I can\’t remember a month of January that brought about so many great new music releases, especially in the rock world. These releases have been long awaited by their fans, and I\’m happy to say that a few of them have been just as good as people expected they\’d be.

There have been some outstanding new releases during the first month of the year. Let\’s take a look at a few of the ones that may interest you.

First of all, Vampire Weekend followed up its self titled debut album with Contra, the band\’s second release. Since their debut CD, the young band from New York has wowed critics with its original sound, so expectations were obviously high for their follow up.

If you were one of those people looking forward to their second release, you\’ll be glad to know that you\’ll likely enjoy Contra as much as you enjoyed the band\’s debut. The sound is a bit different, and the band has incorporated many new influences in its work.

Another great album in 2010 is Teen Dream, by Beach House. The group from Baltimore has come through with a new album that builds on the unique sounds established by the group in their past releases.

The best way to describe the sounds of this album would be dreamy, and it should come as no surprise given the name of the CD. This is sure to make some of the best of the year lists that critics throw together come the end of 2010.

One more suggestion that I\’d make is the new Owen Pallett CD. Many critics are calling Heartland the best release of 2010 thus far, and the hard work he\’s put into this effort is clear.

You may not think you\’re familiar with Pallett, but you probably know Final Fantasy, his original namesake. Unfortunately, he was forced to drop this name due to copyright issues with the video game franchise, but his music is better than it\’s ever been.

Besides entertainment, the writer additionally frequently writes regarding wooden kitchen stools and stools with wheels.