Anticipating 2010

As 2009 rolls around to a close, we look forward to 2010. While 2009 was a bit of a ho-hum year for new music releases, the new year is proving to be one to get excited about. Here are a select list of new releases coming our way in 2010:

Spoon - Transference (January 19)

Indie rock veterens Spoon, start off Q1 with their seventh full-length release Transference.





Tracklist
01. Before Destruction
02. Is Love Forever?
03. The Mystery Zone
04. Who Makes Your Money
05. Written In Reverse
06. I Saw The Light
07. Trouble Comes Running
08. Goodnight Laura
09. Out Go The Lights
10. Got Nuffin
11. Nobody Gets Me But You

Spoon - Got Nuffin'.mp3


Hot Chip - One Life Stand (February 9)

After a 2009 that saw hot chip members release a bevy of side projects, the quintet are back with a new album. Title track and lead single "One Life Stand" takes a few listens to get in to while the balance of the record is said to be more mid-tempo and disco influenced than 2008's Made in the Dark.

Tracklist
01. Thieves in the Night
02. Hand Me Down Your Love
03. I Feel Better
04. One Life Stand
05. Brothers
06. Slush
07. Alley Cats
08. We Have Love
09. Keep Quiet
10. Take It In

Hot Chip - One Life Stand.mp3




Shout Out Louds - Work (February 23)

The nostalgic swedes are set to release their follow-up to 2007's Our Ill Wills. The lead single "Walls" is carried by a hooky piano riff.


Tracklist:
01. 1999
02. Fall Hard
03. Play the Game
04. Walls
05. Candle Burned Out
06. Throwing Stones
07. Four by Four
08. Moon
09. Show Me Something New
10. Too Late, Too Slow

Shout Out Louds - Walls.mp3



Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks (March 1)

Scottish band Frightened Rabbit pick up where they left off 2008 with new album, The Winter of Mixed Drinks. Vocalist and guitarist Scott Hutchison notes that the album is “about an escape and maybe even a slight breakdown...it's semi-fictional. There's a protagonist who is possibly male but it doesn't really describe my life because if I did that it wouldn't make for an interesting album this time around as I’ve been quite solid and content, thankfully.

Tracklist
01. Things
02. Swim Until You Can't See Land
03. The Loneliness and the Scream
04. The Wrestle
05. Skip the Youth
06. Nothing Like You
07. Man/Bag of Sand
08. Foot Shooter
09. Not Miserable
10. Living In Colour
11. Yes, I Would

Frightened Rabbit - Swim Until You Can't See Land.mp3



Jason Collett - Rat A Tat Tat (March 9)

Canadian indie rocker Jason Collett is set to release his third solo album. Collett continues his home-town story-telling on tracks such as
“Lake Superior”, “Winnipeg Winds” and “High Summer." An early Spring release, Rat A Tat Tat should warm us up just in time for summer.

Tracklist
01. Rave On Sad Songs
02. Lake Superior
03. Love Is A Dirty Word
04. Bitch City
05. High Summer
06. Cold Blue Halo
07. Love Is A Chain
08. Long May You Love
09. The Slowest Dance
10. Winnipeg Winds
11. Vanderpool Vanderpool

Jason Collett - Love is a Dirty Word.mp3



Broken Bells - Broken Bells (March 9)

After giving two thirds of his Shins bandmates the boot, front-man James Mercer is out with a new project. This time teaming up with producer Danger Mouse the duo are calling themselves Broken Bells. The first single "The High Road" has a bit more of a plugged in and synthetic sound than we were used to with Shins material. This one could be good.

Tracklist:
01. The High Road
02. Vaporize
03. Your Head Is On Fire
04. The Ghost Inside
05. Sailing to Nowhere
06. Trap Doors
07. Citizen
08. October
09. Mongrel Heart
10. The Mall and Misery

Broken Bells - The High Road.mp3



Jónsi - Go (March 23)

Sigur Ros frontman Jónsi Birgisson will release his first solo album this year. Go initally began as a low-key acoustic record, but, according to jónsi, “somewhere along the line it just sort of exploded”. the result is a joyful and dramatic album, featuring ecstatic string, brass and woodwind arrangements. Known for singing in his native icelandic and made-up language hopelandic, most of Go features the vocalist singing in English.

Tracklist
01. go do
02. animal arithmetic
03. tornado
04. boy lilikoi
05. sinking friendships
06. kolnidur
07. grow till tall
08. around us
09. hengilas

Jónsi - Boy Lilikoi.mp3



EF - Mourning Golden Morning (April 1)

Little known swedish post rock band EF are out with a new album this year. Like previous releases, there will be no North American release for this record, however, the album will be available digitally April 1.

Tracklist:
01. Escapade #1
02. Sons of ghosts
03. K-141 KYPCK
04. Longing for colors
05. Fyra
06. 401 Lwa
07. Alp Lugens and beyond


Furthermore, the following also have albums planned for 2010 that may or may not be worth getting excited about.

