June New Releases

May turned out to be a pretty good month for new music, particularly with Green Day and Passion Pit. I still haven't found a 5-star album yet this year. Will any of these be the first?

Key Releases

Little Boots - Hands (June 8)
Expectations are high for the debut album from Little Boots, the British singer otherwise known as Victoria Hesketh who won the BBC Sounds of 2009 poll, making her one of the hottest new acts of the year. I've been buzzing about her for months now, ever since I discovered her early release tracks "Stuck on Repeat" and "Meddle." "New in Town" is the first official single from the upcoming album, which also includes those older tracks. Despite being a largely unknown quantity, Boots snagged Greg Kurstin for production duties, who's worked with many notable female artist of late, including producing Lily Allen's best-selling sophomore album.

La Roux - La Roux (June 29)
Speaking of hot new artists for 2009, here's another, English electro act La Roux. The group scored a massive hit with its recent single "In for the Kill," which hit #2 on the UK singles chart and stayed there for 4 weeks. This, the band's debut, also features advance single "Quicksand" and upcoming release "Bulletproof."

Wilco - Wilco (June 29/30)
I loved Wilco's last album, Sky Blue Sky. This, their seventh album, includes a duet with Canadian singer Feist, "You and I." While the title of this album is eponymous, it's also named after the first track, "Wilco (The Song)." I haven't heard anything from it yet.

Daniel Merriweather - Love & War (June 1)
Australian singer Daniel Merriweather, who first got our attention in 2007 when he appeared as featured singer on Mark Ronson's "Stop Me," releases his album Love & War. It includes the top 10 hit "Change" (feat. Wale), current single "Red," and a duet with one of last year's big breakouts, British singer Adele.

Black Eyed Peas - The E.N.D. (June 8/9)
"The E.N.D." stands for "The Energy Never Dies," so I guess this isn't a breakup album in the wake of Fergie and Will.I.Am's success away from the group. Far from it, as the band is hotter than ever, having scored an international smash with this album's first single "Boom Boom Pow." EW reported that "I Gotta Feeling" is even bolder.


Other releases

Paolo Nutini - Sunny Side Up. Scottish singer/songwriter releases his second album (June 1)

Patrick Wolf - The Bachelor. (June 1)

Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. Dave Matthews Band releases their seventh album, first in four years. (June 1/2)

Eels - Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs of Desire. The Eels put out their seventh album, a concept work about desire. (June 1/2)

Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (June 8)

Just Jack - All Night Cinema. Third album from Just Jack, which features recent single "Embers." (June 8)

The Jonas Brothers - Lines, Vines and Trying Times. The Disney boys release their fourth album; first single "Paranoid" is climbing the charts fast. (June 15/16)

The Mars Volta - Octahedron. (June 23)

Third Eye Blind - Ursa Major. There was a time Third Eye Blind was massive, but not so much anymore. This is the band's fourth album. (June 23)

Moby - Wait for Me. Moby's ninth album, following last year's Last Night. (June 29)

Rob Thomas - Cradlesong. The Matchbox Twenty frontman releases his second solo album, featuring current single "Her Diamonds." (June 30)