What Awaits Us in 2010..
So everyone is busy making out their “Best of 2009” and “Best of the Decade” lists but let us not wallow in the past/present. So what albums can we look forward to in the coming year?
1. Arcade Fire
Closing in on the “Biggest Band in the World” tag, (not necessarily a good thing), the band dropped out of the public eye after the touring the huge hit that was Neon Bible, the bands second album and follow up to the massive Funeral.
Rumours have it that the band are in the studio with Bjork (yaaay!!!) and Coldplay (naay….) producer Markus Dravs and plan to tour in the Summer. Fingers crossed for the picnic so….
2. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
A huge touring schedule has been put in place for the band from San Fran. New album Beat The Devil’s Tattoo is to be released on March 8th and a tracklist has already been supplied.
1. Beat The Devil’s Tattoo
2. Conscience Killer
3. Bad Blood
4. War Machine
5. Sweet Feeling
6. Evol
7. Mama Taught Me Better
8. River Styx
9. The Toll
10. Aya
11. Shadow’s Keeper
12. Long Way Down
13. Half-State
3. Beach House
Teen Dream is now available to pre-order and should be released in March. A highlight of 2009’s Electric Picnic festival the Baltimore duo, Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally, are another act with a monster tour ahead of them. These are expected to be very, very big come the end of the festival circuit next September.
4. The Shins
Zach Braff’s movie Garden State‘s “subtle” inclusion of the track New Slang sent sales of 2001 debut album Oh, Inverted World into orbit. Two more critically lauded albums have appeared since but nothing since 2007. Driving force James Russell Mercer is currently recording with the producer that never seems to sleep Danger Mouse but hopefully we will hear something new from The Shins nearer the end of 2010.
5. Noel Gallagher
Oasis have not released anything even remotely interesting in years. Britpop died a death a long time ago. I will still be intrigued by the debut solo album from the song writing department behind the hugely successful Manchester band. He may be no Tom Waits but no one can argue that the guy has a great ear for a melody so a lo-fi acoustic album could be a surprise, acclaimed hit in 2010.
6. The Wilderness of Manitoba
Already announced for a number of European festivals and currently riding high on great reviews of their debut EP Hymns Of Love And Spirits The Wilderness of Manitoba could be rubbing shoulders with 2009’s surprise cult bands The Low Anthem and Mumford & Sons.
http://www.myspace.com/thewildernessofmanitoba
7. Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny
Another group who released a debut EP to critical acclaim this Newcastle, England band are another looking to go up another gear with a debut album in 2010.
http://www.myspace.com/bethjeanshoughton
8. The Duke & The King
Simone Felice, one half of The Felice Brothers, and Robery Burke are The Duke & The King. Nothing Gold Can Stay was released in 2009 but expect it to take off in the new year. Either way try take the time to give it a listen.
