Illinois Entertainer February 2024 | Page 8

Anticipated Albums A

s we get into 2024 , music fans and enthusiasts like us start planning what concerts we plan to attend and what music we ' re planning on buying . 2024 promises to produce some great music , starting with albums from Pearl Jam , Bruce Dickinson , UB40 , and the Dandy Warhols , just to name a few . Rumored tours would also piggyback with new music , which puts a bow on it . IE ’ s David Gedge has been saving press releases and scouring music sites to gather the latest info .
songs featuring harder edge . “ It ’ s a lot heavier than you ’ d expect ,” recalling Pearl Jam ’ s early material . “ He ( Watt ) got us into a room and just pushed us as hard as we could be pushed ,” McCready told the magazine . “ You know , it ’ s hard for a quote-unquote outsider to come into our world because we ’ ve done things a certain way . We ’ re open to new things , but we are also in our own world ... but sometimes we need to get pushed and questioned , and Andrew did a great job of that .”
For info on a release date for the album , Cameron said , “ I think the powers that be are trying to figure out when that ’ s gonna come out , and touring and all that kind of stuff .” reports on Twitter / X have said summer shows are planned for Wrigley Field . It would make sense that they
Photo : John McMurtrie
Bruce Dickinson , and his band
Pearl Jam
Anticipated album : Summer 2024
Acclaimed Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron recently told the Vinyl Guide podcast a long-awaited follow-up to its 2020 album Gigaton was finished and ready for release . Now , guitarist Mike McCready just shared new info about new music .
McCready told Classic Rock magazine that he ’ s anticipating the new album , recorded with acclaimed producer Andrew Watt ( Ozzy Osbourne , Iggy Pop , The Rolling Stones ) with
would be touring in support of their new album . After four years , we can ' t wait to hear new music from the band .
Bruce Dickinson
Anticipated album release date : March 1 , 2024
Iron Maiden vocalist and songwriter Bruce Dickinson ' s seventh solo album The Mandrake Project , will be released via BMG on March 1 . The album is " sonically heavy and rich in musical textures ; the album sees Bruce bring to life a musical
vision long-in-the-making . Created with cowriter and producer Roy Z , they have crafted one of the defining rock albums of 2024 ," according to the band . The Mandrake Project is not just an album . The comic book of the same name is a dark , adult story of power , abuse , and a struggle for identity set against the backdrop of scientific and occult genius . Created by Bruce Dickinson , it is a collectible series of graphic novels scripted by Tony Lee ( Dr Who ), stunningly illustrated by Staz Johnson ( 2000AD ) & with covers by industry heavyweight Bill Sienkiewicz for Z2 Comics , which will be released as 12 quarterly issues that will be collated into three annual graphic novels
with the first coming at the end of 2024 . The first individual episode was released in comic shops on January 17th & the special Collector ’ s Edition sold out within 48 hours of release .
The Dandy Warhols
Anticipated album release date : March 15 , 2024
Formed in Portland , OR , The Dandy Warhols yolk the best bits of shoegaze , alternative powerpop , and heavy rock . Spawning alt-rock classic music like “ Bohemian Like You ,” “ Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth ,” and “ Have a Kick Ass Summer ( Me and My Friends )." The band is currently planning a follow-up to 2020 ' s experi-
8 illinoisentertainer . com february 2024