Aimee Mann-Queens of the Summer Hotel (1/21/22)
Mann’s excellent 2021 release, the soundtrack to a play that was never produced, is scheduled for its vinyl edition. (First listen: “I See You”)
Various Artists–Summer of Soul Soundtrack (1/28/22 CD/streaming, vinyl TBA)
One of the best films of 2021 was Questlove’s documentary about the Harlem Cultural Festival in the summer of 1969. This soundtrack features selections from The Fifth Dimension, Sly and the Family Stone, Nina Simone and others. (First listen: “Sing a Simple Song”)
Lucinda Williams–Lu’s Jukebox Vol. 6: Your are Cordially Invited…A Tribute to the Rolling Stones (1/28/22)
The last in Lucinda’s series of cover albums from her late 2020 livestreams finds her lending her chops to a well-chosen selection of songs written by the Glimmer Twins.
Mitski–Laurel Hell (2/4/22)
Mitski’s first album in four years promises to be more pop and disco-focused, if the first single is any indication. (First listen: “The Only Heartbreaker”)
Big Thief–Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You (2/11/22)
Big Thief was about to explode just as the lockdown started. Two years later they return with a new double album and an extensive tour. (First listen: “Time Escaping”)
Spoon–Lucifer on the Sofa (2/11/22)
Nearly five years after the great Hot Thoughts, Austin’s leading rock band returns with more of their unique, angular rock. (First listen: “The Hardest Cut”)
Eddie Vedder–Earthling (2/11/22)
Vedder’s first solo album in more than ten years. (First listen: “The Haves”)
Beach House–Once Twice Melody (2/18/22)
The leading purveyors of dream pop return with eighth studio effort (and first double record). (First listen: “Once Twice Melody”)
Hurray for the Riff Raff–Life on Earth (2/18/22)
Alynda Segarra aka Hurray For The Riff Raff is New Orleans’ best-kept secret. Hopefully her first record since 2017’s powerful The Navigator helps her find the larger audience she so richly deserves. (First listen: “Rhododendron”)
Khruangbin and Leon Bridges–Texas Moon (2/18/22)
This follow-up to 2020’s excellent Texas Sun features more stylings from the unique pairing of Houston’s chill, impossible-to-categorize Khruangbin and Fort Worth soul crooner Bridges. (First listen: “Texas Moon”)
Tame Impala–The Slow Rush Deluxe (2/18/22)
This deluxe box features remixes and unreleased material from Tame Impala’s excellent 2020 release. (First listen: “No Choice”)
Tears for Fears–The Tipping Point (2/25/22)
The first album in eighteen years from Roland Orzabel and Curt Smith, creators of some of the biggest international hits of the past forty years. (First listen: “No Small Thing”)
Band of Horses–Things are Great (3/4/22)
The first album in nearly six years from Ben Bridwell and company. (First listen: “Crutch”)
Grateful Dead–Dick’s Picks Vol. 4 Fillmore East 2/13-14/70 (3/11/22, CD only)
This 3-CD reissue of a long-out-of-print box is notable for featuring what is arguably the best “Dark Star” ever, part of a legendary ninety-minute jam that included only three songs. (First listen: “Turn On Your Love Light”)
Father John Misty–Chloe and the Next 20th Century (4/8/22)
After the longest break of his career, Josh Tillman returns to update us on the state of human affairs. (First listen: “Funny Girl”)
Jack White–Fear of the Dawn (4/8/22)
The first of two albums from guitar hero White drops in April. (First listen: “Taking Me Back”)
Jack White–Entering Heaven Alive (7/22/22)
White’s second release scheduled for 2022, to be promoted by a lengthy, international series of shows billed as The Supply Chain Issues Tour. (First listen: “Taking Me Back (Gently)”)
Unannounced and Overdue
Arcade Fire: Win Butler hinted throughout 2020 about Arcade Fire’s pending, sixth release.
Feist: Canadian folk-rocker Leslie Feist hasn’t released a record in five years. She emerged in 2021 for a handful of live appearances featuring new music, so hopefully a new album is on the way.
LCD Soundsystem: James Murphy and company ended 2021 with an Amazon Prime special and an extended live run in hometown New York. Can a new album be far behind?
Jenny Lewis: Lewis spent the last year on an interrupted tour playing to big crowds opening for Harry Styles. She just dropped a great new single. Hopefully she leverages the increased visibility with a new album in 2022.
Shins/Broken Bells: James Mercer is notoriously hermit-like. In late 2019 he dropped a new Broken Bells track for the first time in eons. Whether it’s with that band–a collaboration with Danger Mouse–or with the more widely known Shins, 2022 would greatly benefit from new music by Mercer.
Vampire Weekend: If history is any indication, we’re still way out from the next release from Ezra Koenig and company, so it was surprising to hear him mention he was close in a recent interview.
Kurt Vile: Slacker-rock scion Vile changed labels in 2021 and has promised new music for 2022, although nothing is scheduled as of yet.
Weyes Blood: It’s been three years since Natalie Mering’s epic Titanic Rising. In the interim she’s been embraced by The Killers and Lana del Rey, among others. Time for her to take the next step in terms of national popularity.
Gillian Welch: Not including her excellent 2020 covers album All The Good Times, Welch has not released a record of new material in more than ten years. Considering she’s only made three records this century, this is more wishful thinking than anything else but I can dream, can’t I?
Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Box Set: Wilco released an excellent Summerteeth box in late 2020; Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, arguably their best release, is next in line for the reissue treatment.
Neil Young Archives Vol. 3: Young has suggested that the third release in his epic archives series is pending. Starting with 1977 and encompassing the years that included the great LPs American Stars’n’Bars, Rust Never Sleeps and Comes a Time, the third volume is sure to live up to the lofty standards of the first two collections.
