The 15 Most Anticipated Releases of 2010

Hope you’ve all had one hell of a crazy, yet responsible, good time this New Year’s Eve  – after all, it was the last party of the year, of the decade for that matter. Oh, and it’s been such a sweet year for music, filled with some incredible scores on all fronts, hasn’t it? Rest assure, though, if you’re feeling a bit disheartened about 2009’s passing, since, from the look of it, 2010 is going to be at least just as packed with massive releases. Don’t take my word for it, just have a look!

Vampire Weekend – Contra (January 12)

Exactly two years ago, Vampire Weekend released one of the most impressive debuts of the decade, which simply propelled the NYC obscure quartet to instant stardom. Hype often has two sharp edges, however, as everybody has their eyes on Vampire Weekend and the band’s upcoming sophomore record, “Contra.”

[MP3] Vampire Weekend – ‘Horchata’

Spoon – Transference (January 19)

To this date, I’ve yet to come across a Spoon record that has failed to deliver everything and more that I expected from it. It’s no wonder then that year after year fans keep their fingers crossed, hoping for yet another new album from the Austinites, and in 2010 countless prayers will be answered once with the release of  “Transference.” Big up!

[MP3] Spoon – ‘Is Love Forever?’ (Live)

Beach House – Teen Dream (26 January)

I’ve been raving about the new Beach House record for God knows how long now, but there’s a damn good reason for that – it’s a bloody brilliant record! It’s the pinnacle of the band’s career so far and sounds like everything dream pop should be; spacey beyond thought. “Teen Dream” has indeed leaked a few months ago already, but if you’ve downloaded it and appreciate it at least half as much as me, try to make an effort and buy it upon it’s official release date.

[MP3] Beach House – ‘Take Care’

Los Campesinos! – Romance Is Boring

Two records in already, the young Cardiff septet of Los Campesinos! have proven along the years that they’re beyond the hype and are here to stay. The upcoming #3 album, dubbed “Romance Is Boring”, sees the band relocate to the US where they’ve recorded the album alongside Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu, Zach Pennington of Parenthetical Girls and Jherek Bischoff of Dead Science.

[MP3] Los Campesinos! – ‘Romance Is Boring’

Yeasayer – Odd Blood (February 8)

Yet another band risen mostly on the shoulders of the ever increasing influential blogosphere (hell, yeah! I can change the world, me!), Yeasayer delivered one of the most accessible experimental records with their 2007 debut “All Hour Cymbals.” Buzz aside though, this band is fantastic! It really is, and this year “Odd Blood” is set to bring Yeasayer’s blend of infections psychedelic/weirdo pop/watchamacallit to a whole different level.

[MP3] Yeasayer – ‘Ambling Alp’

Massive Attack – Heligoland (February 9)

For the trip-hop duo’s first record in seven years, Massive Attack have apparently went for a ‘return to the roots’ approach, one where minimalism once again flourishes, free of shitty fillers like one might find on their previous 2003 “100th Window.” Here’s me hoping for another “Mezzanine”. Don’t screw it up, guys, I’m serial!

[MP3] Massive Attack ft. Tunde Adebimpe – ‘Pray For Rain’

Hot Chip – One Life Stand (February 8)

I loved Hot Chip’s last effort, Made In The Dark, when it came out two years ago, and since then the band’s been terribly busy covering other artists, touring and with various solo exploits. This year, Hot Chip is back with One Life Stand, what quite possibly may become the pop gem of the big two-o-ten. “One Life Stand sees a proliferation of influences as diverse as the burgeoning UK funky scene to soul music, modern R&B, Northern Soul, Gospel, Golden Age Electronica, House, the sounds of Arthur Russell, Prince and Theo Parish- and they all sit effortlessly alongside the band’s signature pop aesthetics, wild electronics, off kilter beats and intoxicating musical experimentation in a way that only Hot Chip can execute.”

[MP3] Hot Chip – ‘Take It In’

Drive-By Truckers – The Big To Do (March 16)

Like most fans, I was a bit concerned with Jason Isbell’s departure back in 2007, but “Brighter Than Creation’s Dark” was soon there to prove me wrong. Hood and the rest of the Southern gang have yet to fail me once, and I’m betting they’ll be continuing their winning streak with ease and grace well through the new decade.

