The Quarterly Review: Jan-Mar '10

So we are already at a quarter-past 2010, and I've decided that 4 times a year I will do an overview of the year's releases. 2010 started out relatively slowly (nothing of Merriweather Post-Pavilion proportions came out within the first couple of weeks of January), despite Pitchfork's best attempts to convince me otherwise (they hand out Best New Music awards on a seemingly daily basis these days). However, the year is now starting to shape up quite nicely; I've made no secret of my love for the new Titus Andronicus release which, alongside new Liars, Besnard Lakes and Gorrilaz records, made for one of the best weeks for new releases in recent memory. The new Xiu Xiu album also threw up a pleasant surprise, with Jamie Stewart's quirkiest set of tunes for some time, whilst These New Puritans are early contenders to be this year's Band I Least Expected To Be Listening To (last year's winners, The Horrors).

Album Of The Quarter
Titus Andronicus: The Monitor

On Heavy Rotation
The Besnard Lakes: The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night
Liars: Sisterworld
These New Puritans: Hidden
Xiu Xiu: Dear God, I Hate Myself

Doing The Rounds
Animal Collective: Campfire Songs (re-issue)
Beach House: Teen Dream
Clipd Beaks: To Realize
DeathPodal: Exu-Wow EP
The Delta Mirror: Machines That Listen
Moonface: Marimba and Shit-Drums
Thee Silver Mount Zion Orchestra: Kollaps Tradixionales
Vampire Weekend: Contra

On the Shopping List
The Low Sea: Las Olas
Owen Pallett: Heartland
Pantha Du Prince: Black Noise
Spoon: Transference

On the Discard Pile
The Magnetic Fields: Realism
The Ruby Suns: Fight Softly