The Year of Albums

Hello everyone! I hope you had a wonderful New Year's, and got a kiss at midnight!

In music news, everything I'm hearing blares "NEW ALBUM!" "RELEASING DEBUT ALBUM!" "SO-AND-SO RELEASING NEW ALBUM IN 2013!" So which pop darlings will have new and different material for us?

Original Sugababes (aka MKS) - Remember them? Monday night, these girls performed together for the first time in a decade. Pretty fitting that they performed on the opening of the year that is supposed to see the release of their next album. Now known as MKS, they performed Rihanna's song Diamonds here. All the girls have had to say on this new album is that it will be far better than their first one. Can't wait!

Cher - Known as the Goddess of Pop, this will be her first album released in a decade, though in Cher's case, this will also be her 26th release. The lead single is called Woman's World a femenistic anthem fraught with robotic sounds that Cher made famous in 1998. However, the most apparent thing about the song is Cher's unmatched voice. Looking forward to the album - and the rumored collaboration with Lady Gaga!

Demi Lovato - Consider yourself warned! It has been declared by Lovato herself that this will be her most intense album yet, and "this time, there will be no holding back". To get an idea of what she has in store for us, her cover of Angels Among Us should give an idea.

Miley Cyrus - Though recently she's been known more for her haircut than anything else, Cyrus's album is supposed to be released this year, and sound more adult, and with more of her personal style coming out. Ms. Cyrus has described it "Dirty South Hip-Hop" (naturally - she is working with Pharrell Williams), but the  mix of country with hip hop should be an interesting change. Soon we'll be able to compare how far from her pop beginnings she's traveled!

Janet Devlin - With her previews of Wonderful and Crown of Thorns, Janet has only confirmed that what she has in store for us will be great. In a classic Janet move, she has eschewed record labels to work with pledge music, an organization that has customers pledge to buy a version of the album. Once it reaches 100%, the album will be released.

Misha B - Another X Factor lady! Her mixtape is free to download on her facebook page here. Her singles so far are Home Run, Do You Think Of Me and Runway.

What should we expect from these artists? Hard to say. Some other people releasing albums this year (though I didn't include them in that list because their material will be fairly predictable) are Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Selena Gomez & the Scene, and Nikki Minaj.