Now that every critic has written their year-end roundup, the time is nigh to look towards the future. I'm anxiously awaiting these album releases in the first quarter of 2010. Perhaps this will be a preview of the perennial "best of" lists in twelve short months.


Los Campesinos!, Romance is Boring (Wichita/ Arts & Crafts, Jan. 26th)
This Welsh-based indie-rock septet kick off the new year with their latest collection, including the drunken holiday crush single "These are Listed Buildings." I had a blast at their stop in Tampa when they played the Orpheum and I hope they return on tour.


Peter Gabriel, Scratch my Back (Virgin, Feb. 15th)
The former front man for Genesis is doing acoustic orchestral versions of a myriad of artists' songs ranging from Radiohead, Bon Iver, and Arcade Fire to Lou Reed, Paul Simon and Neil Young. These artists will then cover Gabriel's songs in what is supposed to be a "song-swap project." I'd love to see Thom Yorke murmur through "Shock the Monkey."


David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, Here Lies Love (Nonesuch/Todomundo, Feb. 23rd)
This strange twenty-two song two-disk collaboration which also includes a dvd and one-hundred page book concerns the former first lady of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos, and her childhood servant. It includes a wide range of vocalists including Steve Earle, Cyndi Lauper, Tori Amos, Natalie Merchant, Santigold among many others. No word yet on if Nike plans to drop a limited edition pair of shoes to coincide with the release. Anyone who saw David last year at the Tampa Theater wishes this project much success and hopefully a return visit.


Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Beat the Devil's Tattoo (Abstract Dragon/Vagrant, Mar. 9th)
After their abysmally abstract post-rock album, "The effects of 333," B.R.M.C. have something to prove to their fans. Fortunately, for the new record the Los Angeles based boot-gaze band returned to the same Philadelphia studio where they recorded their masterpiece album, "Howl." They embark on a world tour in March but as close as it comes to Florida is Washington D.C. What a shame.


Drive-By Truckers, The Big To-Do (ATO, Mar. 16th)
The ninth studio album, and first for the Dave Matthews imprint, ATO, finds Patterson Hood and the gang returning to the hard southern rock charm that made 2001's "Southern Rock Opera" so memorable. With track titles like "This Fucking Job" and "Girls who Smoke" the boys (and girl) from Athens are at the peak of their game. Tour dates haven't been released yet.