Welcome to 2010 and what a year we have coming up for reggae rock album releases! The Pier has been doing some digging around and below we reveal to you the inside word on what the fans can expect over the next 12 months.

With every great new release, here at The Pier that means accompanying in-depth interviews and reviews. It looks like it is going to be the biggest year for reggae rock to date!

Enjoy the read!

SLIGHTLY STOOPID

The biggest band in the scene has some big recording plans for 2010, with a full-length due out sometime next year, but with no definite release date yet. The band will be going back into the studio at the beginning of 2010 to start working on the follow-up to Chronchitis.

What can we expect: Matt Phillips from Silverback says, "Slightly Stoopid want to take its time with this album. The band is also working on a bunch of collaborations with Sly & Robbie, The Snoopadelics, Del Tha Funky Homosapien, The Meters, The Dogg Pound, Snoop Dogg and The Marley's. Nothing is planned, but I would like to eventually put out an EP or a full length collaboration album."

Why The Pier is excited: Judging by that list of possible collaborations the band has got planned, we can expect the party album of the new decade! It is good to hear the band is going to take its time with the new release. Hopefully not too long, so we can bump it all summer long!

THE DIRTY HEADS

The Dirty Heads has not one, but three releases planned for 2010. Wow, things are getting hectic with this Huntington Beach crew!

What can we expect: First up, is The Dirty Heads Any Port in a Storm Deluxe Album - to be released on January 26. The digital-only album will feature all the songs from the original Any Port in a Storm, plus Antelope, Got No Time, Sails To The Wind, Rains It Pours, Headphones, Lonely One and Lay Me Down (featuring Rome).

Next in the late February - early March timeframe the band plans to drop an EP titled Cabin By The Sea. All we know so far is that the Dirty Heads describes it as, "Sounding like dub-gnar goodness."

Lastly, a full length LP is in the works for a late 2010 release.

Why The Pier is excited: You kidding, three potential Dirty Head's releases for 2010! What is there not to be excited about! Any Port in a Storm has been floating around for a while now, so some new Dirty Heads tunes is much in demand!

THE EXPENDABLES

The Santa Cruz band is aiming for an April 20 release. The yet-to-be titled album was recorded in San Diego at Big Fish studio's, produced by El Hefe (NOFX) and Paul Leary (Sublime, Pepper & Slightly Stoopid).

What can we expect: Matt Phillips from Silverback says, "Honestly, this is the best material I have ever heard from the band." The Expendables has also lined up quite a few guest appearances, including members of Slightly Stoopid, G Love, Bret from Pepper and Josh Rice from Heavy Guilt. The album may include songs like: Brother, Mind Control, Corpoarte Cafeteira and I Ain't Ready.

Last year, guitarist Raul Bianchi told The Pier, "Structurally it looks like a lot of the songs are going to be more similar to our second album, Open Container. We have a lot of straight reggae songs and lot of straight heavier songs. We don't have a lot of mixture songs like we had on the last album."

Why The Pier is excited: Ok, we were a little disappointed that this didn't come out in 2009, but can you blame the band for spending its summer opening for the likes of Pepper, Pennywise and 311 instead? If anything, this delayed release has us salivating like crazy even more to hear the new material.

PEPPER

The Hawaiian three-piece will be hitting the studio at the beginning of year for a planned summer release. They guys are currently writing and are into pre-production in Orange County and will be getting in the studio around February.

What can we expect: At the moment there has been very little detail on what musical direction the follow-up to the band's latest album Pink Crustaceans and Good Vibrations will take. One thing is for sure, it will be hard to top that album title.

Why The Pier is excited: As one of the veterans of the reggae rock scene Pepper, has managed to build a solid reputation through writing some classic hooks and delivering an awesome rocking live show. Fingers crossed we may get a combination of that on the band's next release.

BALLYHOO!

One of The Pier favorites Ballyhoo! is starting to think about going into the studio to record the follow-up to the amazing Cheers.

What can we expect: Vocalist/guitarist Howi says, "All bets are off concerning the sound of the next album. We're all influenced by very different types of music so anything goes. We've played a couple new tunes on the road to some good reception. I do know that fans can expect to hear the Ballyhoo! hooks and melodies they've come to love. My phone's voice recorder is full of middle-of-the-night riffs and hummed melodies. I record everything immediately so I don't forget it later."

Howi continues, "I've been listening to The Beatles and UB40 a lot lately. There are a few ballads and some piano stuff. Some heavier riffs and drum work. Hoping to just put out a good rock record for all occasions. In my opinion I think some of the bands in the scene are recycling too much. There's a lot of boring stuff coming out lately. Like they're doing what they think people want to hear. Feels like the same song for 40 minutes. We need some rollercoaster action here. Mix it up! Be dangerous."

