This Tornado Loves You

Perusing Pitchfork's guide to upcoming music releases during the winter of 2009, I realize that there's a precious few I'm actually eagerly waiting for and majority of artists I've either only heard in passing, read about or not read/heard of entirely at all. So far I'm mostly eagerly waiting for March 3 when Neko Case's newest full-length, the recorded-in-a-barn "Middle Cyclone" is released. [photo from ANTI-]

Video: Neko Case -"Middle Cyclones" (EPK)

For more Neko, YouTuber ktparker also has some video she took of Neko at last year's Bumbershoot where she'd previewed some of the songs off of "Middle Cyclone".

Next up, Great Lake Swimmers release their new album "Lost Channels" (through Nettwerk) on March 31. Exclaim has the tracklisting and points out a few dates for '09 with the only Canadian date so far being February 7 in Guelph at Sleeman Centre as part of Hillside Inside.

While already out in Europe (and available in North America as an import), expect a domestic release in early 2009 for Marianne Faithfull's newest album "Easy Come, Easy Go", featuring collaborations with a number of artists including Chan Marshall, Sean Lennon, Nick Cave, Rufus Wainwright, Jarvis Cocker and Keith Richards. I only make note of this after finally getting around to listen to a bit of her 2005 effort "Before The Poison" (mostly a collaborative effort with PJ Harvey and Nick Cave) and being quite intrigued by it. The new album includes a cover of Neko Case's "Hold On, Hold On" featuring Sean Lennon:

Microsite: Marianne Faithful - "Easy Come, Easy Go"
Video: Marianne Faithful w/ Sean Lennon - "Hold On, Hold On" (Neko Case cover, live in the studio)

In the absence of any new album or material from Swedes The Cardigans, perhaps a new album from Nina's side project A Camp will suffice. The new A Camp album "Colonia" will be given a US release through Nettwerk on April 28. The first single is "Stronger Than Jesus" (Video director - Amir Chamdin):

Video: A Camp - "Stronger Than Jesus" (music video)

On a local front, I'm not sure how much I'm really into Jon Rae Fletcher anymore but according to Stille Post his new album "Oh, Maria" is out through Weewerk on February 3, with some of the demos of the songs from the new album available for listening right now over at his MySpace. No date confirmed yet, but he will be playing this year's Canadian Music Fest during Canadian Music Week (Mar 11-14).

And what else? Expecting new albums sometime in 2009 from Depeche Mode (as yet untitled) and Echo and The Bunnymen ("The Fountain") and Morrissey ("Years of Refusal" - UK release Feb 16, US release Feb 17).

Touring in 2009? Hoping and wishing for tours to come to North America and Toronto from Jesus and Mary Chain [or was Coachella and a few select North American dates last year just a tease], Portishead [ok, 2008's over and I know you don't like touring but get over it already], Blur [so far, only a few dates so far confirmed in London, England in July], Morrissey [no Toronto date so far on his current North American tour starting in March] and Depeche Mode [only European dates starting in May confirmed so far]. Yeah, I'm shooting for some biggies this year. Keeping my fingers crossed.

As I wrote recently, part of me hopes to get back into the Canadian and Toronto indie scenes in 2009. We shall see. Any suggestions?

If you've got this far, just at reminder that Iron and Wine will be performing "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" (from the soundtrack of "Twilight") on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Monday, January 5, 2009 which is tonight.