Last month, I shared my mid-year roundup of the top ten albums of the year. I knew then I was getting ahead of myself. Looking at the list of yet-to-be-released 2008 albums, I’ve pulled out those with the most potential to disturb my top ten, as well as those that you, dear readers, should watch out for. Incredibly, the last five artists listed here are all releasing their second album in two years. These bands are not only talented but insanely productive.

On a final note: these are all confirmed releases, My Bloody Valentine, so you’ll have to set a date if you want to keep pulling me around by the heart strings.

August 18th - Stereolab – Chemical Chords (4AD)

Stereolab is one of those rare, long-running yet consistently good bands. The band’s first proper LP since ‘04’s Margarine Eclipse, this one sees the band continuing to explore its bright and bouncy side. See also: singer Laetitia Sadier’s side project Monade which released its impressive debut, Monstre Cosmic, earlier this year.

September 9th – Calexico – Carried to Dust (Quarterstick)

I first heard Calexico when they opened for Wilco in ’04. The band certainly fits snugly into that experimental alt-country category, while at the same time bringing their love of Spanish influences into the mix. The song “First Silver Trees” sees the band continuing in much the same direction as ‘06’s Garden Ruin, which is just fine by me.

September 9th – Okkervil River – The Stand-Ins (Jagjaguwar)

This is the second half of what almost became a double-album. The other half would have been 2007’s The Stage Names, the band’s most confident and personal release to date. This means Will Sheff and friends have a lot to live up to on The Stand-Ins. For extra fun, note how the two album covers can be placed one on top of the other to complete the image of a half-skeleton, half-man. Whoa, dude, that’s deep – and so is the music.

October 7th – Deerhoof – Offend Maggie (Kill Rock Stars)

Last year’s Friend Opportunity garnered the band some of its highest marks in an already impressive career. What surprises will the always-fun-and-boisterous-band have for its fans this time around? For starters, Deerhoof is currently offering the sheet music for the titular track on the CASH music website. The music has been made available under the Creative Commons license, which means you are free to create your own version of the song. Sadly, you’ll have to wait until October to hear the real thing.

October 7th – Of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping (Polyvinyl)

I’m a pretty big Of Montreal fan. Even I wasn’t prepared for last year’s Hissing Fauna…, an album that was the perfect combination of darkness and dance. With the release of Skeletal Lamping on the horizon (the title taken from Hissing Fauna’s “Faberge Falls for Shuggie”), I’m unsure what to expect – especially considering Kevin Barnes’s interviews regarding his new “Georgie Fruit” persona. Perhaps Mr. Barnes fancies himself some sort of modern day Ziggy Stardust? Here’s hoping Skeletal Lamping will honor that analogy.

October 21st – The Sea & Cake – Car Alarm (Thrill Jockey)

If you’ve listened to much Sea & Cake, you’ll agree that Car Alarm is a curious choice for an album title. That’s because the band has built its career on breezy summer afternoon jams. Could the title suggest a more abrasive sound, or will the band stick with its easy, airy melodies? Either way, I’m game.

October 28th – Deerhunter – Microcastle (Kranky)

While many of the artists featured here are releasing two albums in as many years, Deerhunter’s frontman Bradford Cox wins the prolific award. First there was the gorgeously gloomy Cryptograms - one of my favorite albums of 2007. Then, this February, came Let the Blind Lead…, which was released under the name of Cox’s other band, Atlas Sound, and which is already sitting comfortably in my top ten. Now, after hearing samples from Microcastle, it’s clear Cox has done it again. Now the question remains: which Bradford band will be more impressive in 2008 – Deerhunter or Atlas Sound? Perhaps I better not speak too soon.