Your Early 2015 Music Preview

2015 is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing years for new music in a long time, and this preview will weed out the rubbish to find the interesting releases in the early part of 2015.

January features a raft of releases, beginning with Panda Bear’s forthcoming album Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper, which is a fantastical adventure of psychedelic noise, judging from the early singles “Boys Latin” and “Mr Noah.”

Watch for a review of the album in the new Record of the Week feature in a couple of weeks.

Here’s an artist I can’t actually believe I’m recommending in the year 2015: Marilyn Manson. Incredible as it may seem, his new release, The Pale Emperor, looks like a return to form of sorts from a man who did put out some excellent pop-rock tracks in the late 1990’s. Of course, these were usually overshadowed by shock tactics but the songs were good, and the recent tracks “Deep Six” and “Third Day of a Seven Day Binge” harken back to those days. Whether it’s enough to sustain over an album we shall see.

January also sees the release of albums from indie stalwarts Belle and Sebastian and The Decemberists. The B+S album, Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance seems to show the band embracing elements of dance music in their sound, judging by the singles “The Party Line” and “Nobody’s Empire.”

As for The Decemberists’ new album, What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World, it’s anyone’s guess, as the band are comfortable in playing in so many different musical styles. The first single ‘Make You Better’ is an anthemic song with touches of country.

In February, look for releases from Screaming Females and Torche. New Jersey’s Screaming Females look set to hit the big time with their forthcoming album Rose Mountain, which showcases the shredding guitar technique of singer Marissa Paternoster.

Heavy-pop outfit Torche’s new album, Restarter, looks set to be another highlight from a band who have yet to make a bad record. The album’s only single so far, “Minions,” combines the melodies and extreme heaviness which have become the band’s trademark sound.

Happy New Year, and here’s to a year of great music.