10011 Ocean Colour Scene

Ocean Colour Scene – Saturday
UK: 1st Feb – Cooking Vinyl

The ninth album from veteran Brit-Pop/Trad. Rock/Mod band Ocean Colour Scene, Saturday was recorded in the iconic Rockfield Studio. As a five-piece now (current line-up since their previous record), the sound is complete with a full band sound. OCS become more and more personal and will bring their own style into the new decade.

Outstanding track: ‘Magic Carpet Days’.

Back catalogue: [main releases]
On The Leyline (Moseley Shoals, 2007)
A Hyperactive Workout For The Flying Squad (Sanctuary, 2005)
Live/One For The Road (Sanctuary, 2004)
Anthology (Island, 2003)
North Atlantic Drift (Sanctuary, 2003)
Songs For The Front Row/The Best Of (Island, 2001)
Mechanical Wonder (Island, 2001)
One From The Modern (MCA, 1999)
Marchin’ Already (MCA, 1997)
B-sides, Seasides And Freerides (MCA, 1997)
Moseley Shoals (MCA, 1996)
Ocean Colour Scene (Fontana, 1992)

10010 Los Campesinos!

Los Campesinos! – Romance Is Boring
UK: 1st Feb – Wichita
US: 26th Jan – Arts & Crafts

Third album from Welsh Art-Rockers seven piece farmers, Los Campesinos!. This time with a shorter album title, but still with track titles as long as their humour lasts. Produced by John Goodmanson, and with serveral guests apperance from such as Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu, Zach Pennington of Parenthetical Girls and Jherek Bischoff of Dead Science. According to the band, this album is about ‘Death and Football’.

Outstanding track: ‘There Are Listed Buildings’.

Back catalogue:
We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed (Wichita, 2008)
Hold On Now, Youngster… (Wichita, 2008)

10009 Midlake

Midlake – The Courage Of Others
UK: 1st Feb – Bella Union

Long-awaited third album from Texas indie rockers Midlake. After their sucess with previous album, Midlake tries to go beyond the height they had reached, The Courage Of Others isn’t bad, even a perfect Psychedelica/Folk album, but still it can’t be compared with The Trials Of Van Occupanther.

Outstanding track: ‘Core Of Nature’.

Back catalogue:
The Trials Of Van Occupanther (Bella Union, 2006)
Bamnan And Slivercork (Bella Union, 2004)

10008 The Hot Rats

The Hot Rats – Turn Ons
UK: 25th Jan – G&D

The Hot Rats are a) an album by Frank Zappa b) half a Supergrass. Turns Ons are a) wordplay of Pin Ups by David Bowie b) a cover album by Gaz Coomber and Danny Goffey, that’s what their label stands for. After the last Supergrass received poor criticism, the duo began to cover classical rock songs, which pile up to a length of a LP. From The Velvet Underground to The Sex Pistols, Pink Floyd to David Bowie, and even there are Bestie Boys, all songs are Supergrassize. This is for die-hard Supergrass fans.

Outstanding track: ‘(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)’.

10007 These New Puritans

These New Puritans – Hidden
UK: 18th Jan – Angular/Domino

Hidden is the second album from Southend four-piece These New Puritans. A wider varitey of instruments were using on making this album, from the openning brass section, on through those endless synthesised drumbeats, to a retro end. Which reminds us of Hip-Hop and Synth Pop, leading a new revolution in 2010’s. It’s the best nominees of albums of the year.

Outstanding track: ‘We Want War’.

Back catalogue: Beat Pyramid (Angular/Domino, 2008)

10006 Good Shoes

Good Shoes – No Hope, No Future
UK: 25th Jan – Brille

Fianlly Good Shoes come back with one of the best album titles in years, No Hope, No Future, the follow-up to their 2007’s debut. The South London four-piece become more mature and ironic.

Outstanding track: ‘Under Control’.

Back catalogue: Think Before You Speak (Brille, 2007)

10005 Eels

Eels – End Times
US: 19th Jan – Vagrant
UK: 18th Jan – V2

A new album within twelve months after their previous works. End Times is an album full of sentimental songs about divorce and aging, which frontman E recorded most of the tracks on his own four-track and then completed by the band in possible time.

Outstanding track: ‘Nowadays’.

Back catalogue: Click

10004 Adam Green

Adam Green – Minor Love
UK: 11th Jan – Rough Trade
US: 16th Feb – Fat Possum

The sixth album from productive Adam Green, who is now nearly in charge of all the instruments, to make a simple and tender folk record.

Outstanding track: ‘Cigarette Burns Forever’.

Back catalogue:
Sixes And Sevens (Rough Trade, 2008)
Jacket Full Of Danger (Rough Trade, 2006)
Gemstones (Rough Trade, 2005)
Friends Of Mine (Rough Trade, 2003)
Garfield/Adam Green (Rough Trade, 2002)

10003 Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend – Contra
US: 12th Jan – XL
UK: 11th Jan – XL

Sophomore album from New York’s hottest band Vampire Weekend, Contra was inspired by the 80’s video game under the same name. Few bands did better than their debut album, but Vampire Weekend, sounds even more Vampire Weekend their previous record. And even there are samples. Contra is a perfect album, deserves a five-star.

Outstanding tracks: ‘Horchata’ & ‘Diplomat’s Son’.

Back catalogue: Vampire Weekend (XL, 2008)

10002 Mondo Drag

Mondo Drag – New Rituals
US: 26th Jan – Alive

Iowa doesn’t have Slipknot only, look further, there’s a unknown band called Mondo Drag (previously known as Holy Rocks), but that doesn’t matter. Who have mixed Psychedelic, Prog-Rock, Stone Rock and even Noise Rock. New Rituals is their second album. Alive records presents.

Outstanding track: ‘Serpent Snake’.

Back catalogue: Holy Spirit (2008)