For our 7th annual Highlighting feature, we split the year into TWO pieces -- January to June and July to December. Normally, we select our top 25 most anticipated releases for the whole year, but we realize that it's tough to really gauge EVERYTHING that may release throughout a given year when we're making the list in January. So, for 2012, we split the year into TWO pieces -- January to June and July to December, and we're using this format again for 2013. Also, each list contains 15 artists/releases for a total of 30 in total for 2013. So, without further ado, we give you Highlighting First-Half 2013!

	9 of 15   #9. Seabird untitled Release Date: February/March 2013 Another Kickstarter victory on the list, Seabird seems to be taking their precious time with their first full-length independent release. But over three years since Rocks Into Rivers is just making us hungrier for more masterful piano rock, and we're getting impatient. The sooner their third album drops, the better.         - Roger Gelwicks Seabird was one of those bands I didn't appreciate until I saw them live at a festival. After that day, I grew to love their debut 'Til We See The Shore and was honored to have them headline a showcase for us at GMA in Nashville a few years ago. I'm quite eager to hear what these guys have cooked up on their own this time around...         - John DiBiase I have never been happier to give my money to a crowd-funded campaign. Other than being the best-sounding live band I've ever heard, both of their albums are among my all-time favorites. Needless to say, their first independent release has me excited. The band's latest update gave an expected release date of late February or early March, almost 5 months behind their original projection. Whatever the date ends up being, it can't come soon enough.         - Jerold Wallace Visit our Seabird page for more information about them... 2013 Countdown: 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 ©January, 2013 Jesusfreakhideout.com