Arcade Fire
Without a doubt, this Canadian indie rock megaband is by far the best of the younger bands I’ve seen in concert. Sure they’ve been around since ‘03, but have only released two albums, but those albums (Funeral, Neon Bible) are amongst the best albums of the past decade. And that’s not just my personal opinion. Look through all the online blogs and major music publications, and they will tell you the exact same thing. By taking years off in between albums, I’m led to believe that these guys and girls strongly believe in what they’re making, and work carefully on every detail at how they present these songs to their fans. The fans are starting to grow restless, and it shouldn’t be too long until we receive another masterpiece from the Arcade Fire. Expect the album, a U.S. tour and some festival dates this year.
The Black Keys
Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney may have some other things going on right now (Auerbach with his band the Fast Five featuring My Morning Jacket drummer Patrick Hallahan, while Carney plays bass in a band called DRUMMER), but these two guys from Akron, Ohio look to put the focus back into the Black Keys this year with the release of their eighth studio album (not yet titled). Looking back at their past two efforts (Magic Potion, Attack & Release, which both received massive critical acclaim), I’d say these two guys have their work cut out for them to produce another album that will follow or even surpass the past two. But if you’re familiar with the work of both Auerbach and Carney, both as musicians and producers, you know these guys will certainly do just that. They love to work, they love their jobs, and we love them.
Fleet Foxes
This five-piece, indie-folk band from the great music city of Seattle, immediately broke out not even two years ago with the release of their debut, self-titled album. They’ll look to follow that up this year with the release of their second effort (not yet titled). If vocals are your thing, just one listen to these guys and you’ll swear you haven’t heard such beautiful harmonies since the Beach Boys and CSNY.
The Gaslight Anthem
This New Jersey punk rock band is heading to the studio early in the year to begin work on their third studio album (not yet titled); the follow-up to the very successful, The ‘59 Sound. Who knows whether they’ll go back to the quick recording process and more punk sound of their first album (Sink or Swim) or if they’ll take things slow, churning out more traditional rock and roll sounding gems found on The ‘59 Sound.
Kings of Leon
I can’t think of anything better than to be declared the greatest rock band on the planet, especially when that band consists of your family. The Kings are made up of three brothers and one cousin; the Followill’s (Caleb, Nathan, Jared and Matthew) were named the best band of 2009 by Rolling Stone Magazine. Most of the fanbase they’ve accrued over the past couple of years may not know that this band actually formed over ten years ago, or that they once had a pre-mainstream, unpolished sound, but with all of the hard work that the Kings have put in over the past decade, this title given to them by Rolling Stone was certainly deserving and a long time coming. The band looks to stay on top of the world this year with the release of their fifth studio album (not yet titled).
MGMT
Call them “M-G-M-T”, call them “Management”, call them what you will, but call them one of the hottest bands of the past few years. With just one album under their belts, this Brooklyn band has earned Grammy nominations and a nod by Rolling Stone Magazine as having the 18th Best Album of the Decade (Oracular Spectacular). They’ve appeared in all the major music publications, as well as having performed at nearly every major music festival all over the world, thanks to their sweet mix of indie rock, electronica, dance and synthpop. All eyes will be on them this year and the release of their second studio album, entitled Congratulations, due out early in the year.
of Montreal
I haven’t quite jumped on the bus for this indie, baroque pop band, but it does kind of feel like I’m running behind that bus, trying to catch up and hitch a ride with them. Maybe their tenth studio album, False Priest of the Controller Sphere (due out this year) will be that album that gets me a ticket onto that bus, or maybe I should just invest into their entire catalogue. After all, their last two efforts received high praises; Hissing Fauna at #72 and Skeletal Lamping at #38 on the US charts, so if the past few years are any indication, of Montreal looks to hit the charts high again in 2010. Get on the bus!
Spoon
I wasn’t at all familiar with this indie rock band from Austin, Texas, until their 2007 album, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. It was certainly one of the best albums of 2007 (perhaps one of the best from the second part of the decade), but it’s also my favorite from their entire catalogue. Their next album, Transference, comes out on the 18th on this month, and if they follow in the footsteps of their past few efforts, we’ll surely be getting another successful collection from Britt Daniel and company, and they’re mix of indie pop and experimental rock.
Vampire Weekend
The long-awaited second album of this indie rock band from New York comes out this week, but it’s already been streaming on their MySpace. Reviews are coming in, and many are already prediciting it as one of the best of the year. Sure, it’s early in the year, but come December, expect Contra to be on everyone’s “Best of” lists. Look for my review later in the week.