2012 was a great year for music, as you can see from our list of favorite albums and favorite live shows of the year. But 2013 is shaping up to be another stellar year for music lovers too, with some high profile releases and rumored releases assuring that we'll have our paychecks on direct deposit with Amazon or Itunes.
Here is our list of the albums or tours we're most anticipating in 2013:
Atoms for Peace- "Amok": Feb. 25
"Amok", the debut album from supergroup is scheduled for release in February and it should be a killer. Featuring Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke and Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist Flea, the band's handful of live shows since their debut in 2010 has created plenty of buzz for an official album release and, hopefully, a tour. There are already heavy rumors of an appearance at either Coachella or Bonnaroo, if not both.
"Ghost Brothers of Darkland County"- Mar. 19
This multimedia concept album is the brainchild of horror bestseller Stephen King, singer-songwriter John Mellencamp, and producing legend T-Bone Burnett. Based on a story idea by Stephen King, who also wrote the spoken word segments of the story and acted as a consultant to primary songwriter and lyricist Mellencamp. Under the musical direction of Burnett, the group has assembled a cast of singers and actors to move the story forward. The cast of Ghost Brothers of Darkland County includes Elvis Costello, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Ryan Bingham, and Kris Kristofferson on the musical side and actors Matthew McConaughey, Meg Ryan, and Samantha Mathis.
Tauk- Untitled Release- Spring
Tauk, who significantly built their following in 2012 with a number of high profile festival appearances, announced in their annual holiday card that they were currently in the studio working on a full-length follow up to their 2012 EP "Pull Factors." The band is once again working with producer Robert Carranza so their album should provide many of the same thrills as "Pull Factors" did.
Radiohead's Third Man Records recordings- Unknown
This mysterious set of recordings, which also made our "Most anticipated of the second half of 2012" list as well, did not make that release date. Honestly, there's a decent chance it will be on our "Most anticipated albums for 2014" list as well. Radiohead's recording and release schedule is an enigma and Thom Yorke could announce tomorrow that the recordings will come out next week or may never mention them again. What is known is that Yorke made comments at their Bonnaroo 2012 headlining performance that hinted at a collaboration with Jack White, something that White confirmed soon after. Since then, neither side has further commented on the recordings, leaving both Radiohead and Jack White fans to hope that maybe this will finally be the year those recordings see the light of day.
Black Sabbath- Untitled- Unknown Release Date
When Black Sabbath reunited with frontman Ozzy Osbourne in late 2011, it was promised to be a full fledged reunion this time and not just a series of tour dates. That full reunion includes a shrouded in mystery new album, Sabbath's first with Osbourne since 1978. What is known is that super producer Rick Rubin is at the helm and the group went into the studio in August to begin recording.
Jim James- "Regions of Light and Sound of God"- Feb. 5
While My Morning Jacket fans were hoping for a follow up to 2011's "Circuital", they will instead have to make do, for the first half of the year at least, with frontman Jim James' solo album "Regions of Light and Sound of God." James' side projects in the past have taken pains to produce very different sounds from My Morning Jacket so it will be interesting to see where modern music's mad genius will take us this time.
Festival Lineup Announcements- Various
For festival fans, lineup announcements are like Christmas presents. Wakarusa looks to be kicking things off with a staggered announcement Jan. 3-17. If past trends hold up, fans should get their first peek at the lineups for Coachella sometime in January followed by Hangout and Bonnaroo in late January to mid-February.
What do you most anticipate musically in 2013? Let us know in the comments section.
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