Why The Pier is excited: Ballyhoo! just has a knack for writing good songs, while all its members are accomplished musicians, the band's ability to take any style and make something catchy and immediately impressive ensure whatever it has cooking next will be something not to be missed.

TOMORROWS BAD SEEDS

We have already seen the album art and Tomorrow's Bad Seeds most anticipated sophomore album is titled Sacred for Sale. The album was recorded at Total Access Studios (Slightly Stoopid, Pepper, Sublime, Pennywise) except for the album's opening track. We can expect the album by Spring.

What can we expect: The band is holding its cards very close to its chest and all it would reveal is we can expect a more seasoned and mature Bad Seeds! The album will feature 13 tracks and may include songs like Ill Repute, Tell Me Why, Uplift, False Belief and Sacred for Sale.

Why The Pier is excited: Early Prayers was a very solid debut album and with the band's busy tour schedule it can only have gotten better from there. Adding the amazing Andre (formerly 3rd Alley) on bass is also a huge plus!

THE B FOUNDATION

Most of us already know The B Foundation's next release is titled The Chronicles EP. The band is hoping to get it ready and out by 4/20. Bassist Jason Moorehead says, "In a perfect world this would happen, but who knows. We are talking about stoners making stoner music."

What can we expect: Jason says, "It's going to be four or five songs that are for our fans directly more than anything. On the Souvenirs album we seemed to leave out some important material, the stoney material. We had a much more "album" direction and we think it's cool to be able to hit a bunch of niches with the EP. It's not so serious and the songs are fun. It should come out the month after we are in High Times Magazine so it should all tie together.

Songs included are: 2012, Indo Addict, 3 Blind Mice and Even My Grandma Smokes the Kush! Jason claims, "You know that Grandma song is gonna rip. We just dropped the lights and got irie and we have a lot of stoner fans that love to burn trees as much as us and we share that common. This is just our little thank you card - straight to the fans.

Why The Pier is excited: Since Souvenirs only came out mid 2009, this is kind of an unexpected BONUS release. Though we are not complaining! Bong on with The B!

IRATION

As a follow-up to the super successful Sample This EP, the new Iration album, Time Bomb, will be dropping everywhere in March on Law Records.

What can we expect: The band has already made a handful of tracks available to listen to HERE. Last year the band told The Pier, "The album will be a lot closer to our new EP than No Time for Rest. Better song-writing, heavier guitars, lots of synth as we will be exploring the depths of Cayson's instruments a lot more, tighter vocal melodies and harmonies and of course driving bass and drums which we feel is the signature of our band. All this with a pop sensibility and basically trying to push the realm of reggae/rock to something that hasn't been done before.

We're not interested in making the same old reggae songs that everyone has heard before. We want to bring something new to the equation and define our style as something completely unique from the other bands in our genre. We want to make a record that reggae fans, rock fans, punk fans, metal fans, pop fans, hip hop fans, country fans, electronic fans, and acoustic fans can all listen to and enjoy."

Why The Pier is excited: Like some of the band's contemporaries, such as Rebelution and Tribal Seeds, from what we have already heard this will be the bouncy reggae album of 2010 to own.

BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASH

Bedouin Soundclash has launched its own Pirates Blend label, and its first release will be frontman Jay Malinowski's Bright Lights & Bruises debut solo album, due out Feb. 16.

What can we expect: The Canadian band plans to release the follow-up to 2007's Street Gospels late in the summer of 2010. A Bedouin Soundclash remix album featuring reworkings of the band's songs by Bad Brains, King Britt, K-OS, Pigeon John and Nostalgia 77 will also be released in March through Pirates Blend.

Why The Pier is excited: To date Bedouin Soundclash always delivers multi-textured albums that posses something special for everyone. With three album releases planned for 2010, it is going to be near impossible to avoid the band this year!

STICK FIGURE

Stick Figure's "full band" album is expected to drop around February or March. This latest effort is being recorded at Roughwood Studios (its homemade studio), with basic tracks recorded at Signature Sound Studios (band's jam room).

What can we expect: Scott Woodruff aka Stick Figure says, "The new album we are coming out with is going to be better than even we expected. It's half done and all the songs we have re-done are coming along very nicely. Most are much better than the originals in my opinion. Especially Dead End Street and Long Lost Way. Just trying to get the live band feel going." The album will also include: We Get High, Wonderful World, among many others.

Scott enthuses, "We are trying to achieve a live and raw feel combined with a self produced studio sound. We are just trying to have fun with this record and see what happens when we record together."

