ALBUM ANNOUNCEMENTS - EELS, FIELD MUSIC, YEASAYER

So I was gonna post about the announcement of a new Eels record, but before I could get round to it Yeasayer and Field Music jumped on the album-announcing bandwagon. Here’s a round-up, then, of this week’s big release news.

Eels - End Times

After the bitter disappointment of Hombre Lobo, an album which made Shootenanny look like fucking Shaft, the release of a new album only 7 months later creates mixed feelings. Perhaps the 14 tracks on End Times, due out on January 19th, will be a return to form for E, but the quick turnaround suggests it might just be some more uninspired and overdriven blues riffs. Hombre Lobo was E’s first genuinely lackluster album (like I said, Shootenanny has it’s moments), and I’m still hopeful that it will be his only one.

Yeasayer - Odd Blood

Yeasayer’s debut is a truly great album, and the stand alone track Tightrope (click below to watch a brilliant session version) seems to suggest they’re about to get even better. Entitled Odd Blood, the new album is set for release on February 8th, and will feature 10 tracks. I’d be very surprised if this wasn’t one of 2010’s best albums - I’m expecting it to be great.

Yeasayer - Tightrope (Youtube)

Field Music - Measure

Of the three, this is the album announcement I’m most exited about. As a huge fan of both Field Music’s self-titled début and second effort Tones of Town the news that their third release Measure will be a double album makes me very happy. The record, released on February 16th, is set to feature 20 tracks, two of which are available as a free download on the band’s website. Surprise surprise, both these tracks are great, particularly ”Each Time Is A New Time”, which sounds just as good as anything they’ve done before.

With Los Campesinos! also set to release an album in early 2010 (although there’s no further details yet), it looks set to be a very happy new year. Now all we need is a Rakes reunion tour.

Jed. x