There’s a lot to look forward to in the new year: four different seasons, 12 months of videos bringing our favorite songs to life, a wealth of fresh sounds. But, while we get an onslaught of clips every day, there are certain CDs we’re really looking forward as well. From electro-pop geniuses to hip-hop mainstays, and even a few superstars, here are fifteen records we can’t wait to hear:

Lana Del Rey, Born To Die — January 31

Easily one of the most anticipated albums to drop this winter since “Video Games” spread across the internet faster than news of Beyonce’s baby, Del Rey’s debut is just that — hype in a jewel case. With an explosive new video for “Born To Die” and a buzzy momentum that simply won’t quit, the controversial, husky-voiced singer has half the indie world up in arms and the other half grasping for tickets to upcoming US tour dates. We’re unsure of what exactly to expect from the puffy-lipped artist formerly known as Lizzy Grant, but if it’s anything like the sexed-up rebel persona she’s adopted along with her pseudonym, it’ll be the only thing the internet talks about this month.

Sleigh Bells, Reign of Terror — February 21

For a band that’s been touted as the “next big thing” so many times it’s teetering on the edge of mega fame, the duo‘s follow up to 2010′s Treats is highly anticipated for more than just new tracks. Since they first became Pitchfork darlings back in 2009, they’ve collaborated with MIA, played nearly every festival, and soundtracked that Windows Phone commercial you’ve heard a million times. But, they haven’t completely crossed into the mainstream. New singles “Born To Lose” and “Comeback Kid” have their trademark mix of haunting melodies and jackhammer beats, proving that if any of their high energy sounds are going to propel them forward, it’ll be these.

The Smashing Pumpkins, Oceania — early 2012 

Given that the band publicly announced in 2008 they would no longer be making full-length records, it’s intriguing that their upcoming release Oceania, is being referred to as an “album within an album.” As part of a 44-track concept album Teargarden by Kaleidyscope that’s slated to be released online one track at a time, Oceania is also apparently the band’s best in 17 years. Don’t take our word for it — Billy Corgan himself said it was their strongest release since 1995′s iconic Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness. Whether they’re The Smashing Pumpkins by name, by lineup or by music is still up in the air, but if Corgan’s putting it up on a pedestal already, this one’s likely to blow us all away.

Bruce Springsteen, Wrecking Ball — March 6

The fierce pounding of Max Weinberg’s drums on the recently released “We Take Care of Our Own” proves that the E Street Band is ready to jump back in the game. It’s been three years since Working On A Dream, and Springsteen is now operating without his right hand man, Clarence Clemons. But, the group’s sound is still fully intact on this anthem of brotherhood. Other titles on the disc include “Wrecking Ball” and “Land Of Hope and Dreams,” songs the Boss has roared through during recent live shows. Manager Jon Landau has said the album has a “social overtones,” and the Hollywood Reporter says that loops and hip-hop textures line some of the new music as well.

 

The Shins, Port Of Morrow — March 20

In the five years since The Shins put out their beloved Wincing The Night Away, James Mercer has been more than busy. With time spent as Danger Mouse’s partner in Broken Bells and appearing as an extra on Portlandia, it’s exciting to see how his his extra-curricular experiences will inform his main band. Considering that he covered “all songwriting duties, lead vocals, guitar, lap steel, percussion and glockenspiel” on Port Of Morrow, those new-found influences are bound to run deep.

The Hunger Games Soundtrack — March 20

Taylor Swift, Arcade Fire, The Decemberists. Need we say more? This compilation honoring the upcoming fight-do-the-death film was produced by T Bone Burnett, and is already on its way to already becoming a success. “Safe And Sound,” a collaboration between Swift and up-and-coming folksters The Civil Wars, shot straight to #1 on iTunes within 24 hours of its release. If you don’t think those names make the soundtrack seem star-studded enough, there’s tons more on the way, in addition to one unexpected cameo on the disc: the movie’s star, Jennifer Lawrence, who lent her voice to some of the film’s music.

Adam Lambert, Trespassing — March 20th

The glam’s been gone for too long, and there’s only one person who can bring it back. As one of the most memorable American Idol performers — he single handedly made the 2009 American Music Awards newsworthy, after all — Lambert’s new single “Better Than I Know Myself” makes us miss that musical theatre-nourished voice more than ever before. We can’t wait to see what the over-the-top star has up his glittery sleeve.

Elle Varner, Perfectly Imperfect — March 27th

We’ve had the soulful singer’s video for “Only Wanna Give It To You” on repeat pretty much since we’ve first heard it, and not just because the newcomer’s got a cameo by J. Cole on her debut release. The songstress has a stunning voice that we’re itching to hear more of, and we’re not the only ones. The New York University graduate was voted “Most Likely To Get Signed” and “Most Likely To Win A Grammy” by her Clive Davis Program of Recorded Music colleagues. Looks like she’s got one down, and one to go.