[MP3] Drive-By Truckers – ‘Daddy Needs A Drink’

The National – TBA (sometime in 2010)

I’m gonna live this to The National’s frontman, Matt Berninger: “We started out trying to make a fun pop record. I had the word HAPPINESS taped to my wall. We veered off that course immediately. We’ve narrowed it down to about 15 songs now and it’s going to be our best record (one song you can dance to) but it can’t be described as happy.” Definitely looking forward to this!

[MP3] The National – ‘So Far Around The Bend’

MGMT – Congratulations (spring 2010)

“It’s us trying to deal with all the craziness that’s been going on since our last album took off. Sometimes it just doesn’t feel natural,” said MGMT’s Andrew James VanWyngarden in a recent interview when the funky duo’s third album, “Congratulations”, was put in context. If hype proves to be a godsend or a curse for MGMT, it remains to be seen, what’s certain, though, is that it’s one of the year’s most anticipated release. We’ll need to wait ’till spring to see if Congratulations are indeed in order.

[MP3] MGMT – ‘Kids‘

The Hold Steady – TBA (sometime in 2010)

The band toured the whole continent last year, unveiling new material after another during most gigs. This year, it’s pretty safe to say we’re going to have another Hold Steady record on our hands, one, though, that needs to go to great lengths to fill the huge shoes left by their previous effort, the 2008 heavy riffed “Stay Positive.”

[MP3] The Hold Steady – ‘Your Little Hoodrat Friend’

Radiohead – TBA (sometime in 2010)

I first became a bit worried when I saw Thom Yorke was touring and releasing music solo at the beginning of the year, but he soon teamed back with the rest of the band and continued making other appearances through out 2009. At the end of last year,  Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien, also confessed that the band will be hitting the studio in the winter where a new album will see the light of day. There certainly are a lot of creative juices flowing around, so expect another gem by the end of 2010.

[MP3] Radiohead – ‘These Are My Twisted Words’

Arcade Fire – TBA (May 2010 [?])

Rumors speak of a third full length installment to Arcade Fire’s catalog will surface in May, but information is still very scarce. If they’ve been working on something new, they’ve done a pretty damn good job in keeping leaks covered.

[MP3] Arcade Fire – ‘Maps (Yeah Yeah Yeahs cover)‘

The Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 1 (mid-2010)

Their last effort, the 2007 “The Mix-Up”, was terribly disappointing, even though I gotta admire their guts to release an all-instrumental record. It failed miserably, of course, but every kick in the butt brings you one step further, and for their eighth full length the trio is sticking to what they do best – MCing! “Hot Sauce Committee, Pt 1” was actually scheduled to land at the end of the previous year, however postponement was inevitable once with Adam MCA Yauch’s cancer diagnosis.

[VIDEO] Beastie Boys ft. Nas – ‘Too Many Rappers’

Gorillaz -Plastic Beach (March 2010)

“[It’s] the most pop record I ever made,” said Damon Albarn in a recent interview with The Guardian, and he’s got soul legend Bobby Womack, The Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb, Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, The Horrors and the Syrian National Orchestra to backing him up. I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve been rooting for a new Gorillaz LP every single year since 2005, and this late spring comes blossoming with new music!

[MP3] Gorillaz – ‘Kids With Guns (Hot Chip Remix)’

Other notable releases/totally unconfirmed albums that might come out in 2010:

• Rogue Wave – Permalight
• Liars – Sisterworld
• Eminem – Relapse 2
• Final Fantasy – Heartland
• Erykah Badu – New Amerykah, Part II: Return Of The Ankh
• The Magnetic Fields – Realism
• Band of Horses – Night Rainbows
• Xiu Xiu – Dear God, I Hate Myself
• The Whigs – In The Dark
• The New Pornographers – Late Spring
• Interpol – TBA
• LCD Soundsystem – TBA
• Panda Bear – TBA
• Blur – TBA
• No Age -TBA
• Justice – TBA
• Queens of the Stone Age – TBA (a big, BIG maybe)
• Fleet Foxes – TBA
• Cat Powers – TBA
• Scissor Sisters – TBA
• Pig Destroyer – TBA
• Jens Lekman – TBA
• The Shins – TBA (maybeeeeeeeeee)
• No Doubt – TBA
• Outkast – TBA
• Iron Maiden – TBA
• R.E.M – TBA (another big maybe)