Why The Pier is excited: The couple of tracks The Pier already has the pleasure to listen to sound like a more raw and powerful Stick Figure sound. We can't wait to hear more.

THE SLACKERS

These ska/reggae legends will release its new studio album in April. The band has been recording it in Berlin with Jochen at Harzkrafthof Studios. That's right, the basic tracks were recorded in Berlin at the end of a tour in early November 2009. The album includes songs written by all the band members and has a more stripped down feel compared to the previous release, Self Medication.

What can we expect: Some good ole Jamaican Rock n Roll! It will include songs like: Cheated, Daddy, Anastasia, Tool Shed, Mr Tragedy, Thank You and about seven more tracks.

Why The Pier is excited: The Slacker's have never let us down in the past. Should also be a good year for traditional ska/reggae enthusists with a new Hepcat album also rumored to be on the way.

GIANT PANDA GUERILLA DUB SQUAD

Bassist/vocalist James Searl says, "We are hoping to get this new album out the door by March. We are recording it at our house in New York just by ourselves and it rules!"

What can we expect: This album will feature the band with its stripped down four-piece line-up. James says we can expect, "Signal freak roots reggae - all original songs for your body meditation." The album will feature songs like Healing, Change You, Stop Fighting, Love You More, Nothing Comes Easy, OK OK and many more.

James says, "We hope to be releasing a steady stream of tunes all throughout the year. Live Up! 2.0 and more live action on our website in the coming months. Versions galore!"

Why The Pier is excited: It has been eons since the release of the band's Slow Down album, it will be awesome to finally hear some new studio material from the band.

SENSE BOARDWEAR - AMPLIFIED; AN ACOUSTIC COLLECTIVE

The 6th Sense Boardwear compilation is going to drop Winter 2010 and as you can see by the title it is going to be an all acoustic affair.

What can we expect: At this stage Sense Boardwear reveals that some of the bands involved include: Ballyhoo!, The Movement, 86 the Effort, Pacific Dub, RAC, 3rd Alley, Stick Figure, Rootdown, LuLu & Kamal of Close Enough, Ross May of Faded Chroniclez and NoNeedz.

Why The Pier is excited: If it is by Sense Boardwear, then you know this is going to be a high quality compilation. We were hoping this album would drop in 2009, but it is great to see Sense Boardwear taking the time with it and most importantly put an interesting twist on this compilation release too! Props for keeping it fresh!

FEAR NUTTIN BAND

Fear Nuttin Band hopes to have its new album ready just in time for the nice weather Spring/Summer of 2010. The band is working on it in different studios. It is working with John Naclerio at NADA Studios, NY (John is well-known for his work with My Chemical Romance). The band is also working with Pierre de Beauport at Portatune Studio in Greenfield, MA (Pierre does extensive work Keith Richards and the Rolling Stones). FNB is also planning to do some tracking at Planet of Sound, Hartford, CT.

What can we expect: Drummer Matt Penza says,"This album is gonna bring yardcore to the next level. We still have that unmistakable FNB sound (heavy mix of rock/metal and reggae/dancehall), but I think the sound has matured. These tracks are going to be a bit more musical, and the lyrics are heading in a deeper direction. We utilize everyone's talents - more guitar solos, some spots with flashier drums/bass (no Alex Van Halen solos! But a couple sweet spots haha).

FNB hasn't spent much time on the road this year, but I think that has enabled us to focus on the sounds and writing more intense music. We have decided to take a different approach to recording, doing the songs as they become ready instead of going in all at once. We still got a reggae/rock sounds but I feel we are not opposed to doing many different styles of music.

More of us are involved with the vocals: Jay Chung gets a rap verse, and he and I also are singing backups on some songs. Which is new for us (Playing drums and singing is a motherf**ker to pull off live). The lyrics are a bit more conscious and address issues that many musicians deal with. We've had a hell of an experience thus far in this "wonderful business." So there are a couple tunes that deal with the frustration of trying to forge ahead, and pokes fun at those who have made it far up the ladder but are WACK!

Other songs are a bit more serious and deal with life issues including love and hardships. Then there are songs that are more positive and hopeful. It's a definite spectrum of emotion. We're not emo though!

Here are a few of the songs are expecting to make the album (as described by Matt):

She Said - a more serious emotional tune, a good example of the newly adapted band vocal harmonies May be one of the most radio friendly tracks we've written.

Real Life Soldier - a hard hitting metal/dancehall track pointing the finger at a failing music industry, and about musicians feeling they've been overlooked.

So Regular - a straight up-hip-hop track, addressing under-talented acts that have made it to the top but nobody is sure why. We are calling them out! This one is one of my favorites, it's a bit more laid back , but one of the most musical tracks so far. Roosta, Prowla and Jay all spit rap verses, Jay plays a nice guitar solo too.

