2010 - AGCS ALBUM PREVIEW PART ONE

So, it’s finally 2010 and after a nostalgic end to 2009 (you can still find all our Albums of the Decade on the right hand side of the screen) it’s time to look to the future. There’s loads of good albums coming out in the next few months, and we’ve picked 5 (in no particular order) that we’re especially excited about.

Vampire Weekend - Contra

Vampire Weekend’s début has been played to death but we’re still pretty excited about “Contra”. Back when lead single Cousins was released I’ll admit I wasn’t hugely impressed, but it’s grown on me lots. If the rest of the album is as good as that then there’s a chance Vampire Weekend will better their first record. Check back in a couple of weeks for AGCS’ review, but for now, go HERE to watch the video for Cousins.

Lightspeed Champion - Life Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You

Even though Dev Hynes only released his début two years ago, it still feels like this album has taken a while. Perhaps it’s the fact that lead single Marlene was being played live a good year and a half ago, or that the album was finished in March last year, but it seems like we’ve been waiting forever. Luckily, if this gushing review from the NME is anything to go by it’s going to be pretty “sweet”. You can see the video for the excellent Marlene HERE.

Yeasayer - Odd Blood

Just look at that artwork. Seriously. If the music is as mad as the album cover and brilliant lead single Ambling Alp it’s safe to say that this will be one of 2010’s more interesting albums. Click HERE to see a live video of album track O.N.E. It’s awesome. Hopefully the rest of “Odd Blood” will be just as good.

Field Music - Measure

Double albums are always tricky, and so it’s going to be interesting to see if Field Music can pull one off. “Measure” is set to feature twenty tracks and while they’re going to have a hard time bettering their last album Tones of Town the Sunderland three-piece rarely disappoint. To watch a live performance of new song Each Time Is A New Time click HERE.

Los Campesinos! - Romance Is Boring

Despite another case of dubious album artwork this is probably the release I’m most looking forward to. When I saw Los Campesinos! live in October they played five new songs and all of them sounded great, especially the insanely catchy title track and their genuine attempt at a ballad Who Fell Asleep In . My obsession with the band’s last album “We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed” shows no signs of abating so it’s going to be great to have some new tunes to memorise. Watch the video to There Are Listed Buildings HERE.

Part Two of our 2010 Album Preview will look at unconfirmed albums that we’re optimistically expecting to see released this year, and will include among others Architecture in Helsinki, of Montreal, and Kele Okereke.

Jed. x