JANUARY is a weird time in the record business. Strange records are released and stranger gigs happen if there are any gigs at all. Critics start giving five-star reviews to albums that wouldn't get two stars during ordinary months because they are desperate to get their hands on something half decent to listen to. But it's also a great time to release something decent because everyone is trying to predict what will be big.

Winners in this category in recent years include Bloc Party, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Arctic Monkeys. This year there are a bunch of hopefuls as well as some eagerly awaited follow ups.

New indie: The View: Hats Off To The Buskers ETA: this month Four 19- and 20-something-year-olds from Dundee take a bit of the Kinks, a bit of the Clash and a bit of the Lbertines. Result.

Klaxons: Myths of the Near Future ETA: this month Proper indie pop: ie, melodies all over the place and a little attitude. They will be huge.

The Hold Steady: Boys and Girls in America ETA: this month Five literate men in their 30s from middle America play big rock with distorted guitars and a penchant for Husker Du. Sounds good.

Follow Ups: Arctic Monkeys: Title TBC ETA: March Apparently Alex Turner and Co have gone all dancey during the recording of the follow up to last year's Mercury-winning Whatever People Say I Am. . . Bright, boppy, heavier and full of beats, we can't wait.

The Shins: Wincing Away the Night ETA: February After Natalie Portman's character in Garden State bigged up the Shins, the Portland, Oregon, four-piece have been expected to make the crossover. By the sounds of this, their third album, they stand a good chance.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Some Loud Thunder ETA: Late January Alec Ounsworth has hired Dave Fridman of Mercury Rev fame to spruce up what was his debut album's only real let-down, the production. It sounds richer, more Phil Spector influenced, but from what I've heard the sound hasn't changed that much: you'll still either love it or hate it.

Bloc Party: A Weekend In The City ETA: February More synth-driven, bigger beats, but the same, maniacal bed-wetting vocals from Kele Okereke. Just don't call it nu-rave

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