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Spring Music Preview | 20 Albums I Totally Want to Hear (And 700 more I Might)

Careful: This is the logest music preview you'll find anywhere. Seriously.

2019-03-02

Major comebacks, cool collaborations, posthumous releases, covers discs and more Steve Earle-related product than you can shake a turkey leg at — there’s something for everybody in this spring’s album releases. Here are the ones I’m most looking forward to, along with the longest list of other releases you’ll find anywhere. Seriously. Mark your calendars — but don’t come crying to me when things change.

TOP NEW RELEASES

Meat Puppets
Dusty Notes

Break out the peyote and drop all your acid: The Arizona alt-rockers’ original lineup has reunited for the first time in nearly 25 years. March 8

Townes Van Zandt
Sky Blue

This posthumous collection of unreleased recordings by the hard-living Texas singer-songwriter was cut in early 1973 — and will be released on what would have been his 75th birthday. March 7

Stephen Malkmus
Groove Denied

Depending on who you believe, Pavement’s former frontman has been working on this synth-drive solo album for three years or 13. Either way, it should be interesting. March 15

Karen O & Danger Mouse
Lux Prima

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman and the freewheeling producer would seem to be a fine musical match. I guess we’ll find out. March 15

Jenny Lewis
On the Line

The former Rilo Kiley frontwoman has some high-profile guests on her latest solo album — including Beck, Benmont Tench, Don Was, Jim Keltner and some guy named Ringo. March 22

Spiral Stairs
We Wanna Be Hyp-No-Tized

Stephen Malkmus’s old Pavement bandmate Scott Kannberg describes his latest solo album as a “feel-good” record. Well, that beats the alternative. March 22

Steve Earle & The Dukes
GUY

Two of Earle’s biggest songwriting influences were Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark. He’s already done a tribute album to the former; now the latter gets his due. March 29

Gang of Four
Happy Now

The legendary British post-punks led by guitarist Andy Gill serve up their 10th studio album. Based on the other nine, this should deliver on its title. March 29

Flaming Lips
King’s Mouth

Wayne Coyne and his Okie oddbals’ 15th studio album will be narrated by Mick Jones of The Clash (which seems suitably weird) and released on Record Store Day (which seems suitably logical). April 13

Anderson .Paak
Ventura

The multi-talented singer-songwriter continues his musical tour of the Southland with his fourth full-length — and the followup to last fall’s excellent Oxnard album. April 12

JJ Cale
Stay Around

Five years after his death, the prolific singer-songwriter is celebrated with a disc of previously unreleased songs compiled by his widow and his manager. April 26

Peter Doherty & The Puta Madres
Peter Doherty & The Puta Madres

Along with the debut disc from his new band, the former Libertines and Babyshambles frontman has a more impressive achievement to celebrate — he won an eating contest in a British restaurant. April 26

Craig Finn
I Need a New War

According to the press bumpf, The Hold Steady frontman’s fourth solo album “cements him as one of today’s most vital storytellers, among the ranks of Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits.” As long as he’s not trying to sing like them now. April 26

Guided by Voices
Warp & Woof

Much of Bob Pollard and his drinking buddies’ 678th album was reportedly recorded in hotels, dressing rooms and even in a speeding van. Somebody seriously needs to try decaf. April 26

Bad Religion
Age of Unreason

Unreasonable times call for unreasonable measures. Which is another way of saying I hope the rabble-rousing L.A. punks are pulling no punches on this long-overdue comeback disc. May 3

Dream Syndicate
These Times

Frontman Steve Wynn (not to be confused with the scummy casino magnate) says the neo-psychedelic Paisley Underground legends’ second comeback album was inspired by eccentric hip-hop producer J Dilla. Go figure. May 3

Justin Townes Earle
The Saint of Lost Causes

The springtime Earle-related product parade continues with the eighth studio album from the roots-rock icon’s son — whose middle comes from exactly where you think. May 24

Morrissey
California Son

Moz’s next release will be a covers album of songs by ’60s and ’70s artists like Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Laura Nyro, Carly Simon and Melanie. What, no New York Dolls? May 24

The 1975
Notes on a Conditional Form

Matty Healy and his fellow Brit Award-winners follow up their deservedly acclaimed 2018 release A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships — though he said this one is inspired by British nighttime culture, The Streets and Burial. Count me in. May 24

Sebadoh
Act Surprised

Nobody has to act: It’s been six years since Dinosaur Jr. bassist and famous sourpuss Lou Barlow released an album with his other band. If it turns out to be a feel-good album, of course, then you can colour me amazed. May 24

… AND THE REST

March 8

March 15

March 22

March 29

April 5

April 12

April 19

April 26

May 3

May 10

May 17

May 24

May 31

TBA

TOP NEW RELEASES

Meat Puppets Dusty Notes

Townes Van Zandt Sky Blue

Stephen Malkmus Groove Denied

Karen O & Danger Mouse Lux Prima

Jenny Lewis On the Line

Spiral Stairs We Wanna Be Hyp-No-Tized

Steve Earle & The Dukes GUY

Gang of Four Happy Now

Flaming Lips King’s Mouth

Anderson .Paak Ventura

JJ Cale Stay Around

Peter Doherty & The Puta Madres Peter Doherty & The Puta Madres

Craig Finn I Need a New War

Guided by Voices Warp & Woof

Bad Religion Age of Unreason

Dream Syndicate These Times

Justin Townes Earle The Saint of Lost Causes

Morrissey California Son

The 1975 Notes on a Conditional Form

Sebadoh Act Surprised