Most Anticipated Albums of 2013

2012 was an eventful year for music. Fun. took the world by storm, Gotye was played enough times to turn us borderline insane, Green Day released some...interesting albums, the wonderful NOFX released “Self Entitled”, and we still all had the Moves Like Jagger. But we are well into 2013, which brings with it huge opportunities, and expectations, for music. Offerings from Biffy Clyro, Everything Everything and Black Veil Brides have kick started what looks to be a successful year, and with eleven months left, who knows what could be gracing our stereos. I have chosen 5 records due for release this year, which I think ought to be most anticipated.

David Bowie –The Next Day (UK Release – 11^th March)

I feel somewhat nervous, almost under-qualified, writing about such an influential musician. I can happily rate (or slate as it were) most musicians, but Bowie seems to require exceedingly careful commentary. Releasing a respectable 24^th album, 10 years after the release of “Realise”, and with dramatic changes in style throughout his 51 year reign, the album could bring quite literally anything to the (turn) table! The first single released, “Where are we now?” impressively for free, seems moody, strangely calming, and hugely promising. From the artist responsible for songs such as Starman and Life on Mars?, anything is possible. 

Fall Out Boy – Save Rock and Roll (UK Release – 6^th May) 

They have definitely had the most surprising and instant return music has seen for quite a while. Transforming from a distant memory, to a band at the forefront of many music lovers minds, they’ve returned quite literally, overnight. Their new song "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)", is a world away from their normal style, and oddly, reminds me of Tenacious D. A sudden return, a new year...who knows what this band are capable of. If the monumental blow-up of social media is a reliable enough indicator, they certainly haven’t lost many fans during their four-year hiatus. It may be a wise choice to adapt their style - they have after all, got considerably older, and music style has changed since their split. The question is, have they changed in a good way? Their new single seems to lack substance, but who knows what the new record may contain?

 Frank Turner – Tape Deck Heart (UK Release  - 22^nd April)

Writing about this album involves less prediction as to what it’ll be like, but more counting down the days until its release like a mad person. (68, to be precise..). It has been produced by American album giant Rich Costey, responsible for records such as Muse’s “Absolution” and “Black Holes and Revelations”. Having worked with countless successful musicians, such as Foo Fighters, Weezer, Springsteen and Arctic Monkeys, it seems his input may induce a considerable change.  It is quoted as a “break-up” album, something far from the general themes of his previous albums. The first single released, “Four Simple Words”, is loud, inherently catchy and incredibly polished. More of a musical journey than a song, it certainly packs a punch. I consider this artist utterly brilliant, and to avoid sounding overly-complimentary, probably one of the best musicians I’ll ever hear. That said, I once said thought that of Green Day! However, it would be complacent and most likely ignorant to assume it’ll be an album of brilliance. I’ll admit I’ve trawled YouTube to find live versions of new songs - and they’re good. But it will be interesting, to see how the songs differ once produced, mixed and on an album. Backed by the brilliant Sleeping Souls, and with the addition of Rich Costey, it has all the factors needed for a fantastic record. 68 days to go...

Lady Gaga – Artpop  (UK Release – Spring 2013) 

This is not the kind of music I find myself writing about or listening to very often, but it can’t be argued that she is one of the most successful women in the music industry, possibly that there has ever been. She certainly doesn’t follow the crowd – in many ways, it seems she is the antithesis of the pop world she thrives on. Her bold look, attitude and dedication to individualism rings more of a punk thesis than typical pop culture. Two remarkably successful albums have established her a solid reputation. Due to release a double album in spring of this year, entitled Artpop, she released this quote - "I'm fascinated with the decay of the blonde pop icon and how culture loves to build and give birth to fantasies and then destroy them and what that means. It's something I want to explore on my next album.” Make of that what you will...

Johnny Marr – The Messenger (UK Release – 25^th February)

Songwriter and guitarist of The Smiths, though somewhat over-shadowed by Morrissey, is releasing his debut solo album “The Messenger”, later this month. He has certainly not been far from the music scene since the demise of The Smiths, working with bands such as Modest  Mouse, Billy Bragg, Oasis, Tom Jones and, bizarrely, Girls Aloud. However, this is his first foray into solo music. It would be unfair to try to predict this album, by likening it to The Smiths – the lack of Morrissey being the most obvious reason. Taking co-responsibility for so many hits, it feels justified to expect great things from this album. Goodness knows he's had enough time to write the songs. Only time will tell with this one.

 Other albums to look forward to...

