RECORDS
Hip hop big hitters making comebacks and cheeky pop tarts coming of age. That's just the start of it, says David Pollock, as he investigates the new albums coming in 2009
Kate Nash
he start of ”()9 sees a hip hop war brewing. with
new records by some of
the genre‘s heaviest hitters landing on the streets. liirst we‘ve got to survive January. though. and what more uplifting way than with Bruce Springsteen ’s Working on a Dream‘.’ (Jan) (‘oincidentally enough. it‘s out a whole week after ()bama‘s inauguration. ()f course. this
month also sees the release of
Franz Ferdinand's long-awaited
theirs before revealing it. And that‘s not all — currently at varying states of readiness are Block Party by Missy Elliot (Spring). Busta Rhymes' Baek on my BS (Spring). and The Iii-static. a return to musical roots for everyone's favourite mooching character actor Mos Def (Spring). Whether Raekwon‘s long-awaited ()nl_v Built 4 Cuban [.int II (Spring) finally makes it into the shops is anyone’s guess though. (If there still are shops.)
Back on this side of the Atlantic. knives and downloading fingers will be out for Lily Allen‘s February—due It 's Not Me. It 's You. with rumours abounding that her one-time protege Kate Nash will be back later in the year. Fans of proper wonky pop may enjoy the impossible—to- resist prospect of Annie's Don 't Stop (lieb). which sees the Norwegian songbird team tip with Richard X and the Girls Aloud—enabling Xenomania.
third LP 'I'onigltt: I’ran: Those who prefer their girls even I’erdinand. (26 Jan) while feistier/scarier should wait and
Antony and the Johnsons’ 'I'lie ('rying Light (Jan) and Sepultura‘s xl-[.(’.\‘ (Jan) probably won‘t sell to quite the same audience.
After that the big guns are out (not literally) for 50 Cent‘s Before I Sell Destruct. (Jan) Eminem‘s Relapse. (Jan) Jay-2‘s last Def Jam recording before he switches to Live Nation for that stadium full of money: The Blueprint 3 (Feb). and Dr Dre‘s Detox (Mar). That” be his last album. says Dre. and he‘s
waiting until the others release
see if either Lindsay Lohan or Courtney Love comes up with their long—promised solo efforts.
Arch narcissism and hopefully not too much middle—aged angst is what we can expect from Morrissey‘s Years of Refusal (lieb). while fans of elder statesmen will be pleased to hear that offerings from Teenage Fanclub (Spring) and Echo and the Bunnymen (provisionally entitled The Fountain. and apparently bearing guest vocals from (‘hris Martin) are due. while David Byrne‘s Here Lies Love (Mar) is a concept piece about Imelda Marcos. made in collaboration with Fatboy Slim. Yes. really.
Then there’s Neil Young's The Archives Volume I: [96.151972 (2 Mar) and the live The Riverboat. The Prodigy‘s (2 Mar) Invaders Must Die. projected newies from U2 (Summer) and Red Hot Chili Peppers (Summer). plus War Child's latest covers compilation Heroes (Apr). And that‘s yer lot. maybe.
Glasgow Art Fair Ila In Falklrk Girls Aloud .plrlt of Wide Burns An’ A’ M mu Scotland's national Falkirk? A magnet for The inescapable Mrs Whisky Festival That loattval Calling all trekkies! contemporary art fair culture vultures? This Cole and the gals Ten days, 250 events This year marks the May brings a cosmic features work from respected street grace Glasgow with and lots of whisky, this 250th anniversary of treat, chronicling
over 1000 artists and festival proves the more of their pop year is the festival's Robert Burns. and James T Kirk and the more than 50 galleries doubters wrong. Now gold. SECC, Glasgow, tenth birthday, and a this Bard-themed USS Enterprise crew's and organisations. in its ninth year, 8, 9 8 30 May. must for anyone who festival is central to early days. Eric Bana
George Square, Callendar Park hosts enjoys a cheeky wee the Homecoming and Winona Rider will
Glasgow. 23—26 Apr. theatre, pyrotechnics, dram. Events in and celebrations. Various both don spandex art. music and family around Dufftown, venues, Ayrshire, space suits. 8 May. activities. 2-3 May. 7—70 May 76—24 May.
22 THE LIST 9’, '21" .Jiti‘.
7)“)?!