PT: Looking Ahead to 2010

So the end of the decade is coming, and with the end approaching we have a lot of year-end lists and lists to cap off the decade. While it's great to honor those great artists of 2009 (Animal Collective, Phoenix, Kid Cudi etc.) and the 2000's in general, we need to look ahead to the great albums coming out.
Vampire Weekend has a new album that looks to drop on January 12, Contra, and it's going to be a great way to begin a new decade. One of the criticisms will be that it sounds too much like Vampire Weekend, but isn't that why we fell in love with them in the first place? The little tastes we've gotten so far such as "Cousins" and "Horchata" are vintage Weekend, and the album is something to look forward to. I may or may not have gotten an advanced look at the album, and the album may or may not be pure gold. If I did get a look I'd say it's going to be something to behold in 2010.
Arcade Fire are due to release a new album soon and 2010 looks to be when it will be released, although I'm not sure of what season. The song "Lennin" was released on Dark Was The Night, a charity album, and I wasn't a real big fan. After Funeral and Neon Bible, I thought pretty much anything they would subsequently release would be a big hit in the indie/rock community, but I was wrong. I really hope that they don't follow up "Lennin" with songs of that quality, because if they do it would be a huge mis-step for the Canadians.
MGMT should also be releasing a new album, Congratulations. I heard some of the material live at All Points West in the summer, but it was really only two or three songs. Again, as it is with Vampire Weekend, I believe we're in for a bit more of the same. Again, as it is with Vampire Weekend, that's why we love them. More psychodelic rock with great guitar riffs, interesting vocals and a synth-heavy background are what I'm expecting from the Brooklyn duo's sophomore album, and I believe that's what we'll get.
Here's where it gets tricky. Reports have The Strokes to release another album and it was reportted to be coming out this year, but there's one problem: The band hasn't even begun recording. They're side projects have really taken off (Little Joy was a huge success, as is Julian Casablancas's solo release, and Albert Hammond Jr. has already made his solo venture popular) and it seems as if The Strokes are on the backburner too much. After their last album was a bit of a flop (First Impressions of Earth), the New York group that revamped the indie movement really need to make sure they get their shit together and start the new decade off like they did with their debut album back in 2001. They were a monster hit almost 10 years ago, and I'm expecting their return to be something to behold.