2010: Best Year in Music Ever?
I’m going to go ahead and say 2009 wasn’t the greatest year for music releases. We’ve all been paying more attention to our best of the decade lists anyway. But the probable new releases in 2010 have got a lot of promise. Stereogum has a list of 25 Most Anticipated albums, but I think a good half of them are crap so here’s my own (because I’m up early on a Saturday and it’s cold and the cable’s out). Anyway, on with my fight against death…
Arcade Fire - not yet confirmed, but there have been enough hints and twitter updates. They are at least recording so I think it’s inevitable we’ll hear something by year’s end. ‘Funeral’ was one of the best of the 00s. ‘Neon Bible’ was pretty good as well, but I think it fell below the target set by all the hype and new media craziness(1-866-NEON-BIBLE, anyone?.
Joanna Newsom - ‘Ys’ was a work of art. New songs have kept coming since (‘Esame’ being particularly gorgeous) and she’s supposedly recording in Japan, or has finished recording (depending on which fashion magazine you read). There was a moment when it looked like we’d see the album this fall (after a surprise gig of all-new material in California and an updated status on her booking agent’s page) but hopefully that just means we won’t have to wait long into the new decade to hear it.
Miles Kurosky - Umm… Not many people are excited about this one as I don’t think anyone remembers or cares who Beulah were. It’s been five years now since their last album and break-up? Anyway, I loved this band and have been waiting painfully for this album to come out. We heard a first track (?) on his myspace a year ago but nothing until a splash page for mileskurosky.com proclaimed ‘RAD MARCH 2010’ (after initially being RAD AUTUMN 2009). I’m just hoping it doesn’t turn out like that other recent ‘Rad’ album.
LCD Soundsystem - ‘Sound of Silver’ was a great album. Let’s hope this mish-mashed quote from the band doesn’t bode poorly for the new one: “[It’s] different than Sound Of Silver and certainly different than the first one … It still sounds very much like us, like James. It’s maybe slower and it has kind of got some more rock stuff back in it. It also has a bunch of disco influences.”
Midlake - I’m up for this one even though it was the overall sound of ‘Van Occupanther’ I loved. They’re deviating from that this time around and going into the ’60s British Folk scene’ (so… Donovan?). It’s out 2/1, so we’ll see what this sounds like then. Odd that they seem to be touring in Europe when the album comes out in the US.
Panda Bear - ‘Person Pitch’ was, let’s admit it, SO much better than Merriweather Post Pavillion. Let’s hope the follow-up is just as genius. Great interview here.
Jens Lekman - These are only rumors as far as I can tell, but if you happen to be in Chicago over New Year’s, check out his string of three shows.
Radiohead - Oh yeah, Radiohead may release another album and turn the music world on its head again. Pretty sure you’re guaranteed at least four great songs out of it.
Peter Gabriel - Ha. It amuses me that I’m including a Peter Gabriel album along with the rest of these acts. However, it’s because it’s a very interesting ‘song-swap’/covers project and the tracklist is astounding. This is a message board post come to life (What Songs Should PG Cover?/Who Should Cover Which PG Song?). Check it. Will there actually be a complimentary album of other artists covering his songs?
Best Coast - LOVE this girl so far. Lo-fi, poppy, retro. Can’t wait for the first full-length after a couple great singles.
Also, Strokes? Shins? Band of Horses? Maybe a truly solo Noel Gallagher? I’m not holding my breath, nor am I really expecting much, but there may be a pleasant surprise out there…
Fleet Foxes - Well… they’re supposed to record in early 2010, but we’ll see… I’m excited for this but am a little skeptical.
Also, Vampire Weekend has an album coming out, but I’m not liking what I’ve heard so far. Interpol is releasing another one that’s desperately going back to their first album song… we’ll see.
