This is it. This is the bounty of albums The Pier has chosen as the ones to look out for in 2008. Over the next couple of pages you will get a sneak preview involving in-depth coverage, exclusive information and band interviews covering what to expect from our 20 Most Anticipated Album Releases for '08.
Further to this, another 17 bands/albums also get an honorable mention, bringing the grand total to 37 albums to seek out this year. For those keeping track that is almost one a week. This will undoubtedly be a huge year for some sweet reggae and rock music.
Let's get to it.
20. Jack Johnson
Album Title: Sleep Through the Static
Released when: 5th February 2008
Recorded at: Solar Powered Plastic Plant Studio in L.A.’s Larchmont Village.
Sounds Like: Early reports suggest that the new album is another mellow affair (did you really expect anything different?). The initial rumor was this album was going to be a little more rocking, as Jack had been messing around with an electric guitar. However, first single, If I had Eyes, indicates more of the same old, same old. This is supported by folks who have already heard a preview of the disc.
First Single: If I Had Eyes. You should all have heard this by now. Available to purchase on iTunes and can be heard on Jack's MySpace Page.
Other Songs Include: All At Once, Sleep Through the Static, Hope, Angel, Enemy, Same Girl, What You Thought You Needed, Adrift, Go On, They Do They Don't, While We Wait, Monsoon and Losing Keys
Why The Pier is excited: Who can't resist the smooth charms and the relaxed stylings of Mr Johnson.
Visit him here: Jack Johnson MySpace
19. Gadfly
Album Title: Problem to Solve all Your Problems
Released when: Late February or early March
Recorded at: Recorded and produced by Tommy Dubs and Bryan Stratman at Capricorn and Tommy Dubs Studio.
Sounds Like: Vocalist Tommy Dubs says, ‘It’s a rock record with a heavy dub influence. We sound pissed off I guess...but we are really happy.
This record was a huge undertaking for us. We have developed a sound that is un-mistakable live, but translating that into a studio record is impossible. We decided to separate our art forms this time. We can play live...but can we record a real record? I guess we will see. We didn’t want to capture our "live sound" on this one.... we wanted to make a record with no filler or bullshit on it... if a song wasn't doing it for us then we were like "fuck it...it's not on the record." There is a lot of shit to be said about this album, but you got to ask the right questions.'
First Single: Tommy Dubs says, 'I think the first single is going to be a song called Just Alright. It’s a rock song with a pretty cool dub section in the middle. The lyrics are scandalous and of course it’s a true story. My favorite line from the song is "shes looking so fine... with my belt wrapped around her neck." It’s pretty honest... I hope my mom doesn’t think I’m a freak... even though I am.'
Other Songs Include: Threw it All Away and Cool Down
Why The Pier is excited: After hearing a few songs like Threw it All Away, it is instantly clear that Gadfly has recorded something that could be truly special. There is also no mistaking the passion that Tommy Dubs has for his band's music. This type of fire always translates to some great creative music making.
Visit Gadfly here: Gadfly MySpace
18. Half Pint
Album Title: No Stress Express
Released when: 28 January 2008
Recorded at: God Help Me! Music Studios and other locations.
Sounds Like: To be released by Universal, you can guarantee No Stress Express will continue to feature Half Pint’s heavenly voice, with the legend singing about positivity and maintaining values. The album will feature 16 new tracks.
First Single: Unity with Jack Maness (ex-Long Beach Dub Allstars), great song with a great video, which you can check out here.
Other Songs Include: No Stress Express, Mind Over Matter and Never Let Go
Why The Pier is excited: Is there a singer with a more soulful voice? You would be hard-pressed to find one. One of the reggae greats and the song Unity is already going to be one of the big reggae hits of the year.
Visit him here: Half Pint MySpace
17. Iration
Album Title: Not Yet Known
Released when: Summer 2008
Recording With: Guitarist, Micah Pueschel says, 'We are working and writing with Charles Brotman who is a grammy winner for Hawaiian music.'
Sounds Like: Micah says, 'We are almost finished with writing and will be in Hawaii in March.' You can expect some more of Iration's sweet new roots music.
Interesting Tidbit: The album will be released through Palm Records/Lava Tracks.
Why The Pier is excited: The band's previous album, No Time For Rest, was one of the most solid reggae albums of 2007. It also looks like the band is not forgetting its roots with its production plans, which is always a good thing we say.
