As 2009 winds down, most of the world is looking back and compiling endless “Best Of” lists. Since my favorite part of this job is unearthing new music and fresh talent to share with readers, I’d rather take a peek at what’s in store for the next 12 months, beginning with a few new releases.
It looks like 2010 is shaping up to be the year we get new material from a bunch of acts that have been off the music radar for a while, including a couple who’ve been away for a decade or two.
Some of the artists expected to release new albums in 2010 include Vampire Weekend (January), My Chemical Romance (TBD), OK Go (January), Hot Chip (February), Christina Aguilera (TBD), Red Hot Chili Peppers (Fall), Arcade Fire (May), Amy Winehouse (TBD), Gorillaz (March), No Doubt (Spring), Sade (February), Toni Braxton (February), Natalie Merchant (March), Bryan Ferry (March) and Nick Jonas & The Administration (February).
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the New Year is the announcement of the return of ’80s icons and New Wave pioneers Devo after a 20 year hiatus. The band has been writing and recording new material that it will debut at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in April, with an album scheduled for release around the same time.
And what would a look ahead be without a few predictions? So tomorrow afternoon, I’ll reveal a few of my "Acts to Watch" picks for 2010 (chosen through a complex process that involves hours of consulting with sources in the biz, a Tarot deck, some Dungeons & Dragons dice, “The Farmer’s Almanac,” the works of Nostradamus, a dog-eared copy of The Hardy Boys novel "The Mystery of the Chinese Junk" and of course, the Magic 8-Ball).