As 2009 nears it’s end, it’s time to look ahead to a year full of more new music. I always get excited during the crossover from December to January when best of the year lists start dropping and the new release period starts picking itself up out of the holiday lull. Don’t forget to check out my best of 09 list if you haven’t already, in the meantime here’s some of the records I’m looking forward to for 2010.

Arcade Fire//TBA
Release Date//TBA
Theres been a lot of speculation as to when Arcade Fire would release their follow-up to Neon Bible, but speculate no more. The band are currently working on their third full-length with Neon Bible’s producer Markus Dravs. The band are also said to be prepping for some tour dates in early 2010.

The Bled//Heat Fetish
Release Date//TBA (Early February?)
Haters be silenced. The Bled might actually make Rise Records relevant again. Heat Fetish, the fourth proper full-length under the band’s name is the first release since the band’s massive lineup change (3 out of the 5 members who penned 2007′s Silent Treatment left the band) and is sure to be at the very least an interesting listen. Oh and vocalist James Muñoz has to be the wittiest bastard on Twitter (tweet tweet!)

Blink-182//TBA
Release Date//TBA
As with many people from my generation, Blink-182 was the centerpiece to my childhood playlist. The band are said to begin work on the new album in early January with a new single to surface around the same time. This will be the first Blink release in seven years, to say that it’s anticipated is a vast understatement.

Bright Eyes//TBA
Release Date//Fall
Back in July, Conor Oberst announced that he would be doing one more album under the Bright Eyes moniker before officially retiring it. Robb Nansel, president of Saddle-Creek records has also said that Oberst will be recording stuff over winter and spring to hopefully have something out by fall of next year.

Circle Takes The Square//Ritual of Names
Release Date//TBA
Circle Takes the Square has been one of my all-time favorite band’s since they released 2004′s As The Roots Undo, one of the few and far between releases that I would consider a 5 star record. Since then, the wait for it’s follow-up has taken on glassjaw-esque proportions. The band’s last update was in June in a blog which they stated things are still coming along, albeit a little slowly. One blog reader said it best, Ritual of Names must be a crock-pot album, but I’m sure when it’s done, it’s gonna be good.

Dillinger Escape Plan//Operation Paralysis
Release Date//March 23
One of the most influential bands in modern metal are back with their fourth studio full-length. The follow-up to 2007′s Ire Works should be everything fan’s have come to expect from this band. Uncompromising brutal and mind bending math metal.

Envy On The Coast//Lowcountry
Release Date//March
Lowcountry, the sophomore full-length from Long Island native’s Envy on The Coast could very well send this band into notoriety claimed by the likes of scene peers like Brand New and Glassjaw. The band have a sound that is beyond their years. Head over to their myspace to preview a new song. Lowcountry is said to be completed, with a speculated release date of late March
stream//the devil’s tongue

Four Year Strong//TBA
Release Date//February
Ever since I belatedly got a hold of Four Year Strong’s 2007 release Rise or Die Trying i’ve been instantly addicted to their perfect blend of catchy anthemic pop-punk. Hopefully the band can pick-up from where they left off with their next album due out February via Decaydance.

Glassjaw//Glassjaw
Release Date//TBA
It’s hard to think of anything else that would make me happier in 2010 than a new Glassjaw release. From what it seems, 2010 is a good a year as any for them to put it out and if you’ve been following vocalist Daryl Palumbo on twitter at all, it looks like he’s been working on it, but honestly who knows with these guys? It could be tomorrow, or it could be another decade. One thing’s for sure though, if it gets released this year, 2012 might be coming a little bit early.
mp3//you think your john fucking lennon

Kay Kay and His Weathered Undergound//Introducing Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground
Release Date//TBA
While the release date is still being worked on for Kay Kay and His Weathered Undergound’s sophomore full-length, that didn’t stop the band from streaming their new album in it’s entirety back in August. Here’s to hoping that the release date isn’t too far away.
mp3// passed out

MGMT//Congratulations
Release Date//TBA
MGMT stole the show in 2008 with Oracular Spectacular, which was more or less an album chock-full of psych-pop singles that has had the majority of the northern globe on their feet since it’s release. “Congratuations” was produced by David Fridmann and just got done being mixed.

OK Go//Of the Blue Colour of the Sky
Release Date//January 12
If the album’s single WTF? is any indication of the step-up in songwriting on OK Go’s sophomore release, we should be in for a treat and with Fridmann turnin the knobs, you can expect just that.
video// OK Go – WTF?

