Five Great Albums Coming Out In January: Mark Ronson, Sleater-Kinney, Meat Wave, Gaz Coombes and the Charlatans!

Sleater-Kinney return with their first LP in ten years, No More Cities To Love/

January is long known to be a time when labels dump those albums they don't quite know what to do with, but this particular January holds quite a few promising releases.  Here are our five favorite picks.

Mark Ronson - Uptown Special (Jan 13)

You're probably already well aware of Ronson's smash hit with Bruno Mars, "Uptown Funk" (currently #2 on the Billboard Hot 100), but the album Uptown Special boasts a virtual cavalcade of fellow song doctors, rappers, and the like all hoping to partake in the royalties bonanza.  Among those looking to score (in more ways than one) is Tame Impala's Kevin Parker, who collaborates with Ronson on three songs, "Summer Breaking", "Daffodils", and "Leaving Los Feliz".

The Charlatans - Modern Nature (Jan 27)

This long surviving UK shoegaze band are perhaps most easily recognized by their 1992 Hammond B3-driven anthem "Weirdo", but have continued releasing remarkably consistent albums to a cult audience.  With the recent passing of original drummer Jon Brookes, the band considered calling it a day, but Brookes himself insisted they carry on, which they do in absolutely fine fashion on this, their twelfth album.  The band rewards those who purchase the vinyl with the inclusion of four tasty bonus cuts.

Gaz Coombes - Matador (Jan 26)

For those still scratching their heads as to how arena-size success eluded British trio Supergrass right up til their breakup in 2010, Gaz Coombes' second solo album may not set the charts on fire either, but not for a lack of trying.  As on his solo debut Here Come The Bombs, Coombes seems keen on keeping things in-house by playing a lion's share of the instruments himself.  Do yourself a favor and pick up a signed copy today!

Sleater-Kinney - No Cities To Love (Jan 19)

In the ten years since this groundbreaking "riot grrrl" rock trio called it a day, their music and stature in the rock community has only increased in presence, making their perfectly-timed comeback seem almost too good to be true.  Are they coming back for a well-deserved victory lap, or to pick up where they left off, kicking ass and taking names?  One listen to No Cities To Love will leave you thoroughly convinced that it is the latter.

Meat Wave - Brothers EP (Jan 19)

Our favorite entry in the January sweepstakes comes from our own backyard.  Meat Wave are fresh off of a jam-packed Reggie's NYE show with The Muffs, with a great EP set for immediate release to coincide with a string of UK dates.  How to describe the band's sound?  Aggression meets angsty apathy, maybe?  Naked Raygun on helium?  However you describe it, chances are you're going to be hearing a lot more from this band.