Visit Iration here: Iration MySpace
16. Bag of Toys
Album Title: Afternooner (tentative title)
Released when: Spring 2008
Recorded at: Gadgetbox Studio in Santa Cruz, CA with well known local engineering whiz Andy Zenczak.
Sounds Like: Vocalist/guitarist Robert Tait tells The Pier, 'To expect the style/vibe to be similar to Nooner - acoustic surf rock that invokes images of drinking Coronas on the beach with friends. However the audio quality will be stellar and there will also be a lot more percussion on this record. A few tracks may even have keys.'
He continues, 'This time the band collaborated much more in writing the material for this album. Compared to Nooner, which was recorded in my living room in about a week, the band is taking its time with this one, over three-four months to lay down all the tracks. Also, there's going to be one track that will unveil a completely new genre for the Bag.'
Songs Include: Smile So Wide, Good Time and Feel It
Why The Pier is excited: To obtain such great results with its debut and with such limited resources, it will be interesting to hear what Bag of Toys can concoct on the follow-up.
Visit Bag of Toys here: Bag of Toys MySpace
15. Close Enough
Album Title: Not Yet Known
Released when: EP in the Spring, full-length album in the Summer
Recorded at: Paradigm Studios in Riverside CA.
Who Are They?: New Artist Alert! Starting out as a cover band, Close Enough has been busily secretly recording new material in all of 2007. Featuring the dynamic MC talents of NoNeedz and Paradigm Studio's main man Justin Jones, Close Enough is quite the creative force.
Sounds Like: The band tells The Pier it's extremely excited for 2008 and can't wait to release an album. Close Enough says, 'We're very fortunate to have our own Recording Studio to write freely in and being that we're a new band, its helped the five of us bring our musicial aspirations to the table to formulate what we feel is a very original sound in collaborating alternative, reggae and hip-hop music.
We're looking to release a 7-8 track EP in February with a full-length album to follow in the summer. We're still doing a lot of writing and feel that our style is progressing by the minute which leaves us very anxious to see where this takes us when it comes time to release a hard copy with our EP or album. There's no title yet, as we don't want to jump to a title just yet. Who knows, we can write a song tomorrow thats phenominal that we may name the album or EP after.'
Songs Include: Close Enough says, 'A couple tracks to look out for with our EP, that we're certaintly excited about releasing, are Ain't No Time, Gimme All Your Lovin and our fan favorite Burnin' The Fire. We're kicking around the idea of doing an acoustic song and there have been some songs that have fallen off the list that we're still going to use and feature as Free Downloads on our MySpace page or feature on various compilation CDs.'
Why The Pier is excited: The tracks that The Pier have heard so far perfectly capture the SoCal sound. There is also something very natural about NoNeedz hip hop flows over the smooth reggae music.
Visit him here: Close Enough MySpace
14. Part One Tribe
Album Title: Obvious As Ever
Released when: Late June or early July
Recorded at: Vocalist/guitarist Rob D says, ‘We’ve done two tracks, Perpetrators and Don’t Have A Fit, at Full Sail in Orlando and we plan to do the rest ourselves at our house in Florida.’
Sounds Like: Rob D describes, 'The style and vibe is real chill for the most part, typical Part One Tribe stuff with some more hip hoppy smooth Marley brothers style. Our heavier stuff has a real groove heavy Fugazi sound. I think overall you will see we have a very tight groove right now that is very unique and I think makes us part one tribe and I guess the vibe could best be described as Part One Tribe personified.'
First Single: Rob D says, ‘The single is called Perpetrators. It’s about how we have been around for a long time and we have pioneered a lot of this shit for everyone in this little Sublime/reggae scene with the exception of a few heavy hitters and a lot of people have been jumping on a more str8 reggae band wagon and suddenly went from skater punks to rastas and than want to treat us like we are fake in it.
I say, "Listen what I said I know that I ain’t no natty dread, I’m not Bradley Nowell, that man’s dead, but I like this sweet reggae music."
Other Songs Include: Your Life, Set Him Off, Jamaica, More Than You Need and Relax
Interesting Tidbit: Rob D reveals, 'We are debating a digital release verses a pressing of an album. A pressed album would have 16 tracks at least, 20 at best. If we do digital we are thinking a 30-40 song album only distributed online. We want some feedback on what people think we need to do. Something to get attention because these other bands arent sharing the pie!! We can't wait for everyone to hear it either because we know it will be our best studio album yet.'