Past Lives//Tapestry of Webs
Release Date//February 23
From the remnants of the now defunct chaotic post-hardcore group Blood Brothers arose Past Lives featuring three members of the brother’s fame including co-vocalist Jordan Billie. Tapestry of Webs promises to be a step up on the calm and collected groove oriented post-punk demonstrated on the band’s debut EP.
mp3// hex takes hold

Portugal. The Man//American Ghetto
Release Date//TBA
Back in early November, we got word that the prolific Portugal. The Man were holding listening parties for ANOTHER completed album, entitled American Ghetto. Since then, it’s been hard to track down any more info on the release, much less a release date. I still can’t get into Satanist, but this is still right up there with my most anticipated

The Strokes//TBA
Release Date//TBA
Rumors have been running rampant regarding the new Strokes album since the beginning of 09. Will 2010 finally be the year that the gods of american modern rock can finally get it together? It seems so, as recent reports state that the band have already booked studio time starting in early 2010, along with some festival gigs set for the summer.

Wild Orchid Children//TBA
Release Date//TBA
Capitalizing on one of the catchiest songs I’ve ever heard in my life with 2007′s “Ahead Of Us The Secret” Wild Orchid Children is the second project on this list from former Gatsbys American Dream bassist Kirk Huffman (the other being Kay Kay and His Weathered Undergound). It’s been nearly three years since the band put out their debut EP, and with their last studio update coming in April, one can only hope a proper release isn’t too far off the horizon
mp3// gasoline rainbows

Yeasayer//Odd Blood
Release Date//February 9
Mark my words. By the end of 2010, Yeasayer will be a name learned and remembered by many. The brooklyn natives are set to release their sophomore effort Odd Blood February 9th. Check out their first single “Ambling Alp” which is just about as catchy as a cold in December.
mp3// ambling alp

Whilst these are some of the confirmed releases out next year, there is still a lot to be said for some of the artists that haven’t confirmed anything, but theres a good chance that we will be hearing something from them sometime in the near future.

Aesop Rock// Aesop Rock has reportedly been recording his follow up to 2007′s None Shall Pass for the latter part of 09. There’s a good chance we’ll hear something from him early next year
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Annuals// Earlier this year, they announced they would be putting out an EP, but have failed to deliver any release or any news on it since then.
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Circa Survive//Remember all the sweet studio updates the band posted for a solid 3 months? The album’s done, but since it’s completion the band have been hush hush on any further details.
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Colour Revolt//Haven’t heard much from these guys since their best of 08 release Plunder, Beg, and Curse. Currently they’re still signed on with Fat Possum and have been playing a few local shows. Vocalist Jesse Coppenbarger is supposedly still working on his solo debut, maybe a new colour revolt release will soon follow?
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Evangelicals//Dream-pop best of 08 darlings have been touring the latter part of 2009 with some new songs that should hopefully be out on a new release next year.
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Fleet Foxes//Demo’s are already flowin for Fleet Foxes second full-length. In a recent interview, vocalist Robin Pecknold told Pitchfork that he expects it to be out the latter half of 2010.
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Head Automatica//Earlier this year, Daryl Palumbo announced that Head Automatica’s third full-length was finished and had even been titled Swan Damage. Since then, news on the release has run dry
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Interpol//The band announced in March that they were working on their fourth full-length. Since then, Paul Banks has gone on to release a solo album and is currently playing some shows in Europe and information on the new album has since dried up
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La Dispute//Got a chance to speak with adam vass, the bassist for La Dispute who said they’ve been piecing together some new ideas. Not sure whether we’ll see another full-length from the band in 2010, but we should see some kind of new release.
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Lydia//Another best of 08 alumni who is rumored to be currently penning the follow-up to their gorgeous sophomore release Illuminate
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Miniature Tigers// Sure, why not?
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Panda Bear//News arose earlier this month that animal collective’s Panda Bear was working on new material for a full-length he hopes to put out next year. He has since then put the project to a halt while Animal Collective finish up their touring which is supposed to be over with later this month.
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Right Away,Great Captain!//With the prolific nature and the exceedingly fast nature of Andy Hull’s songwriting pace, it’s highly probable that the Manchester Orchestra frontman will release the finale to the trilogy of his solo moniker.
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Tokyo Police Club//The band are currently in studio writing their sophomore full-length. Check out a new song here