Neko Case
Middle Cyclone
Alt-country's favourite siren welcomes members of The Band, Los Lobos, Calexico, The Sadies, and The New Pornos to her first album in three years. (March 3)
Kelly Clarkson
Title TBA
Clarkson's 2007 CD My December was dogged by low sales and a feud with Clive Davis. Can the slightly faded AmIdol bounce back with this fourth release? (March 17)
Pearl Jam
Ten
The Seattle grunge icons' 1991 debut gets the deluxe reissue treatment, complete with demos, bonus tracks and a new mix from longtime producer Brendan O'Brien. (March 24)
The Decemberists
Hazards of Love
Colin Meloy describes his literate indie-pop troupe's fifth CD as "mossy and evil." We don't have a clue what that means -- but we sure are intrigued. (March 24)
Diana Krall
Quiet Nights
The Canadian jazz icon -- and wife of Elvis Costello -- finally returns from maternity leave. Judging by that title, we expect a soothing set of lullabies. (March 31)
Keith Urban
Title TBA
Those who can't get enough of the country-pop hunk -- ie, every female above the age of puberty -- will have something to look forward to this spring. (March 31)
Black Eyed Peas
The END
According to will.i.am, it stands for The Energy Never Dies -- and it will be more of a "music diary" than an album. Whatever -- that still doesn't make up for My Humps. (March)
APRIL
Dave Matthews
TBD
Mush-mouthed jam-master Matthews and Co. return with their first studio album since 2004's Stand Up -- and since the death of sax player LeRoi Moore in August. (April 14)
DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATHS
Courtney Love
Nobody's Daughter
Rumours of a Courtney solo CD have been floating around for years. If she doesn't get it together soon, nobody's going to be left to care. Oops, too late. (TBA)
Neil Young
Archives Vol. 1: 1963-1972
Amazon is taking pre-orders. The 10-disc box even has a catalog number and a promo video. But after 20 years and umpteen release dates, we'll believe it when we see it. (Feb. 24)
Guns N' Roses
Chinese Democracy 2: Electric Boogaloo
Hey, we might as well start hounding Axl for a sequel now if we want to hear something before we die. Anything you'd like to add, Dr. Pepper? No? Didn't think so. (TBA)
DEFINITELY MAYBES
Tori Amos
TBA
Big red is supposedly close to finishing up this followup to 2007's disappointing American Doll Posse. (Summer release)
Big Boi
Sir Luscious Leftfoot ... Son of Chico Dusty
Love the title. Hope we feel the same about the rest of the OutKast rapper's long-awaited solo effort. (TBA)
Billy Talent
TBA
Superstar producer Brendan O'Brien is reportedly behind the board for the Canuck screamo foursome's third major-label album. (TBA)
Busta Rhymes
B.O.M.B.
Busta's eighth release has been in the pipeline for some time. Perhaps he's worried it will ... you know. (Spring)
Rosanne Cash
TBA
The Man in Black's daughter -- who underwent brain surgery in 2007 -- has apparently been recording some of her father's favourite songs. (Fall)
Depeche Mode
TBA
These British synth-pop icons have a world tour scheduled for May -- which should be preceded by their dozenth release. (April)
Dr. Dre
Detox
NWA's G-funk hitmaker says this long-delayed solo effort -- first due in 2004 -- will come out after Eminem and 50 Cent's CDs. OK -- but how long after? (TBA)
Eminem
Relapse
The real Slim Shady finally stands up and serves up his first disc in five years -- the encore to 2004's Encore. (Spring)
Ace Frehley
TBA
The reformed KISS axeman has said he's got new material in the can -- but won't play it live so it doesn't end up on the Internet. Riiiight. (TBA)
Green Day
TBA
Billie Joe and Co. have been in the studio with Garbage mastermind Butch Vig -- who also produced a little album called Nevermind by some band named Nirvana. (TBA)
Jay-Z
The Blueprint 3
Hova's final Def Jam disc was booked for fall, but bumped to this year, along with Fiddy and Eminem. 2009 is shaping up to be a fine year for hip-hop. (Spring)
R. Kelly
12 Play: Fourth Quarter
This fourth instalment in Kells' 12 Play series leaked last July. We hope the delay means Kelly is working on some replacement tracks. (TBA)
Korn
TBA
Word is that Jonathan Davis and Co. are heading into the studio soon to cut their ninth disc. Really, don't bother on our account. (Summer)
Mastodon
Crack the Skye
The metal monsters' fourth CD supposedly deals with Tsarist Russia, astral projection and wormholes in space-time. (Summer)
No Doubt
TBA
After driving the whole solo-career thing into the ground, it appears Gwen Stefani is finally throwing her old bandmates a bone. (TBA)
Queens of the Stone Age
TBA
Gargantuan frontman Josh Homme was recently quoted saying the next QOTSA CD will be "a desert orgy in the dark." You ask him what that means. (Summer)
Slayer
TBA
The death-metal titans have said this oft-delayed 11th disc could be the final nail in their coffin. So we can't blame them for taking their sweet time. (TBA)
Wilco
TBA
Jeff Tweedy and his Chicago alt-country experimentalists have been showcasing new material on tour -- including a charming number referred to as Wilco (The Song). (Spring)
ZZ Top
TBA
The Texas blues-rock trio have supposedly been in the studio with production guru Rick Rubin. So this album should see the light of day sometime between now and never. (TBA)
