Perhaps best known for being Natalie Portman's long-haired, unshaven, on-again/off-again boyfriend, What Will We Be marks the major label debut release from Houston-born freak folk rocker Devendra Banhart.
The conceit is that artists sell out when they go to a major label, but my hope is that Banhart continues to grow and Warner Bros. adding him to the artist roster is just the next step in a gradual development. His last, Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon was a standout platter from 2007, including the overlooked gem "Seahorse."
Smokey was Banhart's seventh album. He's developed a strong underground following in the indie scene throughout the last decade, but pushing the quaver-voiced, English/Spanish-speaking, self-described "naturalismo" artist on a big-time label is still a bit of a gamble.
It'll be interesting to see how it plays out. What Will Be is Banhart's eighth album and his first for Warner Bros.
If I Were Really Rich ...
Creed, Full Circle (Wind-up) | The first platter in eight years from reunited Florida rockers.
Pyramids with Nadja, Pyramids with Nadja (Hydra Head) | Pyramids was a post-apocalyptic, atmospheric bit of weirdness that was one of last year's most intriguing outputs. This effort adds Toronto drone metal duo Nadja to the experiment.
R.E.M., Live at The Olympia (Warner Bros.) | Double-disc, single-DVD package returns Georgia rockers to location where they recorded 2007's R.E.M. Live. Includes Vincent Moon's This is Not a Show companion film.
Wolfmother, Cosmic Egg (Interscope) | Changes in lineup for the Grammy-winning group that spawned "Woman."
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Atreyu, Congregation of the Damned (Hollywood)
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Between the Buried and Me, The Great Misdirect (Victory)
The Blind Boys of Alabama, Duets (Time Life Ent.)
Mariah Carey, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel [Collectors edition box set] (Island)
Cartel, Cycles (Wind-up)
Editors, In This Light and on This Evening [Import] (101)
Hollywood Undead, Desperate Measures (Octone)
Fela Kuti, The Best of the Black President [Deluxe edition reissue] (R.E.D.)
Michael Jackson, This Is It [2CD] (Sony)
B.B. King, Freddie King, Albert King and Earl King, The Four Kings of Blues Guitar (Great American)
Sean Lennon, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Undead (Chimera)
Lightning Bolt, Earthly Delights (Load)
Brian McKnight, Evolution of a Man (Koch)
Merzbow, 13 Japanese Birds, Vol. 1 (Important)
Morningwood, Diamonds and Studs (Morningwood)
John Nolan, Height (Doghouse)
Pelican, What We All Come to Need (Southern Lord)
Pink Martini, Splendor in the Grass (Heinz)
The Rocket Summer, You Gotta Believe [EP] (Island)
Kenny Rogers, The Greatest Duets (Time Life Ent.)
Rod Stewart, Soulbook (J)
Stephen Stills, Live at Shepherd's Bush [CD/DVD] (Rhino)
Sting, If on a Winter's Night (Deutsche Grammophon)
The Swell Season, Strict Joy (Anti)
Swollen Members, Armed to the Teeth (Suburban Noize)
Tech N9ne, K.O.D. (Strange Music)
Tegan and Sara, Sainthood (Sire/WEA)
3, Revisions (Metal Blade)
U2, The Unforgettable Fire [Super deluxe edition reissue] (Mercury)
W.A.S.P., Babylon [Import] (Demolition)
Winger, Karma (Frontiers)
"Weird Al" Yankovic, The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic [2CD] (Sony Legacy)