Andrew WK tops list of anticipated music for 2002

ROSS RAIHALA

Originally published Friday, January 4, 2002

Long-awaited records, long-overdue comebacks and long-haired new artists are all on the bill for 2002.

There's plenty of new music I can't wait to hear. Here, my friends, is just some of it:

- Andrew WK: After the mega-hype the British press gave U.S. acts the Strokes and the White Stripes, they followed by championing a wholly different beast, the metal/disco beast known as Andrew WK. The towering, lean and long-haired Californian (who, by the way, is a dead ringer for my old college roommate) released his debut "I Get Wet" late last year in England to instant acclaim and infamy. Thus far, I've heard only the first single "Party Hard" and the album track "She Is Beautiful," but I'm happy to report they are utterly ridiculous and unbelievably infectious songs that -- with any luck -- will blow away some of the new metal detritus currently clogging up the charts. A domestic release is planned for May (although it could get pushed up to March).

- Kylie Minogue: Along those same lines -- i.e., a blatantly commercial performer who is still pretty cool, considering -- comes the return of diminutive Australian disco diva Kylie Minogue. Best remembered in this country for her late-'80s cover version of "Locomotion," Minogue continued to release an intriguing series of albums abroad throughout the '90s that ranged from sexed-up pop to pseudo alt-rock (the Manic Street Preachers wrote a few songs for her in 1997). She's getting a massive relaunch here in the States on the strength of her latest single "Can't Get You Out of My Head," a slinky dance number that's hit No. 1 in 17(!) countries. Her album "Fever" hits stores at the end of February.

- Guns N' Roses: Speaking of comebacks, maybe 2002 will be the year Axl Rose finally unleashes the long-delayed album "Chinese Democracy." Most of what his band released in the five years that followed its 1987 debut "Appetite for Destruction" fell into the "crap" category, but with the exception of the all-covers album "The Spaghetti Incident," it was usually pretty interesting crap. I've heard live bootlegs from last year's Guns N' Roses Las Vegas show (an event they repeated this New Year's Eve) and, in all honesty, two of the new songs ("Madagascar" and "The Blues") suggested that "Chinese Democracy" may well be worth the wait. I mean, it probably won't be, but I'm just saying.

- The Breeders: Axl's not the only one who has taken an extended break. After a similar series of delays, the third Breeders album is supposedly due this year, nearly a decade after the group's million-selling album "Last Splash." Steve Albini produced the new album, which will hopefully sound more like the band's tight 1990 debut than the fun, but sloppy, "Last Splash."

- Hefner: Over the course of three exciting records (1999's "The Fidelity Wars" being the best of them), England's Hefner all but perfected its plan of attack. The group performed prickly, punchy Brit indie rock vaguely reminiscent of the Smiths -- with a vital difference. Instead of singing about a lack of sex, liquor and fun, Hefner's Darren Hayman all but drowned himself in such pleasures. The band's fourth album "Dead Media" (out here Jan. 22) takes a whole new turn with antique synthesizers and weird samples coloring a markedly different lyrical outlook that is highlighted by the oddly inspirational "Alan Bean."

- Liz Phair: Wasn't it great to see that cutie Liz Phair back in action again, even if it was for a Gap commercial? And even if she was singing a Supertramp song? The Chicago indie songstress has long since left both the Windy City and her record company Matador (she's now on Capitol Records). But I trust she's still got a good fourth record in her. Latest word is that she's worked on it with Pete Yorn (boo!) and Michael Penn (hooray!) and that it will be released at some point in 2002.

- Neil Halstead: Two years after his band Mojave 3 released the stunning "Excuses for Travelers," Neil Halstead has recorded a solo album described by his label as featuring: "hushed, acoustic melodies and murmuring vocals (alongside) analogue synths, strings and layers of guitars." It sounds like familiar territory for Halstead, who started his career with the plush sonics of Slowdive before moving into country rock with Mojave 3. The record, "Sleeping on Roads," will be released Jan. 22.

- The White Stripes: Hot on the heels of last year's fab "White Blood Cells" -- not to mention big-bucks deals with V2 Music in the States and XL Recordings in England -- Detroit's most famous brother-and-sister (or ex-husband-and-wife, depending on who you believe) will return this year with a fourth album. Last month, the White Stripes recorded some sessions in London, including a duet with Holly Golightly. Head Stripe Jack White told NME: "We're sure to disappoint with the next album. It's not gonna be accepted like ('White Blood Cells'), I know it. It doesn't matter what we do ... Oh well."

- Even more: Judging by the band's December shows in Seattle, the new Sleater-Kinney record will be quite excellent, indeed. Olympia's K Records has some intriguing stuff due, including new records from Mirah, Wolf Colonel, C.O.C.O. and Dub Narcotic Sound System. Nashville's finest band Lambchop follow last year's "Tools in the Dryer" compilation with the new "Is a Woman" on Feb. 19. The Chemical Brothers release "Come with Us" at the end of January, which features guest vocals from ex-Verve leader Richard Ashcroft and Beth Orton, whose own third album will come out later this year. And after more than a year of delays, Teenage Fanclub's absolutely wonderful album "Howdy" finally hits these shores on Jan. 22.

Ross Raihala covers music for The Olympian. Send news and Top 10 lists to OlyRoss@aol.com.

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