Finally Coldplay’s long-awaited fourth studio album is becoming a reality.
Last week, frontman Chris Martin revealed that the new album would be entitled Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends and would be released on June 16th.
The tracklisting is expected to be finalized and posted on the band’s official website within a few days.
I should have thought of this a long time ago. At the end of the year I’ll be drawing up a Best-of-2008 list just like everybody else, but I’d like to try and predict what that list will be. This is a little difficult because there’s plenty of time left in the year for albums that aren’t even rumored yet to be rumored, written, recorded, and released before the year ends. But with a little research and a handy crystal ball, I’ve postulated that, come the end of the year, my list might look a little bit like this:
PROJECTED TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2008
1. Ayreon - 01001101
Available at Amazon.com
2. Opeth - Watershed
Available from Roadrunner Records on May 30.
Official Site
3. Marco Sfogli - There’s Hope
Available from Lion Music on February 15.
Official Site
4. Green Day - ???
2007 Interview with Billie Joe Armstrong
5. 3 Doors Down - 3 Doors Down
Available from Universal Republic Records on May 6.
Official Site
6. Coldplay - ???
Expected in June. Produced by Brian Eno.
7. True Symphonic Rockestra - Concerto in True Minor
To be released on March 28th…label details a bit sketchy.
Official site with several free tracks for download
8. Weezer - ???
Release date unknown
9. The Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath
Available at Amazon.com
10. Michelle Branch - ???
Expected in summer
Official Site
Other possibilities that seem unlikely to make it out by the end of 2008:
Superior - New World Order
Breaking Benjamin’s fourth album
Nickelback’s sixth album
Muse’s fifth album
James LaBrie’s second album
Any of those last few maybes could be a contender for the top few spots, but I don’t have enough faith in them to assume they’ll be out by the time 2009 rolls around. Without them, it could still be a pretty good year for music. But with them, it could be a great year.
We’ll see how things work out.