 

Miike Snow, Happy To You — March 27th

The Swedish producer-songwriter supergroup burst onto the scene three years ago with the infectious dance jam “Animal,” and followed it up with a full-length so killer it’s still being spun. That’s why we’ve got ants in our pants for this upcoming release, which appears to be shrouded in mystery. The band told their Facebook friends they wouldn’t be dropping track titles or much more solid information about the disc, which leaves us with…not much. There’s an album title, a sharp new song called “Devil’s Work,” and a mysterious new video to boot, but with that being all we’ve got to go on ’til the mid-March release, it looks like the excitement for what hour-long dance party the disc could hold isn’t subsiding any time soon.

Dev, The Night The Sun Came Up — March 27

From massive success with “In The Dark” and a stint as VEVO’s Lift artist, to giving birth to her first child, 2011 was a whirlwind for Dev. So we’re more than happy to give her some time while we wait and see what she’s got planned for her first full-length, The Night The Sun Came Up. We’ve seen her shake her rump, watched her get frisky with pairs of anonymous hands, and even heard her new collaboration with Enrique Iglesias, so whatever party-starters are lined up are likely to blow us away.

R. Kelly, Write Me Back — March

The rapper scored Grammy noms and critical acclaim for his last album, Love Letter. This March’s follow-up, Write Me Back should be just as persuasive. It’s unclear if its first single “When A Man Lies” means the disc has a cheating theme, but one thing’s certain: anything the superstar touches pretty much turns to gold. And, with 32 new chapters of “Trapped In The Closet” in the works and an R. Kelly cruise on the way this fall, we’re going to see a lot of him in 2012.

 

Nicki Minaj  Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded — April 3

After the killer visual trip of Nicki’s “Stupid Hoe,” the fever for her follow-up to Pink Friday is building. It’s going to be hard to top the hit-producing hive of action that was her debut disc, but Minaj has become hip-hop royalty in a very short time, and her florid blend of raunchy humor and visual mischief always gets the party started. The album, named after Minaj’s alter ego Roman Zolanski, will be full of fresh material, and with a lead-off track like this, there’s bound to be some magic in store.

Chris Brown, Fortune — April

Stepping out with the R&B anthem “Strip” last winter, it seemed like Chris Brown’s forthcoming album was set to be a collection of slow-jam ballads. But, judging from “Turn Up The Music,” the second track off Fortune that dropped earlier this week, this record might be nothing short of an hour-long dance party. From the fist-pumping ball of energy that is Breezy’s latest single as well as the confirmed rumors he’ll be dabbling in dubstep, there’s enough to look forward to besides factoring in the alleged cameos. Nas is set to make an appearance, and Asher Roth, Wiz Khalifa, Kid Sister, David Guetta and will.i.am are all said to be guesting on the disc. Quite the lineup!

A$AP Rocky, Untitled — Spring

The Harlem-based rapper had been honing his craft for years, but shot straight to the spotlight at the end of last summer with “Peso.” The response was so huge that it was immediately added to New York’s iconic Hot97 radio station. After signing a $3 million dollar record deal and dropping an acclaimed mixtape LiveLoveA$AP last October, you’d think the budding superstar would want to take a break before his proper release, but that’s far from the case. Just this month, he announced A$VPMUZIK, a collaboration album with quick-handed producer aarabMUZIK that’s currently being worked on. Ends up there might be more than just his debut to look forward to this year.

Madonna, MDNA — Spring

Madge is a pro at keeping a secret, and not much has been divulged about the latest album since 2008’s Hard Candy. But, what we do know is that she’s back with producer William Orbit, the sound architect for her last great disc, Ray of Light. Whether that means we’ll be getting an update of the swooping poptronica they built together is anyone’s guess. The singer does like to make stylistic leaps every few years, right? The lead track, “Give Me All Your Love,” is said to find her tapping M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj as guests. There’s speculation that we’ll be seeing the triumvirate — or at least Nicki — in action at Madonna’s Feb 5 Super Bowl half-time performance, but for that, we’ll also have to wait and see.

 

The Stevie Wonder renditions, the Alicia Keys crooning, the attempts at Adele — we’ve heard it all before. With the classics being belted out time and again on American Idol’s audition route, injecting the whole process with some songs that are as exciting as the performers would be a long-awaited delight.