Why The Pier is excited: It's been quite a while since we have heard some new tunes from Part One Tribe, so we are more than ready. You can bet it will be super soulful and hopefully this time round maybe a little sonically better than previous efforts.
Visit Part One Tribe here: Part One Tribe MySpace
13. OPM
Album Title: Golden State of Mind. Vocalist John E Necro says, ‘It’s sort of a continuation from California Poppy and I thought it had a nice ring to it with the artwork.’
Released when: June 2008
Recording at: Jim from Dumbluck’s House.
Sounds Like: John E Necro says, 'We are going back and doing a lot more programmed beats on this record and it is giving this new one a bit of a hip hop feel. We really trying to push with the overall vibe towards with what The Transplants did with The Clash. We are trying to do what OPM would do with The Clash.'
Album Guests: John E Necro reveals, 'We are trying to get Sen-Dog from Cypress Hill and Dogboy from Too Rude. Tricky Spade, Big B and Dirtball, probably the Kottonmouth Kings and Jared from (Hed) PE.' He continues, 'We also always try to have a reggae legend. Like previously we have had Eek a Mouse and Yellowman. So hopefully we will be able to get someone cool.'
Why The Pier is excited: With The Clash as a major influence you can't really go wrong. OPM has always proven to write catchy as hell singles, so you can bet there will be at least a few party starters on here.
Visit OPM here: OPM MySpace
12. Badfish
Album Title: Satisfaction Guaranteed (tentative title)
Released when: Sometime in 2008
Recorded at: Home studio in Santa Ana
Sounds Like: Vocalist Ruben says, ‘As for this album’s style, it’s that same mix of reggae, hip hop and dancehall that Badfish fans have come to expect, but this time out we really sharpened the skills. It’s a more mature record, with better songwriting. We keep the beers popping and spliffs burning as always, but go places we wouldn’t have gone before. On this album, we’re talkin’ about haters hatin’, fiends fiendin’, and 5-0 creepin’- the stuff we’re dealing with everyday.’
Badfish says, 'You’ll get a hearty helping of MRxRUBxAxDUB’s signature soulful delivery, the street corner songbird is wailin’ tighter than ever. For the second LP, we enlisted veteran East Coast emcee JERZ E. BRED to further compliment the sweet Southern Cali vibes. Jerz brings a refreshing and ferocious dose of lyrical skill that takes the Badfish sound to new heights. The record has universal flavor that sounds as good on the beach as it does on the concrete.
Together as vocalists, we pay tribute to the Jamaican origins of dancehall, sing-jay stylee. The way we bounce verses off each other and compliment each other’s vibe gives the album an authentic feel that’s a sure sound system favorite. So “ease up the pressure/relieve the stress bring a wind to ya waist and bass to ya chest/Badfish massive no settle for less" than SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.
First Single: Rob U Blind will probably be the lead single, but it’s hard to say cause all the tracks are strong.
Other Songs Include: Struggler, Take It Slow, Ovatime, Too Much 2 Lose, Habit, Muddy. Ruben says, 'All of ‘em have a lot of heart and like the last album, it’s somethin’ people can listen to all the way thru.'
Look For: A dope booklet that honors the Long Beach music community and our place in it.
Why The Pier is excited: It has been many years since Soundbwoy Killas dropped, and while Badfish has gone through quite a line-up shuffle, just the acoustic video of Rob U Blind (check it here) sent The Pier chills with excitement.
Visit Badfish here: Badfish MySpace
11. The Movement
Album Title: Not Yet Known
Released when: February 2008
Recorded at: Philadelphonic Studios with producer Chris D (G Love, Slightly Stoopid and The Expendables)
Sounds Like: Expect The Movement to be supported by a whole live band on this release for a much fuller sound.
Album Guests: The Movement has recruited OG from Slightly Stoopid on eight tracks and also Mark Boyce (keyboardist from G Love) and Chuck Treece (ex-Bad Brains) drums on eight tracks.
Songs Include: Habit, Set Sail, End Of The Road, Green Girl, Throwdown
Why The Pier is excited: It has been a few years since The Movement has released a studio album and its debut, On Your Feet, was an absolute killer. If the band reaches half the potential that debut album showcased, this forthcoming effort will be amazing.
Visit The Movement here: The Movement MySpace
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