This is it. This is the bounty of albums The Pier has chosen as the ones to look out for in 2009. Over the next couple of pages you will get a sneak preview, including in-depth coverage, exclusive information and band interviews covering what to expect from our 20 Most Anticipated Album Releases for 2009.

This is going to be a big year so let's get to it and enjoy.

20. Various Artists - Funky Dividends

Album Title: Funky Dividends Compilation Vol. 1

Released when: January/February

Recorded by: The Funky Dividends Compilation is a collection of mostly unreleased songs produced by Jungle Josh (Chapter 11 and Bredrin Daddys)

Sounds Like: The influences on the album are largely late 80's and early 90's hip hop as well as all era's of reggae and dancehall.

Featured Artists Include: New music from Chapter 11, Badfish, Toko Tasi and Phileano. Plus Erick Sermon (EPMD, DEF SQUAD), Marshall Goodman (Sublime, LBDA), Musical Sniper AKA Rappa Robert (Jamaica), Bobo David (Judgement Yard, Jamaica) as well as DJ's Icy Ice (Beat Junkies, KDAY), E-tronic (DMC U.S. Champion), Young Einstein (Ugly Duckling) and more.

Songs Include: Rob U Blind by Badfish; Princess feat. Toko Tasi; and Wit my Ni**as feat. Khari Santiago, Erick Sermon and DJ Field Marshall

Why The Pier is excited: With such a great array of guest artists how could you not be excited. This compilation should satisfy all reggae/hip hop crossover needs. Also be on the look-out for the new Chapter 11 album (Premium Blend) to be released March 09. House Party Tonight anyone?

Visit Jungle Josh here: Funky Dividends MySpace

19. Street Pharmacy

Album Title: The Legacy of Rudy

Released when: April/May

Recorded at: Santiago, Cuba

Sounds Like: Reggae/Acoustic/World

Songs Include: The Honeymoon's Over, R.S.V.P. and Empathy

Interesting Tidbits: The album is a six song reggae-concept record idea to tell the story of the original rude boy (aka Rudy) through song. A few songs that would fill in the blanks about what made this Rudy character such a bad seed. Just for fun, not factual. "The recording of this album takes on a much more historical significance than what we initially intended. In January of 2009, it will be the 50th year that Cuba became a communist country." - Ryan Guay (Street Pharmacy)

Recorded with 12 Cuban/Jamaican born musicians which will further compliment the entire tone of the record as both a piece of music and a contextually motivated concept album.

Why The Pier is excited: Besides the fact it sounds like an amazing idea for a concept album, this Canadian band's last album Free Delivery was incredibly consistent and a hint of some special things to come.

Visit the band here: Street Pharmacy MySpace

18. Outlaw Nation

Album Title: New Day

Released when: Spring 09 on Stoopid Records

Recorded at: Recorded in Louisiana, mixed by Miguel (Sublime, Slightly Stoopid) and Lew Richards (Jesus Wore Dickies)

Sounds Like: Outlaw Nation is claiming the release will be its best to date and proudly states the sound will be "Silverback Music sound forever." Not sure exactly what that means, but expect a few special guests to pop up as well.

Songs Include: Float Away, World Explodes and first single Reborn

Why The Pier is excited: Last year's Blood Money featured some of the year's most danceable reggae. With the experience of the production crew selected for this new release hopefully Outlaw Nation will reach the greatness its potential has always suggested. Having already heard the single Reborn - it seems very promising.

Visit Outlaw Nation here: Outlaw Nation MySpace

17. The Holdup

Album Title: Stay Gold

Released when: February/March

Recorded at: Dub Rock Studios with Mike Garmany and Aaron at Madhouse Studios

Sounds Like: Stay Gold will be a unique blend of hip hop influenced beats mixed with a slight rootsy reggae feel. After over 16 months of recording, it will definitely be well worth the wait. The wide variety of musical influences are intertwined into 14 feel good tracks, the perfect fit for any reggae rock fan.

Songs Include: Stay Gold, Hunnies, Wildchild, One Day, Demons, Selfish Man, Morning and Good Times

Final Thoughts: The band says, "For the last two years we have been hard at work recording our full length debut album Stay Gold. Standards were high and time was the least of our worries. We knew we needed to focus all our time and efforts into releasing the very best album we could. Stay Gold will be our record label's Dub Rock Music sophomore release, trailing our label-mates 880 South's Youth Bus Sessions album released earlier this year."

Why The Pier is excited: Seemingly to have come out of nowhere last year, The Holdup has made an immediate impression on Pier readers and the reggae rock scene. It is pretty amazing these guys are still in their teens.

Visit The Holdup here: The Holdup MySpace

16. Three Legged Fox

Album Title: Not As Far

Released when: February

Recorded at: Philadelphonic Studios with producer Chris DiBeneditto (G Love, Slightly Stoopid & The Expendables)

Sounds Like: The band emphasized a lot more of its rock side with this album, but there's still plenty of reggae influence.

Songs Include: I Believe (ft. Jacob Hemphill from SOJA), Not as Far, Help, Love Move a Mountain, Higher Love, Easier Way, Away, Slow Down, Maybe I'm Sorry, Gone, Found Out, New Blues and Soul Thief

Special Guests Include: The new album features guest appearances by Jacob Hemphill from SOJA on vocals, Mark Boyce from G. Love & Special Sauce on keyboard and organ, OG from Slightly Stoopid on percussion and the horn unit from John Brown's Body.

