Here are a few releases that I am really looking forward to.

First and foremost is Oh Ye Devastator from the great singer/songwriter out of Denton, Doug Burr. If you have not graced your ears with his music you are really missing out on something special. This is the proper follow-up to his 2007 gem, On Promenade, even though he blessed us with The Shawl in late 2008 which was a record of music put to select Psalms. This releases on May 4th and can be purchased here.

Josh Ritter returns with his second release for a major label with So Runs the World Away. Scheduled for a May 4th release, Josh Ritter showed some love to those of us with turntables and released the vinyl version a full three weeks earlier for Record Store Day. I picked up a copy and am still formulating my opinion. What I can tell you is that it is worth your hard-earned cash.

Say what you want about Jack White but the dude knows how to write some fantastic, gritty rock songs, especially with the female-fronted Dead Weather. Hot on the heals of 2009’s Whorehound, Sea of Cowards is poised to continue the nasty riff-laden hooks that we present on their debut. Scheduled for May 13th, I already have this one pre-ordered through Amazon.

To be delivered on the same day as the Dead Weather is the new one from The National entitled High Violet. The Boxer was 2007’s surprise hit, topping my top 10 of that year. After a long three year wait they are taking it to the logical next step. Destined to be on many top 10 lists this year.

Chasing After Shadows, Living with Ghosts….  if that is not post-rock I have no idea what is. I was not a big fan of their sophomore release, Raising Your Voice Trying to Stop an Echo, but their follow-up, Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow was a masterpiece and their best release to date. I have high expectations for this release and hope it lives up to it.

Also in the future is a new release from Sun Kil Moon and a split 12″ from Isis/Melvins that is sure to be epic and devastatingly heavy. Maybe I will spark up some conversation and attempt to review a few of these, hearkening back to my old Ashes to Ashes days. If anyone knows of that site I used to run, you need help