Better Days - heavy groovin metal/reggae tune. Positive lyrics that promise that even though things are rough, BETTER DAYS are coming around.

Feelin' (Everything Happens for a Reason) - kinda a bit on the Vibes/Fears tip (upbeat reggae/rock, a lil punkish), but we've incorporated a drum and bass feel with it. The lyrics are nostalgic, describing the very begining of FNB and tells a story about how everything happens for a reason - if you just believe in it.

Why The Pier is excited: Yardcore 2.0 was the bomb, showing how tight the band is live and the studio/remix tracks demonstrated the talent and diversity of the group. Based on the above, can't wait to listen to FNB's next offering.

ANOTHER DAY

The Arizona band's new album Another Dollar, while initially delayed is now scheduled for an early March. The band will be doing three release parties in Arizona, not to mention an album tour up and down the West Coast that will take up the early summer.

What can we expect: A lot of thought and effort put into the release. The AD crew says, "It ended up being such that the timing was just not right for us (to release in Nov) and we have decided to give ourselves more time to perfect everything and release the album when it felt better to all of us."

Why The Pier is excited: If Another Day's track (Tell Me Baby) on The Pier Compilation Volume 1 is any indication, the production sounds fantastic and the band's flows sound more natural than ever. It has been a long time between releases and judging by the band's current live show, Another Day is just getting tighter and tighter!

THE HOLDUP

The band is currently in Dub Rock Studios with vocalist/guitarist Mike Garmany producing and Clev Stiles acting as Executive Producer. The album will drop in late Spring.

What can we expect: The Holdup sophomore release will pick-up where the last album (Stay Gold) left off, with a strong reggae influence, but no definitive sound in terms of genre. The band is still very young and constantly changing. The Holdup camp says, "It finds it best to mix up multiple styles and genres to keep from getting bored with one specific sound. One thing is for certain, the sound will be unique and the quality will be much more consistent then the last album."

The album will feature tracks like Up All Night, Morning and Wake Up (you can already download Wake Up RIGHT HERE).

Why The Pier is excited: Stay Gold was an impressive debut album. While The Holdup wore its influences on its sleeve the music was undeniably fun. The first single, Wake Up, from they yet to be released album already showcases how the band is progressing fast!

ZEN ROBBI

Zen Robbi recorded its new effort, Heavy Lies the Crown, at five different studios. Though the studio the band did most of its work in was at 17th Street Studio in Costa Mesa with the acclaimed LOU Richards. The band did its vocals there and the album was mixed by LOU. Look for the album to drop February 9.

What can we expect: The Zen Robbi crew promises 12 songs of pure party. This album will make you want to dance. Zen Robbi covers it all in this album - hard rocking tracks with some jazz, reggae, and funk. We also bring out some pretty heavy players on this album. We have Marshall Goodman aka Ras MG as a guest on Dance of the Matador. We have big Jamie Bullock from the International Farmers also playing keys.

Why The Pier is excited: Having already heard the entire album, it is an amazing eclectic mix of music that keeps the listener guessing at each turn. Better believe the hype!

DODGER

Vocalist/guitarist says Matt Drake says, "We have a bunch of tracks on the table that we want to choose from. I guess it will be anywhere between 8 to 12 tracks depending on how picky I get on the production and how long it takes. Sometimes I have trouble finishing a song, I always want to do more. It's the perfectionist in me. The band hates it!"

What can we expect: Matt says, "No matter how long it takes it will be riddled with heavy gritty dancehall reggae rock madness. We are excited to show off some new tracks."

Why The Pier is excited: Featuring the same production team (Jag Tanna and Matt) that delivered the first two Dodger efforts, if it is any type of improvement from Abomanation the world we will not be ready! Enuff said!

THE PIER COMPILATION VOLUME 2

Folks are also really looking forward to this right? At this stage the compilation is in the early planning stages with The Pier aiming for an early Summer release. Nice!

What can we expect: More unreleased reggae rock goodness from our favorite bands playing the reggae rock circuit today. This will be the perfect mix tape for your 2010 summer!

WHAT ELSE?

There are tons more great releases planned for 2010, here is just a handful more that didn't have any concrete information at this stage:

- 86 the Effort

- Toko Tasi

- SOJA

- Rootdown

- Three Legged Fox

- Unwritten Law

- Part One Tribe

So there you have it! Pretty impressive list of music planned for us to digest this year! Thanks to all the bands for giving us the inside word!

Jump on our Pier Chatboards and let us know what albums are you excited for in 2010! because that is what The Pier is all about - sharing our excitement for this great music!