Why The Pier is excited: We had the honor of hearing some of the early demos - they were s@#t hot. The band is certainly not holding back on production and guest appearances, it is obivous a lot of thought and care is going into this release.

Visit Three Legged Fox here: Three Legged Fox MySpace

15. C-MONEY & The Players Inc.

Album Title: Family Business

Released when: Spring

Recorded where: Boston, Long Beach, San Diego, LA, NYC... so far

Sounds Like: C-Money says, "Social music for dancing." A lot of talent from our independant music scene family on this one!!

Songs and Special Guests Include: Solution, Signs and Wonders ft. Elliot Martin of John Brown's Body, Chicken and Rice ft. G Love and Everybody Needs ft. Kyle McDonald from Slightly Stoopid

Why The Pier is excited: Have you seen the list of incredible guests the Stoopid multi-instrumentalist has assembled here? This could easily be the most adventurous release of 2009.

Visit the band here: C-MONEY & The Players Inc MySpace

14. RAC

Album Title: No Title Yet

Released when: Feburary/March

Recorded at: Paradigm Studios with Justin Jones and Cosmic Soup Recordings with Ricardo Lozano

Sounds Like: RAC says, "Reggae and Punk - as seen by us."

Songs Include: Beach Bungalow, Rebel Eye, State of My Union, Black Sand, Skip Town and F.D.P.

Why The Pier is excited: This Arizona four-piece certainly has its own take on the reggae/punk sound (very good thing), but most importantly its music is always honest and infectious. The band has been brewing this new release for some time and it should be definitely worth the wait.

Visit RAC here: RAC MySpace

13. Del Mar

Album Title: After the Quake

Released when: First or second week of April (early Spring)

Recorded at: Headway studios - Garden Grove. Rob Perez & Bert Susanka (the Ziggens) produced.

Sounds Like: Del Mar says, "Punk, surf, cow-punk, with Latin flavor and horns here and there, lots of percussion. Very homegrown and passionate record, no drama all DIY - indie all the way. Great record to snowboard to with your iPod or to blast during a road trip. Fun party record but deeper messages found in certain songs, hidden political chatter if you pay attention."

Songs Include: After the Quake, Reno!, Beach Bum, Return to Scorpion Bay, Meth Breath, Roth's Revenge, Jellyfish and New Realization

Interesting Tidbits: Ten different guitars and five different amps were used to get an assorted sound throughout the record. Bert Susanka (Ziggens) not only co-produced the record but also wrote a song for it. Bud (Gaugh) nearly killed a bunch of people trying to find a "Vibraslap" in So Cal, not even the professional drum/percussion store carried one. He ended up quite discontent with a "Vibraslap II." Damn you, California. Damn you. Lil Daddy Roth does dialogue over the record and is also contributing artwork for the album inserts (of Rat Fink fame). Zippy from Bargain Music laid down some guitar tracks on Surf Country.

Why The Pier is excited: The title track has already been posted on the band's MySpace page and it is some gritty punk rock at its best.

Visit Del Mar here: Del Mar MySpace

12. Can't Hang

Album Title: Ride the Lightrail

Released when: Spring

Recorded by: Jocko (John Browns Body's sound master) or Brian McTernan @ Salad Days.

Sounds Like: Can't Hang says, "Reggae + Baltimore + Punk + Metal. It has a pretty good mix of soulful reggae straight punk a couple hybrids and some surprises. As with Blood Sweat and Beers, this album shows the maturity of song writing and musicianship of the band. Expect some horns on this album as well."

Songs Include: The Way (ay ay), 95, Fish Eye, Bring Me Rain and Tour

Interesting Tidbit: This will be Alex Crowleys (drums) first record with the band and he already has two songs that he wrote for the album.

Why The Pier is excited: Blood, Sweat & Beers was one of the most dynamic releases of 2007. The Pier's one complaint - it was too short. However, as with each of the band's previous releases, the albums just keep getting better and better. Fingers crossed this new album keeps the trend going.

Visit Can't Hang here: Can't Hang MySpace

11. Sense Boardwear Compilation

Album Title: Acoustic Collective

Released when: Spring

Recorded at: Currently in production with Paradigm Studios and Hamachi Studio

Sounds Like: Sense Boardwear says, "While we've put out many compilation CDs before, we feel this one is special because every song is something new and different; touching the sounds of Hip Hop, Funk, Reggae, Blues & Soul. This isn't your straight-up acoustic guitar/singing type of album. We have songs with acoustic piano, ukalaili, various percussions but nothing over-produced.

We have three acoustic collaboration songs we're also working on as bonus treats, no different than our previous compilation CDs. We feel this will be something eclectically put together that this scene has yet to really experience from an acoustic standpoint. There will also be some new bands and new artists we have never before released on previous CDs."

Bands Include: Chapter 11, The Movement, Close Enough, Flip & Rollie, Lamal & Lulu, NoNeedz and more.

Why The Pier is excited: We love the concept and as with previous releases you just can't beat Sense Boardwear's exclusive killer tracks.

Visit Sense Boardwear here: Sense Boardwear Music MySpace

NOW CLICK HERE TO BE TAKEN TO THE TOP TEN ANTICIPATED RELEASES FOR 2009