2012 has been a pretty awesome year for music (so far) and it is not over yet. Starting out with the return of new music from old favorites, as well as newer favorites receiving justified attention, the year seemed to be a rebirth of sorts for anyone looking at music as a longterm goal.
Having seen other bands reclaiming their back catalogs through re-records, Jeff Lynne is issuing Mr. Blue Sky in October, but that’s not the important news. His second official solo release (with Armchair Theatre in 1990, and the solo-in-all-but-ID Zoom from E.L.O.) will be called Long Wave is also tentatively slated for October.
Dark prog masterminds Katatonia follow the gains made on Night Is The New Day with Dead End Kings in late August.
Traditional proggers Spock’s Beard have enlisted Enchant vocalist Ted Leonard to replace Nick D’Virgilio behind the mic. Solid release dates have not been made but the ballpark estimate is for this fall. Not to be outdone, Enchant wakes from its long dormancy and should have a new release in late-2012 or early-2013.
Completing the prog rock journey, Marillion returns in October with Sounds That Can’t Be Made. The pre-order for the release continues at pace at their site, Marillion.com. Having seen them live in New York this past June, I can tell they are a revitalized unit and ready to do what they do best. Am I excited or what?
Kiss vaults back with Monster in the fall, but the really big news is that producer Bob Ezrin has remastered their classic Destroyer album. Destroyer: Resurrected arrives in August with the original “too violent” cover art.
Also in reissue-land, the massive Blur 21 arrives this very week. I have already had the privilege of experiencing the vinyl reissue of The Great Escape, so I fully expect the rest of the set to be incredible.
Merge Records has released the two and a half best alterna-pop records from the 1990’s, the discography of Sugar. If you haven’t heard/bought/coveted Copper Blue or File Under: Easy Listening (and to a lesser degree the E.P. Beaster), get thee to a record store or Amazon.com post haste.
Finally, having reclaimed the rights from limbo, Zappa Records in conjunction with Universal begin rolling out the complete Frank Zappa discography, featuring discs like We’re Only In It For The Money, Freak Out, Hot Rats, and even Weasels Ripped My Flesh. The second half of this year may prove to be as eventful (and expensive) as the first. Popdose will keep you informed of all the goodies to come.
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