There are many other albums due for release this year, that didn't quite make the top 5, but which certainly warrant a mention, including Courteeners, Bullet For My Valentine, Stereophonics, They Might Be Giants, Bonnie Tyler, The Strokes, Bon Jovi, The Flaming Lips, Alkaline Trio, Noah and the Whale and Vampire Weekend...amongst many more. Looks like 2013 is going to be a good year for music!

...Worrying however, is the general consensus marks Justin Timberlake’s return as the most exciting musical event of the year. Mhmm. 

Emo Music

I try to be opened-minded about other people’s music taste. Though the thought of sitting through an Opera, or a two-hour long Justin Bieber session is not a particularly thrilling prospect,  I respect that other people may think it the greatest music in the world. However, there is one genre that I object to, and that is 'Emo'.

I’m not going to try and list all the bands I consider to fall into this genre – it’s not my place to do so, nor does it seem particularly fair. But I can’t help but notice, particularly over recent years, the increasing popularity of what seems to be depressing, incredibly harsh, sad music – music which has the potential to be hugely damaging.

There’s always going to be sadness in the world, and there will always be the need for a soundtrack to match that – god knows bands such as Radiohead and The Joy Division have mastered such music. However, this sadness seems to have been taken to worryingly extreme lengths. 'Emo’ bands have been known to express how exhausting it is to tour with these songs – so surely they might recognise the effect it may be having on those listening? Call me naïve, but I don’t think I could bring myself to release songs into the universe that could have a seriously negative effect on other people’s lives. Such bands have no idea who their music could be reaching. Those in the public eye, especially musicians, are considered role-models or idols by many, particularly young people. Success and fame is all well and good, but it inevitably comes with a sense of responsibility – which many fail to acknowledge.

There have been campaigns and articles in recent weeks, highlighting the importance of discussing mental health, some featuring in major music magazines. However, some are advertising ‘Emo’ bands, just a few pages later.  Of course, I’m not saying we should all start listening to One Direction and celebrate the constant joy of life – but there is a huge leap between sad, thoughtful songs, and ones which are simply depressing. An odd obsession with death and pain has crept into the music industry in recent years - and it's very worrying indeed.

Is Social Media Ruining Music?

A year ago, my favourite album was a mystery. A small white plastic case, filled with intriguing songs, and absolutely no clues as to who this person was. I think things may have been simpler that way.

I would listen to this album for hours on end, perfectly contented by the music I was hearing, until one day curiosity got the better of me. A Google search later, and I’d instantly found more information about the person singing on that album, than I probably should, or even wanted to know. Should it really matter where the music comes from? Is it really any of our business?

A year later, and that particular singer knows me by name, is in my Facebook profile picture, and in my email contacts. Social media is an incredible marketing tool, there’s no doubt about that. It’s vital for the publicity of established artists, and invaluable for those still trying to make it – but this increasing connection we have with musicians doesn’t impress me. It terrifies me.

Before the internet took over our lives, and before Twitter could be classed as a close personal friend, music was allowed to not be entirely understood. To me, it should be open to interpretation, rather than an overwhelming demand for the meaning of each individual song. I like the thought that a musician is a slightly distanced figure – open to individual interpretation just as much as their songs. I wouldn’t want to tell strangers about my life, so it only seems right that musiciansare entitled to the same kind of privacy. Of course, not all choose to succumb to the gossip grabbing wombles, but I can’t help but think there is an increasing demand for knowledge of others’ lives. At what point did we decide music was not just music anymore? When did we become so fixated with virtual strangers through a virtual medium?

Having spent an increasing time on websites like Twitter and Facebook, I’ve noticed (myself included, I’m certainly not free from the addictive grasp of social media), people demanding more and more contact with musicians, as though they were friends, rather than acquaintances or just plain strangers. I’ve cringed more times than I would in ‘real life’, at people asking bizarre or overly-personal questions via the Internet, that would never be uttered by a sane minded person to a virtual stranger in person. What seems inappropriate has suddenly come acceptable – when have boundaries become so transparent? The anonymity and vast gap between individuals the internet provides has seemed to have changed the rules completely.

It’s certainly rarer behaviour, fortunately, but I have seen people who are so incredibly caught up in social media related to music, the barrier between ‘musician’ and ‘consumer’ is incredibly blurred, almost to the point of unhealthy. It’s easy to forget, but the information given adds to an image the artist, and their PR and management team desperately want to create. It’s in their interest to appear to be friendly, approachable people - as unbelievably, a cocky, holier-than-thou attitude doesn’t help to sell records! 

I don’t wish to be overly cynical, as social media, and contact through the Internet certainly has its place. It would just be nice, for once, to listen to an album and not have anyone asking what colour socks they were wearing when they wrote it.