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Summer albums
We guess whether bands' new releases will help them or hurt them.
In our market paranoia, we can’t help but see everything as bulls, bears and little numbers crawling across the bottom of TV screens—even the latest album releases. We’ve analyzed the recent careers of artists releasing this quarter’s most anticipated discs to forecast who’ll end up more Citibank than Google.
Dave Matthews Band
Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King
June 2
DMB’s seventh is its first release since the death of horn blower LeRoi Moore, the titular GrooGrux King. It’s sweet that the band offers a tribute, but Moore’s still a missing link. Besides, Green Day’s producer stiffens up the socks-and-sandals vibe.
Sonic Youth
The Eternal
June 9
Now that Sonic Youth has left a major label, it’s turned in its most playful, approachable record in nearly two decades. Pavement bassist Mark Ibold adds bounce, and Kim Gordon even sings la-la-las. They may take Centrum Silver, but this rules.
Black Eyed Peas
The E.N.D.
June 9
The inane electrobooty of “Boom Boom Pow” topping the charts is a bad omen. Will.i.am claims the album name stands for “The Energy Never Dies,” but we recognize the first steps toward our dystopian future when we hear it.
The Dead Weather Horehound
June 9
Jack White forms new bands as quickly as LiLo switches sexual orientation. Here, the White Stripe pairs up with Alison Mosshart of the Kills for a sinister and sexy return to their punk-blues roots.
Mos Def
The Ecstatic
June 9
The Hollywood B-lister storms back with his smartest, funniest and most poignant lyrics since his debut. Considering his last record didn’t even have a cover or packaging, this is easily a step up.
Lil Wayne
Rebirth
June 9
Weezy has gone rock. Well, more like emo. Yet the robot voice tags along, making “Prom Queen” and “Hot Revolver” sound like Stephen Hawking screaming over Papa Roach. His producers swear the rest of the album is more like OutKast. They might be biased.
Tortoise
Beacons of Ancestorship
June 23
Five years have passed since the kinda New Agey It’s All Around You. But Chicago’s post-rock prodigies funk up their fusion with rough drums, trunk-shaking bass and searing guitar.
Moby
Wait for Me
June 30
He was fittingly riding an elevator on the cover of 2005’s dull Hotel, and it was certainly going down. But quick on the heels of last year’s return to the disco, Last Night, PETA’s poster boy bashed out this looser, lovelier take on his ambient pop.
Amanda Blank
I Love You
July 14
Kid Sister teased us. Yep, her record still has no release date. Fortunately, Philly’s like-minded Blank stepped in with M.I.A.’s producers in tow to make the big, happy, neon party record we’re tired of waiting for.
OK Go
Help Is on the Way
August
The Chicago act’s viral videos spread faster than swine flu, but it’s impossible to put the Diet Coke back in the bottle after adding Mentos—even if Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann slap-chopped the treadmillers’ sound into new shapes.
