We’ve already seen the release of one of the most highly anticipated indie-rock gems of the year, The Shins’ Wincing the Night Away. “A little gentler, more haunted and pretty close to ‘epic’ The Shins continue to weave their spell,” says cath of the new record. “They might not change your life, but they’ll certainly make it more melodic.” And though robertkfranklin admits that it “took me awhile to get into this new cd,” he now names “Sea Legs” as “the killer track - very Pet Soundsesque.”

So what do lovers of modern-rock have next to look forward to? At the end of this very month, Modest Mouse will put out the follow-up to 2004’s breakout Good News For People Who Love Bad News, an album that w0man1nr3d calls “fantastically unique.” Modern Music got a sneak preview of the upcoming We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, rating the CD an 8.2 out of 10. “From beginning to end, it never loses its lovely sound,” Modern Music promises, noting that the tracks “Parting of the Sensory” and “March Into The Sea” are among “the best work that they’ve created yet.”

Judging only by its first single, Nine Inch Nails’ Year Zero also contains some of that band’s best work yet. Due out April 17, the album features “Survivalism,” a deservedly all-over-the-radio track that “maintains the retro-industrial ruggedness without sounding outdated,” according to Spinner.com. The CD marks the follow-up to 2005’s With Teeth, which joe considers Trent Reznor’s “best album ever…It has the same energy as his older albums but the production has evolved and refined.” Also a NIN fan, w0man1nr3d spreads the love for Pretty Hate Machine, Reznor’s 1989 debut. “Pretty Hate Machine was an album that I listened to my senior year of high school and it still makes a bad mood seem a little more justified,” she says.

Out the same day, Patti Smith’s 12 is a covers record that includes her renditions of Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise,” Neil Young’s “Helpless,” and Tears For Fears’ “Everybody Wants To Rule The World,” according to PopJunkie, who dubs Smith an “existentialist punk princess.” All those still not schooled in the awesomeness of Patti Smith should prep for the new record by spinning her anthology Land (1975-2002). Two discs, 31 tracks, and nearly two-and-half-hours-long, the collection is chock full of rarities, demos, and live tracks.

And on June 5, Ryan Adams will grace us with Easy Tiger, his “ninth full length collection of new studio recordings,” according to Brooklyn Vegan. That should come as happy news to ThisNexters cath, minerva, and nerdling, all of whom recommend Cold Roses by Ryan Adams & the Cardinals. Minerva notes that the double-disc “is indeed a MUST HAVE in my collection,” while nerdling points out that “Let It Ride,” “If I Am a Stranger” and “When Will You Come Back Home?” all “mark the return of the songwriter I loved.”