Sure, the show typically gears contestants towards a set list of classic tracks, but why not break outside the box and sing something that’s sure to slay Jennifer, Randy and Steven? Your voice may crack and  you might mess up the words, but with any of the following four, you’re bound to have a a bit of fun:

1. Steel Panther, “Community Property”

This could go one two ways. First: all the color drains out of J Lo’s face and producers rush in and drag you off the stage, never to perform again. Second: Steven Tyler loves you forever and pushes you all the way to the top, just so you can continue to entertain him and him alone. He might call you “guy” for the next month of your life, never learn your first name and forget about you the second you’re kicked off, but we say it’s worth the risk.

 

2. Whitney Houston, “All The Man That I Need”

“I Want To Dance With Somebody” and “I Will Always Love You” are staples, sure, but what about the deeper cuts of Lady Houston’s archive? Show off your high-pitched voice and clenched-face belting with this underutilized classic, and if you’re really comitted, go for a monogramed black onesie to seal the deal. Best part is, if you really can sing, there’s no way you won’t get a ticket to Hollywood after belting out a chorus fit for the diva of all divas…or after they get a load of you in that head-to-toe getup.

 

3. Wham!, “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go”

Let’s get one thing straight: if you’re singing this at an American Idol audition, you’re probably not going to run out of the room crying over your newfound success. But, if the odds are slim and your talent is even slimmer, there’s no need to embarrass yourself with a creaky cover of Mariah Carey’s big-time hits.  Just have fun with it, and throw in a George Michael-style dance tribute while you’re at it.  At least that way, you’ll get a rousing round of applause from the three behind the table right before they embarrass you in front of the world.

 

4. Beyoncé, “Love On Top”

Of all the missteps that get people booted before their big break, being “pitchy” is near the top. While mainstays like Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” will accentuate the fact that you have no idea what you’re doing if you slip up more than once, this song’s multiple octave jumps will surely mask your inability to stay in the right key. After all, if it was good enough for Beyoncé to use as a baby bump revelation soundtrack, it’s good enough to give you a chance at winning as well.

 

We knew it was coming, but it’s still a big blow. Etta James has died at the age of 73. The master vocalist was one of R&B’s most charismatic characters, and on her strongest nights (which are likely innumerable) the power of her voice could be overwhelming.

Modern audiences might recognize James’ work from Beyoncé‘s portrayal of her in the film Cadillac Records (2008). Those with a broader perspective probably appreciate the hard-hitting mix of soul and rock ‘n’ roll that marked the singer’s 50s-60s classics, such as “Good Rockin’ Daddy,” “Tell Mama,” and the uber chestnut, “At Last.”

 

James managed to sustain a career during a stretch of the ’60s when she battled with a heroin addiction, and enjoyed a true resurgence among critics with a string of strong records in the 90s and the 00s. 2006′s All The Way had a handful of sharp surprises – like the authority that simmers during her spin on James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.” In performances, her trademark sass never ceased. She was a say-anything, do-anything character who always enjoyed a righteous dollop of raunch when connecting with an audience.

Several modern artists have taken their shot at “At Last.” Here are Christina Aguilera and Cyndi Lauper, both pals of the elder singer, giving it their all.

Enjoy Etta in all her glory:

 Photo Courtesy of Getty Images

 

Back in the day, the main challenge of bowling a string or two was being able to conquer the lane without the help of bumpers. In Band of Skulls’ new clip, though, a ten-pin competition goes rogue when the potential dangers are escalated from friends crossing the 100-point mark to a masked brigade attempting to go for a team win.

This isn’t your typical ball-flinging challenge, and with a coveted title and potential snack shop girlfriend on the line, the house team tries their hand at a win while the band watches it all go down. Will the Pin Heads go for the gold? Will the evil opposition take home the trophy? Will the slushies melt before they’re refilled? Take a look, and try not to get distracted by the greasy fried goodies.

Sure, you can listen to your favorite songs on your iPhone – taking music everywhere is the key to a beautiful life. But having a wealth of artists’ videos arrive as soon as you start your music search sounds like a lot more fun, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered on this one.

VEVO Match, the latest update to our celebrated (and free!) iPhone app, turns your listening session into a watching session. VEVO for iPhone continues to do all the things you’ve come to love about it, but Match scans your iTunes artists list, pulling up all their videos from VEVO’s enormous library, and putting lots of fun at your fingertips. So next time you dial up Beyoncé‘s “Love On Top,” you can dance along with B and the guys as you check them making their moves. Ditto for air guitar freaks with Van Halen’s new clip for “Tattoo.”

Don’t have the app? Hit our mobile page and grab it now. And don’t forget: with VEVO’s enhanced Facebook integration, it’s also easier to share your videos with friends.

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