Drowned In Sound and NOW have rung in 2008 with year-start lists that rounds up their picks of new albums scheduled for release this year that are worth keeping an eye on. The DiS one is a bit Brit-centric (that’s British, not Britney) and NOW‘s more mainstream but they cover a lot of ground so get your new release spreadsheets updated, kids! What, you mean I’m the only one who keeps one of those? Now I just feel… awkward. also previews the upcoming year in record releases.

One of the records near the top of DiS’ list (though that’s because it’s ordered chronologically) is the new one from Vancouver’s Black Mountain. In The Future is slated for a January 22 release in North America and will be available in both a regular edition and a fancy-pants deluxe edition with a second disc and three bonus tracks.

The band are also hitting the road this Winter to promote, and that jaunt will bring them to town on March 5 for a show at Lee’s Palace. Fellow Jagjaguwar-ian Bon Iver will support on that leg of the tour, drumming up anticipation for his debut For Emma, Forever Ago, out February 19. Get a taste (or in the case of the epic-length Black Mountain track, a three-course meal) below.

MP3: Black Mountain – “Tyrants”
MP3: Bon Iver – “Skinny Love”

Also namechecked on the DiS list is Atlas Sound, the solo project of Deerhunter Bradford Cox. The debut album from that project, Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel, is out February 19 and he will bring it to the Horseshoe on February 28.

The Magnetic Fields are unleashing Distortion on January 15 and you can grab an MP3 from it at RCRDLBL.

One of the most anticipated new records for the first part of the year for me, personally, is the new one from The Mountain Goats – Heretic Pride – also out February 19. Over the holidays, Darnielle gave fans a nice gift via the Goats’ website – a sample of a long-awaited but probably not forthcoming anytime soon collaboration with John Vanderslice, which they’ve apparently dubbed “The Comedians”. It sounds like a JD solo piece but if he says the ‘Slice was involved, then the ‘Slice was involved. And Goats fans would do check back later in the day. I should have a treat for you. Operative word “should”.

M4A: The Comedians (John Darnielle & John Vanderslice) – “Surrounded”

The Tripwire recounts some words from Guy Garvey about choosing the title of Elbow’s new album, The Seldom Seen Kid, and their reasoning between switching labels in the UK. They currently have none in North America so while the album drops in March over there, there’s nothing on the radar for here.

Pitchfork talks to Bjork about her new single “Declare Independence” and the Michel Gondry-helmed video for it. Which you can watch below.

Video: Bjork – “Declare Independence”

Radio Free Canuckistan welcomes 2008 by reaching way back into the middle of 2007 and posting the transcript of an interview with Weakerthan John K Samson. They’re in town for a free show at Nathan Phillips Square on February 2.