Vampire Weekend - Contra (January 12)
Yeasayer - Odd Blood (February 9)
Interpol (Q1 2010)
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach (Q1 2010)
MGMT - Congratulations (Spring 2010)
Arcade Fire (May 2010)
Fleet Foxes (2010)
Band of Horses - Night Rainbows (2010)

Album Highlights from 2009

2009 provided a bit of a ho-hum year for new music releases. As most artists toured in support of strong albums from 2008, last.fm listening stats reflected that. However, beyond the shortage of new offerings from established artists, 2009 provided some pleasant surprises as well as introductions to new artists.

In no particular order, here are the album highlights from 2009:

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix


Even as I preface by saying "in no particular order", to this listener Phoenix had the most listenable album of the year. Behind the strength of first single "1901" Phoenix broke into the "mainstream" in 2009. Follow-up single Lisztomania provides perhaps a clearer window into the mid-tempo groove that this album provides through its 8 seamless tracks.

Phoenix - 1901


Phoenix - Lisztomania



The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love


One of the most highly anticipated albums of the year, The Decemberists released The Hazards of Love in follow up to 2006's nearly flawless The Crane Wife. A concept album, The Hazards of Love follow the story of young Margaret who falls in love with a shape-shifting forest dweller named William, much to the resentment of Williams mother, the Queen. While the story can be a bit confused at times with Colin Meloy adopting the narrative of several characters, this album is best listed to live as concert-goers had the opportunity to do so during the Decmberists' 2009 tour. Backed by the strength of guest vocalists Becky Stark (Lavender Diamond) and Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond), The Hazards of Love overcame some early mix reviews to establish itself as one of the Decemberists' strongest releases to date.

The Decemberists - The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid


Tegan & Sara - Sainthood


For their latest release, Tegan & Sara attempted something that they had never done before - writing songs together. The identical twins from Calgary packed up and shipped off to New Orleans where they would spend several weeks penning songs for their new album. Ultimately when they returned to Canada to record their album the collaboratively written songs were systematically cut. The only song which had made the grade, "Sainthood" ultimately had to be scrapped as well as the twins were unable to secure copyright clearance for the sample they used in the song. The result - Tegan & Sara provide us with their most plugged in and riff-heavy album to date with an album named in honour of that song and those early collaborative writing sessions.

Tegan & Sara - Hell

Tegan & Sara - The Cure


Bonus song - Tegan & Sara provided vocals for Tiesto's 2009 Kaleidoscope Release "Feel You in my Bones"

The Antlers - Hospice



Perhaps taking a page out of Justin Vernon's Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago, Antlers' Peter Silberman locked himself in relative seclusion to pen Hospice. Another concept album of sorts, Hospice, follows the story of a man losing a loved one to cancer and having to witness her death first-hand. Depressing? Yes. Sonically pleasing? Absolutely. Tip: Listen to this albums on high quality headphones to get the aural illusion that Silberman is whispering his heart-felt lyrics directly into your ear.

The Antlers - Bear


Junior Boys - Begone Dull Care


The Junior Boys continue their unique brand of indietronica with Begone Dull Care. Album highlight and lead track Parallel Lines holds a tight beat as Jeremy Greenspan's icey falsetto vocals pick up the slack. Perhaps darker then previous releases the poppier "Bits & Pieces" and lead single "Hazel" provide a balance and make the album more accessible to a broader audience.

Junior Boys - Parallel Lines


The xx - xx


London newcomers The xx produce one of the most unique and coolest sounding albums of the year. Co-vocalists Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim croon back and forth on top of a minimalistic blend of indie rock and electronic elements. With a rolling basslines that rarely achieve a bpm beyond that which can be considered an crawl, this album leaves the listener wanting more.

The xx - Night Time

The xx - VCR


Dark was the Night



A benefit compilation album, Dark was the Night provided funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS while providing listeners with rare and unreleased offerings from such indie superstars as Sufjan Stevens, Feist, Justin Vernon, Ben Gibbard, Spoon and the Arcade Fire.

Grizzly Bear and Feist - Service Bell


Fever Ray - Fever Ray


Fever Ray is the debut solo album from of Karin Dreijer Andersson (The Knife). Heavy on the vocal effects, Fever Ray is dark and weird in all the right ways.

Fever Ray - When I grow up


The Whitest Boy Alive - Rules


The Whitest Boy Alive provide funky baselines, riffy guitars, tight drumming and keyboard punches all in the name of dance music.

The Whitest Boy Alive - Island


Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!


Yeah Yeah Yeahs release another quality album highlighted by singles, "Zero" and "Heads will Roll." Adopting a more synthy sound with each progressive release, the YYY's are better for it as they grow as artists out of New York's garage rock scene from which they got their start.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll



Peter Bjorn & John - Living Thing


A grossly under-appreciated album at this time of year, even by this listener's standard, Living Thing was a great follow-up to 2006's Writer's Block. This album was quirky and fun and somewhat darker than one might expect. Living Thing was on heavy rotation early in the year when there was a lack of other new material from which to get excited about.

