Coming attractions

If you were hoping, like I was, that 2007 would ease up a bit on the must-have music releases, well, too bad. You weren't really hoping that anyway, were you? Yeah, me neither.

I have looked into my crystal ball, and I have seen things, my friends. I have SEEN things. Your CD shelves? Full. Your booty? Shakin'. Your bank account? Screwed.

Here's just a little taste of the good things to come this year (release dates are waaaaay subject to change):

Later January:
The Shins
Norman & Nancy Blake
Of Montreal
Norah Jones (if you're into that)
Tony Furtado
Bill Kirchen
Sneakers reissue
"Endless Highway: The Music of The Band" tribute album
Billy Joe Shaver greatest hits
Butch Hancock
John Mellencamp
Viktor Krauss (brother of Alison, formerly of Lyle Lovett's Large Band)

February:
Lucinda Williams
Eleni Mandell
Martha Scanlan
The Infamous Stringdusters
Southern Culture On The Skids
Willard Grant Conspiracy
Ed Pettersen
Kenny and Amanda Smith Band
Joe Ely
Patty Griffin
Rickie Lee Jones
Sondre Lerche
Mic Harrison (former V-Roy) and The High Score

March
Son Volt
Modest Mouse
The first 3 "Americana Masters" CDs from Sugar Hill -- Guy Clark, Jerry Douglas, James McMurtry
Bright Eyes EP
Greencards
Jesse Malin
Ry Cooder

April
Chris Knight
Bright Eyes
Mavis Staples

"Early 2007" -- dates TBD
Willie Nelson
Scott Miller and the Commonwealth live album
Stanley Brothers box set
Fats Domino retrospective
High Tone compilation
Peter Rowan & Tony Rice
Tony Trischka (wherein Tony duets with banjoists such as Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck and Steve Martin – yes, the actor. He's also a mean banjo player, y'know).
Donna Hughes (songwriter who penned "My Poor Old Heart" on Alison Krauss' "Lonely Runs Both Ways." Hughes' album produced by Tony Rice.)
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Uncle Earl
Grant-Lee Phillips
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Alison Krauss and Union Station (a(nother) best-of compliation, but one that will include a few new tracks)
Adrienne Young

And that's just the first part of the year, folks. Hang on to your hats!