Chris Riemenschneider: Big local albums on the books for '06

After a year that saw virtually no major-label albums from Twin Cities performers (which wasn't altogether a bad thing), 2006 looks to be full of big national releases. There are also several indie CDs on the books that should get a lot of attention, at least locally. Here's a rundown of the biggest contenders of the year.

Plastic Constellations

These wild indie-rockers have been building a buzz locally for half a decade (since they were teenagers). They got a little too weird with the 2004 CD "Mazatlan," but word is they finally made an album as electrifying as their live shows. Titled "Crusades," it comes out Jan. 24 as a joint release from local shop 2024 Records and New York's French Kiss Records, the label behind the Hold Steady's two albums. Release parties are Jan. 27 at Triple Rock.

P.O.S.

A friend of the Constellations from their days growing up in Hopkins, P.O.S. spent much of last year opening for Atmosphere on tour and, before that, made a big splash locally with his first Doomtree CD, "Ipecac Neat." In short, he's breathing down Slug's neck (with Slug's steadfast support) and could become the biggest rapper in town.

His official Rhymesayers debut, "Audition," comes out Jan. 30 (release party and tour kickoff that night at 7th Street Entry). The first single, "P.O.S. Is Ruining My Life," is already a favorite at his shows after it was included on a Rhymesayers sampler CD packaged with Atmosphere's latest CD.

Rockie Lynne

Never heard of this guy? Then you probably haven't been listening to K102. The country station and many others like it around the country have already gotten behind this Twin Cities-based twanger and his single "Lipstick."

Sort of a Toby Keith soundalike with Keith Urban's good looks and a serviceman's record (three years in the Army), Rockie was the first Minnesotan since Sherwin Linton in the 1970s to garner some attention at the Country Music Association Awards in November. And his record isn't even out yet. It's due in March on Universal South, with producers including Blake Chancey (Dixie Chicks) and Tony Brown (George Strait).

Mason Jennings

"I was completely blown away with Mason's unashamed and incredibly sincere voice and lyrics. I can be a real [expletive] critic when it comes to music, so I have to tell you how nice it felt to instantly want to compliment instead of criticize the music."

So says Isaac Brock, frontman of Modest Mouse, whose new label under the Sony/Epic empire is debuting this spring with Mason as its flagship artist. It will be Jennings' first CD for a major label after years of staunchly D.I.Y. cult fame.

Dan Wilson

No really, this is the year. We should finally get to hear the Semisonic frontman's first solo CD now that its producer, Rick Rubin, has finally reached a deal with Warner Bros. to distribute his American Recordings label. It should be out this summer, says Wilson, who spent much of this year recovering from surgery on a lung.

Another reason 2006 could be a big year for Dan: He co-wrote a half-dozen songs with the Dixie Chicks for possible inclusion on their next CD, something that Gary Louris of the Jayhawks also did. Sounds like the Chicks are turning toward their pop/AAA fans instead of kowtowing to the yahoos they lost with their G.W. bashing.

Golden Smog & Soul Asylum

Both are releasing their first album since 1998, and, of course, both feature Dan Murphy. The Smog album that's coming in the spring is actually the all-star band's first effort since its Chicago representative, Jeff Tweedy, became famous enough to be on the "SpongeBob" soundtrack. No suspense there about how it will do.

Soul Asylum's disc, due by summer on Columbia, has a bigger question mark attached. But last Friday's First Avenue gig pretty much settled any doubts about the new lineup with Tommy Stinson and Michael Bland upholding the band's reputation as a live act.

Tim O'Reagan

After a decade of singing behind the drum kit with the Jayhawks, O'Reagan spent 2005 working on a solo album with a lot of his high-profile friends, including ex-Son Volt guitarist Jim Boquist, who's also now his stage partner. The self-titled disc originally had a small pressing on the House of Mercy label this past fall, but it was good enough to get picked up for an April '06 release on the Lost Highway label, also home to the Jayhawks (and Willie Nelson and Ryan Adams).

Psalm One

Desdamona and Dessa have already proven there's room for female rappers in this town, but is there a place for female rappers on this town's biggest record label? This sharp- and quick-tongued MC, who lately has been splitting time between here and her native Chicago, is the first woman signed to Rhymesayers. Her first Rhymesayers CD (actually her third album), "The Death of Frequent Flyer," is due in the first half of the year and includes production from Ant and Chicago turntablists Overflo and Maker. She got a leg up recently from Urb magazine, which put her on its list of "Next 100."

Oh yeah, and Prince

His "3121" album is supposed to come out around April on Universal Motown, and word is he plans to tour again in the summer. Unless he goes "Rainbow Children" on us, the year should be foolproof for him.

White Light heat

A frightfully young band that nearly made our year-end Twin Cities Critics Tally last week, White Light Riot was virtually unknown before its CD-release show in October. There's a wildfire-like buzz over its debut, "The Dark Is Light Enough EP." The six-track collection echoes such way-hot modern flavors as Coldplay, the Killers and for a local comparison, Vicious Vicious (whose Erik Appelwick produced the EP).

With its sexy, ambitious and vaguely British-style guitar-pop, WLR is probably one of this town's most commercially viable newcomers since Semisonic. You can catch them live tonight at the Varsity Theater with two other marketable pop bands, Epic Hero and This World Fair (9 p.m., $5-$7).

Random mix

The Quest nightclub is still closed and is unlikely to be reopened before Jan. 18, when its license renewal could come up before the Minneapolis City Council. Not only did the club lose its liquor license in mid-December, but its insurance also lapsed to the tune of about $130,000. The club's Jan. 19 date with Paul Wall likely will be moved to Escape. ...

The Twin Cities Winter Jazz Fest has snagged David (Fathead) Newman as a headliner. Details on the Feb. 26 event are at www.jazz88fm.com. ...

Guitar guru Michael Yonkers is playing an all-too-rare gig Saturday at the Hexagon Bar, opening for Big Surf's CD-release party (free, 10 p.m.). ... An interesting songwriters-in-the-round gig happens tonight at the Acadia Café with Ben Kyle (of Romantica), Molly Maher, Erik Brandt (Urban Hillbilly Quartet) and newcomer Katie Marshall (8 p.m., $6). ...

Radio K's Local Music Day is going on all day today. The station issued its Top 77 year-end list this week, with Broken Social Scene's "Arts & Crafts" coming in at No. 1 and Low's "The Great Destroyer" at No. 2. Other locals high on the list included the Stnnng, Belles of Skin City, Dosh and the Blind Shake. ...

More local music on the airwaves this week: The "Homegrown" crew is holding its annual critics show this Sunday (10 p.m. on Drive 105). If nothing else, listen in to find out why music writers aren't on the radio more often.

Chris Riemenschneider • chrisr@startribune.com

Chris Riemenschneider • 612-673-4658