Peter Bjorn and John - It Don't Move Me



Honourable Mentions:

Matthew Good - Vancouver
Silversun Pickups - Swoon

Last Parade

Matthew Good has been streaming his new single on his website for almost a month now. On Sunday, the streaming single will be replaced by the forthcoming new album 'Vancouver'. Written about the city he grew up in and has seen change over the years, Last Parade, the first single sounds like the album will be a return to form of sorts for Good, who, after dabbles into the political and interospective has returned to his angry musings of social commentary - a becoming sound for Good. Sonically the single is a smoothe swell of instuments that climaxes at the chorus where Good yet again showcases his vocal range.

Edit: Matthew Good`s forthcoming album Vancouver is now streaming online at matthewgood.org

Matthew Good Vancouver

Feel You in My Bones

What can I say about Tiesto that hasn't been said already? I am really looking ahead to Tiesto's album Kaleidoscope. I'm not typically a fan of DJ's artist albums, but this one is going to be an exception. He has managed to compile a list of guests artists that rank up there with some of my favourites. Indie darlings Tegan & Sara wrote the lyrics to Feel you in My Bones after Tiesto sent them the track. The results - epic. With other guest volcalist Kele Okereke (Bloc Party) Jónsi (Sigur Ros), Nelly Furtado, Emily Haines (Metic, Broken Social Scene) this album is going to be massive. Not too skimpy on the Canadian content either.



Tiesto feat. Tegan & Sara - Feel it in your Bones

Home

I am appartment shopping; looking to buy my first place. I already have it decorated in my mind. I'm picturing a green feature wall.

But man this city is expensive to live in. I'm probably looking at places that I can't afford. It will be an interesting transition going from having absolutely no financial responsibilities and having complete disposable income to being cash poor.

I'll have to make some sacrafices. In this age of the internet I can see one of my sacrafices being cable television. Pretty much everything that I would want to watch is available through streaming video, downloading or on dvd. One of my favourite shows has got to be Friday Night Lights, which of course is a spin off of a pretty decent movie of the same same. Decent movie. Excellent soundtrack.

Explosions in the Sky - Home

Last Night

Peter Bjorn & John played the Commodore last night. Their energy and goofy swedish rockstar personas are totally infectious and they totally threw it down last night, however, the show was way too short.

I went the the second Decemberists show a couple of weeks ago at the Vogue. They played Hazards of Love in its entirety, took a 25 minute break and then came back for a 45 minute set and a 2 song enocre. This was in addition to the opening band Blind Pilot who were excellent. Definately felt like I got my money's worth at that show (even after ending up with two extra tickets).

The PB&J show last night just seemed unecessarily short. It finished at 11:40. When they played Young Folks I thought that they were just getting into it, but that ended up being their last song of their set. The opening bad, who were absolutely terrible, played just as long as PB&J (with the exception of the encore).

I agree that they had great energy and most of their songs translate exceptionally well. I could have done without some of the older stuff which the crowd (myself included) didn't regonize in favour of more songs from Writer's Block and Living Thing.

The Decemberists - Annan Water


Peter Bjorn & John - Last Night

It Takes One to Know One

I knew a girl. This song sounds good played on ukulele.

Bright Eyes - Lua

Alive

I guess thats kind of an ironic title for a post of this subject matter. A friend of mine passed away recently. He drove his car off the road. I don't know the details of the accident but based on the person I knew, I would find it hard to believe if he was impaired in any way.

We had lost touch after highschool. I went to university here. He went elsewhere. We had recently reconnected. He hadn't changed. I hope he never does.

Josh Gabriel - Alive

Falling Anthem

Sometimes things just happen. You put your heart into it but in the end somethings are just out of your control. We fall, pick ourselves up, and keep going. It rarely feels right at the time. Painful even. What next? You keep moving forward and one day down the line, look back and realize that things are better off.

Bad Boy Bill feat Alyssa Palmer - Falling Anthem

Nothing to Worry About

Peter Bjorn & John are back with a follow-up to their 2008 instrumental and limited edition LP Seaside Rock. Celebrating their 10th year anniversary, PB&J have released 5 quality releases since their 2002 self-title review. 2009's Living Thing boasts a darker feel to those that are most familiar with the commercially successful Young Folks from 2006's album Writer's Block. The boys from Stockholm are setting off on a North American tour this summer. No dates are scheduled yet for Canada.


Peter Bjorn & John - Nothing to Worry About

Bits & Pieces

The Junior Boys are set to release their latest effor March 24, 2009. Here is a highlight from Begone Dull Care. Junior Boys are also embarking on a 30 date tour in support of their new album starting with back-to-back nights at the Mod Club in Toronto.



Junior Boys - Bits & Pieces