Lucid Media’s 2010 Music Preview
The industry may not be the powerhouse that it once was, but that being said, 2010 promises to be another exciting year, just so long as you have the right ears to listen with. Here’s a rundown of what to expect in terms of bands, albums, tours, and comebacks.
Artists To Watch This Year
SHAI HALUD - Although they went through approximately a dozen line-up changes since their formation in 1995, this metalcore quintet signed with Metal Blade Records in 2006, and has since bowed to no one’s opinion. Due to an extensive year of non-stop touring, Shai Halud has been busily working to carve out a brutal musical prototype for the new millennium. On a more personal level, their song writing themes ranges have along with their fan-base as their lyrical content continues to range from the misanthropic to the hopeful.
THE DEEP DARK WOODS - This Saskatoon country-folk outfit released their third full-length album, Winter Hours, to critical acclaim last year. They also toured with Toronto folk mainstay Elliott Brood, and won Ensemble of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. After attracting the attention of hipster website Pitchfork, and winning over CBC Q’s Jian Ghomeshi, it’s only a matter of time before The Deep Dark Woods start winning JUNOs.
THE DARCYS - Fusing Brit-pop with shoegaze, The Darcys are an indie band whose days are numbered, but in a good way. In 2009, they released a cover of Final Fantasy’s “The CN Tower Belongs To The Dead” (earning airplay on CBC Radio 3 and Toronto’s 102.1 The Edge), embarked on their third cross-Canada tour in which they played stunning sets at Toronto’s NXNE and Calgary’s Sled Island Festival, not to mention a sold-out show at Vancouver’s Richards on Richards. Dears’ frontman Murray Lightburn recently produced their sophomore album, and the Darcys are now shopping around for label representation. Whoever snaps them up will be very lucky indeed.
CULTURE REJECT - Relatively unknown outside Toronto, Culture Reject is a collective of six musicians whose folk and soul sensibilities marry into delightful pop melodies. Echo Weekly spoke highly of “the certain sweetness and romance” in their self-titled debut album, while LAST.FM blogged of their “Wes Anderson soundtrack” quality. They haven’t played much in Canada as of late, but 2010 could be their long awaited breakout year.
GRIZZLY BEAR - Experimental New York indie rockers, Grizzly Bear released Veckatimest in 2009 to both popular and critical acclaim. Spurred on by 
an appearance on Conan O’Brien, Grizzly Bear submitted new material in support of Record Store Day. Letterman made the big mistake of “running out of time” for them. But, Radiohead loves them, and so will you.
THE SUBMARINES - Too cute for words. Honeysuckle Weeks is the name of their recent sophomore album, and the sugary yet whimsical pop is instantly endearing. Drawing warmth of sound from simple instruments and vocals, The Submarines are the latest to tread down the path forged by Feist not so long ago. Simple things influence the songs: The warmth of gardening in your own space, the comfort of love, and the cyclical nature of life. Summer of 2010 will have them playing to hundreds of new, potential fans during the upcoming Lilith Fair festival.
Looking Forward To…
Soundgarden – After a dozen years, and much internet chatter, this long inactive band may be back together soon. An official reformation might go a long way to mending the wounds of an awkward “mini-reunion” without frontman Chris Cornell, at a Tom Morello solo show in Oct ’09. Provided no one dies before they can hit the studio/stage, we can probably expect details about said-reunion to filter in over the next couple of months.
No Doubt – This year, Gwen Stefani will find time in her busy schedule between being a wife, mother, and Super Pop Star to get back in to the studio with the band that rocketed her to fame. While I cannot hold any hopes that they will produce anything as fun as their Tragic Kingdom or Return Of Saturn albums (nostalgia holds me hostage some days), it may be that time apart has fuelled the fires for them again, and the 2010 album might be worthy of our anticipation.
Nine Inch Nails - The new album announcement comes just two months after the October ebay shenanigans, in which Trent Reznor sold off various studio and stage equipment. I doubt Reznor’s Rockstar Garage Sale has anything to do with cash flow problems. Instead, it’s more likely due to his New Orleans studio only being able to occupy so many pedals and amps. He seems to release a new album every year, so he can’t be that hard up for cash.
