New Releases: January 2010

Round up of the most interesting album and single releases of January 2010 plus links to videos and free (and legal) mp3s:

Albums

VAMPIRE WEEKEND - Contra (mp3s)
SPOON - Transference (stream)
THESE NEW PURITANS - Hidden
BEACH HOUSE - Teen Dream
MIDLAKE - The Courage of Others
RETRIBUTION GOSPEL CHOIR - 2
FOUR TET - There Is Love In You
LOS CAMPESINOS! - Romance Is Boring (stream)
CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG - IRM
OH NO ONO - Eggs
SURFER BLOOD - Astro Coast (video for "Swim")
SCOUT NIBLETT - Calcination of Scout Niblett
GET WELL SOON - Vexations
THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE - Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS - Realism
OWEN PALLETT - Heartland
EELS - End Times
FREE ENERGY - Stuck On Nothing
FOOL'S GOLD - Fool's Gold
OK GO - Of The Blue Color Of The Sky
ADAM GREEN - Minor Love
LAURA VEIRS - July Flame
HT HEARTACHE - Swing Low
RJD2 - The Colossus
DELPHIC - Acolyte
PIT ER PAT - The Flexible Entertainer

Singles

SPOON - Written in Reverse (video)
THESE NEW PURITANS - We Want War (video)
BEACH HOUSE - Norway (mp3)
SERENA MANEESH - Ayisha Abyss (mp3)
BROKEN BELLS - The High Road (video)
GORILLAZ - Stylo (video)
THE XX - VCR (video)
HURTS - Wonderful Life (video)
DELPHIC - Doubt (video)
EDITORS - You Don't Know Love (video)
BIFFY CLYRO - Many Of Horror (When We Collide) (video)
JOHN VANDERSLICE - D.I.A.L.O (stream)
BETTIE SERVEERT - Deny All (video)
AU REVOIR SIMONE - Another Likely Story (video)
ASH - Space Shot (video)
SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO feat. BETH DITTO - Cruel Intentions (video)

Recommended downloads:

HIGH PLACES - On Giving Up (mp3)
RETRIBUTION GOSPEL CHOIR - Hide it Away (mp3)
SPOON - Mean Red Spider (mp3)
THESE NEW PURITANS - Orion (mp3)
JJ - My Way (mp3)
CARIBOU - Odessa (mp3)
THE KNIFE - Colouring of Pigeons (mp3)
PIT ER PAT - Water (mp3)

This week "Transference", the seventh LP from Spoon, debuted at number 4 of the Billboard Album chart after shifting 53000 units, giving the band its highest charting album and best sales week. Well-deserved commercial recognition for one of the most consistent and reliable indie-rock bands of the last 15 years. We'll have more about Spoon and their excellent release very soon. In the meantime, here's a live performance of new single "Written in Reverse" on KCRW:

Spoon - Written in Reverse (live on KCRW)