NATIONAL
White Lies, Ritual: They killed at festivals in 2008 and 2009, but do London's Interpol-styled lads have longevity?
Dr. Dre, Detox: It's been on hold or gestating since at least Clinton was in office. Will it continue to be hip-hop's Chinese Democracy?
R.E.M., Collapse Into Now: The band hasn't released decent, well-received slab since at least 1998's Up. Could this be their return to late-'80s form?
The Decemberists The King Is Dead (January 18): The band follows up folk opera The Hazards Of Love with a set of roots-rock work, with Peter Buck helping out on the Neil Young-inflected "Down By the Water."
Duran Duran, All You Need Is Now: The Duran Dudes come back swinging with an album produced by It Boy Mark Ronson.
Iron & Wine, Kiss Each Other Clean (January 25): You more than likely heard most of this new stuff during Sam Beam's show at Fitz last month.
Lady Gaga, Born This Way: Paws up, little monsters. BTW better be like Thin Lizzy's Jailbreak mated with Madonna's Bedtime Stories but with more blood, fire, and leather hot shorts, like it is being touted.
Avril Lavigne, Goodbye Lullaby: It's back, it's sad and it's divorced.
Nickelback: Our hands are already trembling, like we are going back to 'Nam. This means another tour, which means Rocks Off will be on the front-lines. Is this how soldiers feel when Kim Jong-Il runs his mouth?
Beyonce: Possibly, if she isn't carrying a baby HOVA. But then again, it could be too soon for Bouncy to climb back into the studio.
OTHERS
Foo Fighters
Kanye West & Jay-Z, Watch My Throne
Blink-182
PJ Harvey, Let England Shake
My Morning Jacket
The Strokes
