TNG reader Rohan, who has given his take on music in the past, returns with this 2009 preview.

Cute Band(s) Alert!:

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart

This New York four piece made noise in 2008 with an EP that looks back to the jangly days of C-86. It is also no coincidence that they are on the classic Slumberland label, home to Black Tambourine and the Aislers Set. Their self-titled drops in February and is full of syrupy boy/girl vocals that will warm any heart. Check out their single below and catch them February 9th at the Black Cat Backstage.

Wavves

Wavves (Nathan Williams) is a one man project from San Francisco who creates a mix of surf rock and lo-fi. Imagine if Times New Viking smoked pot and surfed all day. Wavves is full of pop hooks and sing-along choruses but mixed in fuzz and sludge, almost as if everything was recorded in a basement. His self-titled debut (Wavves) came out this year on Woodist, but next year his second record Wavvves (see the third “v”) (2/3/09) drops.

Check out his blog for more info and samples and hip-hop videos.

The Pens

Like Wavves they are also on the De Stijl label, and are lo-fi as shit. The Pens are three cute girls from the UK who sound as if they can barley play their instruments. While that may sound unappealing to most, one thing that really makes me hot is shambly bands that feature girls (i.e. the Vivian Girls). The Pens recall both twee and girl post-punk, and if you can get over the shitty quality, they are a hell of a lot of fun.

Cut Off Your Hands

Cut Off Your Hands are from New Zealand, and released their debut record You and I this year overseas. Next Year Frenchkiss (home to the next MGMT, Passion Pit) will issue the disc on these shores, and it is sure to invade indie airwaves. Proclaiming on their MySpace as “Fight Pop”, it described them well, with anathematic lyrics, pulsing drums and intertwine guitars, it is looking with 2009 might be the end of blog-house and a return to indie rock. If you want to fall in love check out this video for “Oh Girl”:

New Albums:

2009 is going to be epic. Usually the winter months reflect the weather and are not as hearty with anticipated releases but the early months of 2009 are huge with established artists (and some new ones) putting out albums that people should care about.

January is supposed to be a dead month but January 20th is going to be a return to the Super-Tuesdays of the past. The most hyped release of 2009, Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion drops the 20th. If MPP is anything like the leaked tracks it may just be an early contender for album of the year. Also on the 20th is another solo record from AC Newman (Get Guilty), and the return of Antony and the Johnsons (The Crying Light). For those unfamiliar with Antony, you may recognize his voice from this year’s brillian Hercules and Love Affair disc. Franz Ferdinand return after a couple year hiatus with their (complicated) third record Tonight…Franz Ferdinand (1/27), but whether it will be a hit is still unknown.

February’s releases see the return of Lily Allen (It’s Not You, It’s Me 2/10), as well as three of my bands to watch (The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Wavves, The Pens). The record to look out for is N.A.S.A. (The Sprit of Apollo 2/17), a dream project of Squeak E. Clean (Spike Jones’s Brother) and DJ Zegon that features almost every artist imaginable. Black Lips (you know, the boys Zack thinks are cute) are releasing their fifth record 200 Million Thousand on the 24th.

The beginning of March heats winter up with a new Decemberists (does anyone care anymore?) record (Hazards of Love 3/3). My most anticipated record is Neko Case’s Middle Cyclone (3/3), which if it is anything like her last record, it is going to be an instant classic. Also in March the return of sugar-rush indie-popper’s Boy Least Likely To (The Law of the Playground 3/3) and a new record by both Bonnie (Will Oldham, Place) ‘Prince’ Billy (Beware 3/17), and everyone’s (but mine) favorite Baltimorean, Dan Deacon (Bromst 3/24). The record to be on the lookout for is a release by the Condo Fucks (presumably Yo La Tengo, but the jury is out) (Fuckbook 3/10).

April is as far as releases are planned but two important records, Lady Sovereign (Jigsaw 4/7) and The Thermals (Now We Can See 4/7), are sure to entertain.

So now you are ahead of the curve, and I know these is tons of great music. Although the weather is going to get shitty, and the economy is in the dumps, 2009 will bring more things to smile about than Obama.