0 Commentary by THEPAPERBAGWRITER

Despite the immanent industry apocalypse the record companies have been warning, 2008 was a remarkable year for music marked by a series of strong releases from our favorite artists as well a handful of new ones. If we have high hopes for 2009, it’s because we know what’s coming. Here are a few of the albums we’re most looking forward to hearing in the year to come.

To kick off this year New Pornographer front man A.C. Newman will release his second solo album Get Guilty. His first, Slow Wonder was a beautiful departure from the pornographers and we’re sure this one will be too.

Next up Animal Collective’s new album Merriweather Post Pavilion will hit shelves with what we hope will be a bigger bang than Strawberry Jam.

Antony & the Johnsons will follow up Another World EP with a new album dedicated to the famous dancer Kazuo Ohno.

We’re super psyched about Andrew Bird’s new album Noble Beast which from what we’ve heard sounds phenomenal.

We’re also looking forward to Hot Chip’s collaboration with Robert Wyatt on Geese EP.

We know we can’t publicly admit that we like Lily Allen, but we’re kind of sort of looking forward to hearing her second album It’s Not Me, It’s You

We all loved M. Ward’s collaboration with the actress Zooey Deschanel, but we’re looking forward to the lone singer’s return with Hold Time

Black Lips kicked ass last year with Good Bad Not Evil we hope they can keep it up with 200 Million Thousand.

It’s great that Massive Attack is still making music, and even better that its still good, we can’t wait to get our hands on Weather Underground.

Now that Bush is out of the White House we have no idea what Neil Young will have left to sing about, but we’re sure it will be good on The Riverboat.

Another ex-pornographer, Neko Case will put out a solo album this year, Middle Cyclone comes out in March.

Also in March The Decemberists will finally follow up The Crane Wife with a new album The Hazards Of Love

PJ Harvey will be reuniting with John Parish for the first time since Dance Hall at Louse Point with A Woman a Man Walked By

The Thermals are also breaking a long quiet with Now We Can See, their first release since The Body, The Blood, The Machine.

We’ve hear rumors of new albums by Depeche, Built To Spill, Dirty Projectors, Grizzly Bear, Lightning Bolt, Peter, Bjorn, & John and Wilco but we’ll just have to see. Until then we’ll keep you posted.