We’re only halfway the second month of the year and already the pile of new albums is at a high point. I will do my best to review most of them, this week taking on three completely different ones. First the easy score that will gain them massive exposure no matter how bad it indeed is, second the silent killer competing for best of 2010 already. And last but not least maybe the hardest task as a band, follow-up to a breakthrough debut.

Hadouken! have gone insane. Dismissing everything that was good about this band and replacing it with some pseudo-dark moody electronics and average vocals. This has gone from super catchy and fun to super average and boring. Even the catchy first single M.A.D. can’t save them. Hadouken! Keep this crappy Prodigy rip-off to yourselves please! read more..

The sound of 2010 came early this year. Toro y Moi turns nostalgia into a very musical thing on his debut album Causers for This which is also the best record in the up and coming chillwave movement till date. It sounds like Neon Indian is slowly dosing off in one of his many acid trips. Echoed vocals, 80s synthesizers and ambient textures combined with an overdose of nostalgia, what’s not to love? read more…

Vampire Weekend manages to write one of the most challenging albums. After their huge debut success, the expectations for Contra were rock high. Replacing some of their spontaneous energy for a more eclectic sound the band creates an interesting and well written album full of great songs.  Contra is the sound of Vampire Weekend growing up, staying home from parties to write good music. read more…

Next week I’ll be focussing on the first few names for Incubate 2010 and maybe a small paragraph about the Ulver concert I attended yesterday. As always, this and many more is also posted on the Westerlingen weblog. Now do yourself a favor and pre-order the new Toro y Moi!