Disappointments In 2009 — Who Didn't Release New Music

It's that time of the year when we look back at the year gone by to see the good, the bad and the mistaken. First up for this blogger is the bands from whom we didn’t hear any new material.

The Essex Green: It’s been 3½ years since this Brooklyn-based trio released any new material. Back in the spring of 2006, the folky-tinged pop band released their tour-de-force Cannibal Sea. It was a brilliant album that easily fit among my favourite albums of that year, even though I didn’t actually hear it for a year after its release.

The band have never been prolific or speedy in their releases. In 12 years as a band, the trio have only three albums to their name, Everything Is Green (1999), The Long Goodbye (2003) and Cannibal Sea. So I’m not surprised no new material has seen the light of day. Please let 2010 be the year we hear some new music from The Essex Green.

The Long Winters: Coincidently, John Roderick’s band The Long Winters also have a slow recording process. The Long Winters' last album also came out in 2006, Putting The Days To Bed. It was a lyrically diverse singer-songwriter-dominated pop album. Roderick’s lyrics don’t make much sense on the surface, but they do stick in your head: Here’s something from “Teaspoon”

I know I wasn't made to play on a team
you weighed your suitcase down but it still wouldn't sink
I know that crime doesn't pay
but I don't know any other way.

Putting The Days To Bed followed When I Pretend To Fall, released in 2003, with a throw-away Ultimatum EP sandwiched in between these two full-length discs in 2005. 

The Long Winters were supposed to have been recording in 2008 but there's still no new material. Please John make it 2010 and come back to Toronto to play again. I’ve missed you a couple of times already.

Pernice Brothers: Finally, there’s the more prolific Pernice Brothers. The band haven't released a studio album since 2006's Live A Little. They had put out four albums between 2001-06 and then three years with nothing.

PB leader Joe Pernice has been busy writing a novel It Feels So Good When I Stop which was published this year along with a soundtrack for the novel, where Pernice covers a few of his favourite songs like Todd Rundgren’s “Hello It’s Me,” Del Shannon’s “I Go To Pieces” and Sebadoh’s “Soul And Fire." We need some new stuff, Joe. Make it 2010 will ya!