2010 Album Releases To Anticipate
Final Fantasy – Heartland (January 12th)
This psuedonom of Owen Pallett is about to be retired. So, this may be your last chance to own a Final Fantasy album under this particular name. Pallett will be utilizing that moniker one last time during an album release performance in front of a sold out Mod Club audience in Toronto on January 12th.
Hawksley Workman – Meat (January 19th) and Milk (TBA)
Huntsville, Ontario’s favourite son is not content to release just one album this year. Be prepared for a double dose of Hawksley as his 12th full-length studio album (Meat) is only the appetizer for Milk, a digital album that will be released over the course of five months.
Barn Burner – Bangers (February 16th)
Eager fans will wait no longer for a dose of Metal from Montreal once Barn Burner head out on their Bangers tour. A long-time local favourite, 2009 saw Barn Burner taking it national, and taking no prisoners, on their cross-Canada tour with Priestess. Just try to hold still while listening to these bad boys. Their recorded music is such an accurate representation of their energetic live shows that you’d better warn the neighbours when February 16th rolls around.
The White Stripes – Under Great White Northern Lights [Live] (March 16th)
This Limited Edition Boxed Set will feature documentary footage and audio clips of the White Stripes’ trek into every Canadian province and territory, including the unlikely “venues” of a Prince Edward Island fishing boat, and a Winnipeg transit bus. Along with several DVDs, and a live album on CD and 180-gram vinyl (a first for the Stripes), the set will contain a 208-page book (with foreword by filmmaker Jim Jarmusch), an exclusive silk screenprint, and many other goodies.
She & Him – Volume Two (March 23rd)
Actress Zooey Deschanel and singer-songwriter M. Ward return to make the hipsters and indie fan swoon with their next instalment of country-folk tunes. Eleven of the 13 tracks are written by Deshanel while the remaining two tracks, “Ridin’ In My Car” and “Gonna Get Along With You Now”, are covers of NRBQ and Skeeter Davis, respectively.
Upcoming Tours
Lilith Fair has returned. Sarah McLachlan’s female-centric festival was born in1997, but has been on “indefinite hiatus” for nearly 11 years. But last April, Terry McBride, co-founder of Lilith Fair and current CEO of Nettwerk Music Group, posted an announcement on Twitter that the festival would commence new tours in Europe and North America in 2010. The talented line-up includes Sheryl Crow, The Indigo Girls, Mary J. Blige, Eryka Badu, Tegan and Sara, Metric, Serena Ryder, Colbie Caillat, Jill Scott, The Weepies, and (of course) Sarah McLachlan. 
The 2010 Vans Warped Tour is set to start in June, and currently the line-up includes Sum 41, The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Casualties, All-American Rejects, Bring Me The Horizon, Emarosa, Fake Problems, iwrestledabearonce, Polar Bear Club, and Every Time I Die.
Remember when The Strokes guys were relevant? Well, let’s hope they haven’t lost their touch. Everyone’s favourite garage-rock hipsters are set to play their first show together since October of 2006. They will be headlining the 2010 Isle of Wight Festival in the UK next June, and sharing the stage with the likes of Jay-Z, Pink, Blondie and Vampire Weekend.
The original line-up of hardcore legends Agnostic Front will reunite for their 25th anniversary on Feb. 26th at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY. Prior to that, there will be a seventeen-date tour (with Death By Stereo opening) from Jan. 14th to 30th. If you can make it out to any of these dates, bring your earplugs and your copies of Cause For Alarm.
Burlington, Ontario’s Silverstein celebrates their 10th anniversary with a four-night stand March 18th to 21st at Toronto’s El Mocambo. The hardcore quintet will be performing from their albums When Broken Is Easily Fixed (2003), Discovering The Waterfront (2005), Arrivals & Departures (2007), and A Shipwreck In The San (2009) on the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st respectively. Tickets are $15 per night, or $50 for a four-night pass.
Professional hooligans Billy Talent are bringing their brand of feverish, punk-influenced rock across Canada this Spring. Alexisonfire and Against Me! are the only confirmed supporting acts after UK’s Gallows had to pull out, but rumours are swirling that hardcore favourites Cancer Bats may make an appearance
