Codes and Keys — Death Cab for Cutie. Release date: May 31.
Death Cab for Cutie is one of the bigger indie bands out there, with strong alternative rock influences.
Lead vocalist Ben Gibbard has a hypnotizing voice, and over the last decade, Death Cab has succeeded in producing some incredible albums with successful singles that invariably make it to every one’s favorite playlists.
The first single, “You Are a Tourist,” was released in late March and is five minutes of pure relaxation. Both Ben Gibbard and bassist Nick Harmer have been quoted as saying that Codes and Keys will be “a much less guitar-centric album.” “You Are a Tourist” reminded me a bit of The Postal Service, something that any Death Cab fan will be pleased to hear.
Dirty Work — All Time Low. Release date: June 7.
All Time Low is an alternative/pop band that has released three studio albums since their formation in 2003.
With songs ranging from pop punk to rock, ATL knows how to draw fans. Theirs last album was Nothing Personal and had only one big criticism: too much auto-tuning.
Hopefully, in Dirty Work, ATL has fixed this problem.
“I Feel Like Dancin,’” the first single, was released in early April and has been making top 100 billboards in America. Co-written by Rivers Cuomo, (lead-singer of Weezer) “I Feel Like Dancin’” is a pure pop song: catchy and a great dance mix.
Interviews with band members indicate that Dirty Work will be about the ups and downs of touring and making music. Hopefully the album will have a little more substance than “I Feel Like Dancin’” has showcased.
Pre-order it now for the deluxe version, which boasts three extra songs.
Tha Carter IV – Lil Wayne. Release date: June 21.
Did you think I’d forgotten one of rap’s biggest names? Lil Wayne has already released an impressive eight studio albums.
Back in 2008, we saw Tha Carter III, an album that was that year’s best seller.
The first three Carter albums have been huge successes for Lil Wayne and Tha Carter IV looks like it’s going to be no different.
Despite being one of the more prolific artists working currently, Lil Wayne has had no problem pushing the album’s release date back to keep working on it. Fans probably won’t mind, given that his last album has only been out for six months.
The first single “6 Foot 7 Foot” was released in mid December of last year and has great production quality as well as strong lyrics.
The next single, “John,” came out in March and featured rapper Rick Ross. More big names are working with Lil Wayne on the album.
It should be one of the more successful releases of 2011.
All Things Bright and Beautiful — Owl City. Release date: June 24.
This is the third studio album by artist Adam Young from his synth-pop music project, Owl City.
The first single released was “Alligator Sky,” and if it is any indication of the album as a whole, then this might be his best work yet.
“Alligator Sky” seems to have retained all the good things about Owl City, while polishing up the rough spots There are synthesizers that push the chorus into being catchy, but there was no heavy-handed electronics making things repetitive.
One version of the song has rapper Shawn Crystopher rapping over the harmony, an effect that works surprisingly well and is truly complimentary.
This is one album that will probably be perfect when you’re at the beach.
If Not Now, When? — Incubus. Release date: July 12.
Incubus hasn’t released an album since 2006, but their seventh studio album will be coming out this summer.
From 2008 to 2010, the band was on hiatus and problems amongst the members suggested the hiatus might be indefinite. But 2010 saw Incubus headed back to the studio.
If Not Now, When? It is supposed to be nothing like their previous works, and yet still remain quintessential “Incubus.” “Adolescents,” the first single, hit airwaves in early April.
With a more alternative sound than previous Incubus hits, it’s suggests that If Not Now, When? will be a step in a whole new direction for the 20-year-old band.
Richard Solomon can be reached at richard.solomon@spartans.ut.edu.