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FREE ALBUM: 10 Artists to Watch in 2010

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While we revel in our memories of a glorious 2009, we can’t contain our excitement for 2010. These 10 artists are set to make big noise in the year to come — and we’ve compiled a song from each into an exclusive FREE album!

Simply click the “Get It Now” button below and enter your email address, then check your email for a message from SPIN Media (please be patient — it may take several minutes.) It’ll have instructions for downloading your free album. If you don’t see the “Get It Now” button, try refreshing this page.

Sorry, this album is no longer available for download.

For the scoop on each of the 10 to Watch in 2010, read on!

FREE ENERGY – “Dream City”
Hometown: Philadelphia
The Skinny: Produced by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy (and released by his label, DFA, in conjunction with Astralwerks), Free Energy is as replete with cowbells, Thin Lizzy riffs, and soaring choruses as it is devoid of ironic winks.
BUY: iTunes | Amazon

THE SOFT PACK – “Answer to Yourself”
Hometown: San Diego
The Skinny: If “garage rock” connotes beer-soaked simplicity (or beer-soaked simpletons), then the Soft Pack — known as the Muslims when their jagged, catchy single “Extinction” pricked up ears last year — may reclaim the term for smart kids.
BUY: iTunes | Amazon

REVOCATION – “ReaniManiac”
Hometown: Boston
The Skinny: The band’s furious second album is an imposing slab that bridges the gap between Slayer-style thrash and Pantera’s vicious bounce. The simultaneously brawny and brainy sound has led to burgeoning guitar-hero status for David Davidson.
BUY: iTunes | Amazon

COLD CAVE – “Life Magazine”
Hometown: New York
The Skinny: Former frontman of blood-vessel-bursting hardcore acts Give Up the Ghost and Some Girls crafts a collection of brooding pop that could be mistaken for a swarthier Magnetic Fields.
BUY: iTunes | Amazon

THE xx – “Basic Space”
Hometown: London
The Skinny: On top of sexy, melodic moodscapes, Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim, both 20, sing about reckless longing in the kind of soft, intimate whispers lovers use behind closed doors.
BUY: iTunes | Amazon

OWEN PALLETT (aka FINAL FANTASY) – “Lewis Takes Action”
Hometown: Toronto
The Skinny: Heartland, the new album from rail-thin singer and multi-instrumentalist Owen Pallett (who’s arranged music for Pet Shop Boys and Grizzly Bear — and just dropped his Final Fantasy moniker), is an expert melding of gossamer pop and explosive symphonic maneuvers.
BUY: Amazon

FOXY SHAZAM – “Bye Bye Symphony”
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
The Skinny: On the sextet’s self-titled major-label debut, power ballad “Bye Bye Symphony” kicks like a mule and glitters like a diamond. Bonus: Frontman Eric Nally is teaming with the Darkness’ Justin Hawkins to write new songs for Meat Loaf!
BUY: iTunes | Amazon

NNEKA – “Uncomfortable Truth”
Hometown: Warri, Nigeria
The Skinny: Concrete Jungle, Nneka’s debut Stateside release, would sound like a starmaker in any language. Spurred on by poignant piano and crisp drum breaks, Nneka’s voice (think a less spacey Erykah Badu) alternates between righteously bold and heartbreakingly fragile.
BUY: iTunes | Amazon

J. COLE – “Lights Please”
Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina
The Skinny: Jay-Z invited Cole, the first artist signed to Hova’s newly formed Roc Nation label, to drop a guest verse on The Blueprint 3‘s aptly titled “A Star Is Born.” Cole is working on his upcoming as-yet-untitled debut with producer No I.D. (Kanye West, Alicia Keys).
BUY: iTunes | Amazon

NEON INDIAN – “Deadbeat Summer”
Hometown: Austin, Texas
The Skinny: Full of danceable beats, carefree vocal melodies, and synth atmospherics inspired by Vangelis’ Blade Runner score, Alan Palomo’s debut album as Neon Indian, Psychic Chasms, plays like ’80s pop refracted through a, yes, neon filter.
BUY: iTunes | Amazon

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