Let's get to 2011 already

Thanks to social networking we no longer have to gaze into have cloudy crystal balls to see what our favorite bands and musicians are doing and when to expect what from them. I already have my top 5 albums that I am looking forward to in 2011.

The Romany Rye
Rumored Title: My True North
Expected Release: February- March

Luke MacMaster hailing from Big Bear California, and his band Whitman Bransford, Ryan Hitt,Joshua and Judson Spillyard  all from Little Rock Arkansas formed the Romany Rye in 2010. The Romany Rye spent the Summer and Fall of 2010 touring on Highway One Looking Back Carefully, opening for Delta Spirit and then going out on the road with Dawes I would not try and classify their music in the Laurel Canyon vein everyone is so fond of touting this year, but there is definitely a Californian feel, mixed with a Southern sensibility that is as compelling as anything that I have heard this year and are drawing comparisons ranging from Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, to Neil Young and Crazy Horse.

Dawes
Rumored Title: Fire Away
Expected Release Date: Early Summer 

I am equally excited for what Taylor Goldsmith and the Dawes guys have in store for us in 2011. Having to follow up the still growing popularity of North Hills, would seem like a feat  for most bands. Though having taken time "off" in September to go make the new record, and with an appearance by Benmont Tench, it would seem that Goldsmith and Co know fully what is being expected and are more than ready to deliver. Having seen and heard a good portion of the new record, it is exciting to hear the growth that they are willing to challenge themselves to both lyrically and musically.

 

Middle Brother

Title: Middle Brother

Release Date: March 1, 2010

Having given away their first single "Me,Me, Me" as a Christmas gift, is capitalizing on the recent buzz that has been generated since changing their name and signing to Partisan Record. The band consisting of Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), John  McCauley (Deer Tick) and Matt Vasquez (Delta Spirit) recorded this record in December of 2009, but with each bands busy schedules chose to wait until they could properly support the record.  In listening to Middle Brother, the distinction between the three songwriters is clear, and each stay true to their own writing styles, the arrangements and harmonies are what make this band. 

Kathleen Edwards 

Rumored Title Unknown 

Estimated Release Date Unknown:

The status updates from Kathleen Edwards on her facebook page are enough for me to get excited about the record. For two reasons 1) with songs "Change the Sheets" and "I'm Going to Hell"  and 2)  bringing back Jim Bryson to play on the record are two solid moves.  From what I have heard the record reminds me more of her first two records "Failer" and "Back to Me" which are my two favorite records.

 

Tim Easton and the Freeland Barons 

Rumored Title "Beat the Band"

Expected Release Date: Spring

Tim Easton is the one person that I stop any of my SXSW plans to go see. He has a talent that I admire and respect he can play a song with a full band but also deliver an equally resonating version of the song solo. It seems like a simple feat, but when you strip down an artists to him and his guitar its amazing how many fall flat. I am excited that he is going to release a solo acoustic record called "Since 1966" and the full band record with the Freeland Barons (Aaron Lee Tasjan, Mark Stepro, and Alex Livingstone).