We have new music coming from veteran artists like Swedish pop singer Robyn, Australian pop pixie Kylie Minogue and Irish loose cannon Sinéad O’Connor. And, although they didn’t make the list, I am pretty excited about records from several newcomers, including British singer-songwriter Sam Smith, London duo Pale and rising music star Chlöe Howl. Below you will find a list of my most anticipated albums scheduled for release next year and a few not-quite-scheduled discs that we can hope, dream and pray for. So without further ado, here are the albums that should make 2014 a year to remember.

Frank Ocean – TBD
Release Date: Summer 2014
Producers/Collaborators: Tyler, the Creator, Pharrell Williams, and Danger Mouse
What We Know: According to Frank Ocean, the album is being influenced by The Beach Boys and The Beatles.

George Michael – TBD
Release Date: 2014 (?)
Producers/Collaborators: Unknown
What We Know: Actually, it hasn’t even been officially reported that George Michael will release a new album next year, but he has been busy in the studio for months working on something. His official website is currently teasing “Exciting news coming in 2014.” Despite promises a new dance album was coming a year or so ago, George has yet to deliver a full LP since 2004′s Patience, which peaked at number 12 in the United States. Maybe 2014 will be the year of George Michael.

Kylie Minogue – TBD
Release Date: 2014
Producers/Collaborators:  Fernando Garibay, Pharrell Williams, Darkchild, Sia, Nervo and Jay-Z
What We Know: Kylie has been keeping hush-hush on her forthcoming 12th studio album, so little is known. But the Australian pop star has described her new single as a  cross between the avant-garde sound of “Slow”, the classic pop sound of “Love At First Sight”, and the modern sound of “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.” Kylie rarely misses the mark, so I think we are in for something pretty amazing. As long as will.i.am stays far, far away from Kylie, we should be in for a real treat.

Kelis- “Food”
Release Date: April 28, 2014
Producers/Collaborators: TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek.
What We Know: The record is being spearheaded by the single “Rumble,” which Kelis recently shot a music video for. “I’m really happy to be partnering with Ninja Tune on my new record,” Kelis recently said in a statement. “This is the album I’ve wanted to make for a long time and I want the team around me to be as excited and energetic about it as I am. I’m also very happy to be working with some of the most creative people in the industry.”

Robyn – TBD
Release Date: 2014
Producers/Collaborators: Patrik Berger and Style Of Eye
What We Know: Besides the fact that Robyn could single-handedly save pop music in 2014, we know nothing. Absolutely nothing, and it’s breaking my heart. Robyn will join Norwegian electronic music duo Röyksopp for a huge tour next year — lets hope it’s to support a new record.

Neneh Cherry- “Blank Project”

Release Date: February 26, 2014
Producers/Collaborators: Robyn, Four Tet
What We Know: Produced by award-winning electronic musician and producer Four Tet, the album is said to be a step in a new direction for Neneh.

Adele – TBD
Release Date: 2014 (?)
Producers/Collaborators: William Orbit, Ryan Tedder, James Ford, and Kid Harpoon
What We Know: According to reports, Adele began recording “edgier” new music for the record back in April with James Ford and Kid Harpoon, who are known for their work with Arctic Monkeys and Florence and the Machine. Little else is known about the project, which could be a good thing…excitement is building.

Katy B – “Little Red”
Release Date: February 3, 2014
Producers/Collaborators: Sampha, Jacques Greene, Joker, George FitzGerald, Route 94, and Geeneus
What We Know: We’ve already heard two songs from Katy’s forthcoming record — 5 AM and “Crying for No Reason”. Based on those two songs, this record should be nothing short of spectacular.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor – “Wanderlust”
Release Date: January 20, 2014
Producers/Collaborators: Ed Harcourt
What We Know: Pop diva Sophie Ellis-Bextor is hanging up her dancing shoes in favor of something more sensible, at least for the time being. The two songs from the LP that have appeared online (“Yound Blood” / “Birth Of An Empire”) show a more mature and romantic sound.

Sinéad O’Connor  - “The Vishnu Room”
Release Date: 2014
Producers/Collaborators: Unknown
What We Know: “Nothing Compares 2 U” singer Sinéad O’Connor began working on her new LP earlier this year. She recently performed a song from the album titled “How Nice a Woman Can Be.”

Tori Amos – “Unrepentant Geraldines”
Release Date: Spring 2014
Producers/Collaborators: Unknown
What We Know: According to the press release, Unrepentant Geraldines finds Tori returning “to her core identity as a creator of contemporary songs of exquisite beauty following a series of more classically-inspired and innovative musical projects of the last four years.”  The album will also document Tori’s  artistic evolution: ”Fueled by this array of unique projects and experiences Unrepentant Geraldines is both one further step in the artistic evolution of one of the most successful and influential artists of her generation and a return to the inspiring and personal music that Amos is known for all around the world.”

Tears For Fears – TBD
Release Date: 2014
Producers/Collaborators: Unknown
What We Know: After recording a series of cover songs, U.K. synth pop group Tears For Fears, best known for the singles “Shout,” “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” and “Sowing the Seeds of Love”, have finally confirmed they will release a new studio album in 2014: “And finally… we’d like to officially announce that we are writing and recording new original material to be released in 2014!” The band released their last studio album, Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, in 2004.

Hurts – TBD
Release Date: 2014 (?)
Producers/Collaborators: Unknown
What We Know: The Manchester-based pop duo began working on new material for a new album earlier this year. While it is still unclear if they will even release the album this year, we do know it won’t be another 2+ year wait. “The gap between albums last time was two and a half years, which was because we got swept up in it and had no time, but now we’re constantly making music and new things for the next record.”

Veil Veil Vanish – TBD
Release Date: 2014
Producers/Collaborators: Unknown
What We Know: Despite releasing one of the finest records (and I mean finest) of 2010, San Francisco based alternative band Veil Veil Vanish has failed to strike a chord with the mainstream. But that could change soon. The band has revealed little about their forthcoming effort, other than the fact that is should be out early next year. If you’ve yet to discover Veil Veil Vanish, stream the song “Modern Lust” below. It’s the song that got me hooked on the band.

It’s that time of the year again, and no I’m not referring to holiday shopping at crowded malls, rude salespeople and awkward family gatherings. It’s time for me to present my top forty singles of the year. It may be a little too early for this, but I figured, why not?

2013 saw the more than welcome return of several veteran pop artists like Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue, Daft Punk, Berlin, Texas, Jody Watley and the eternally entertaining Cher. The year also marked the arrival of a slew of promising new talent: Lorde, Betty Who and, most notably, Tove Lo. While these acts didn’t disappoint, I found a large chunk of the music we were introduced to in 2013 to be fairly forgettable: think will.i.am, David Guetta, Justin Bieber, Pitbull, and dare I say her name? Miley Cyrus. As unfortunate as this situation is, it’s nothing new, of course. Every year has its own share of questionable music choices (Rednex, Aqua, Glass Tiger, Vengaboys, Deep Blue Something) to atone for. But as we get closer to the end of the year, the lack of quality music the year is pretty astonishing.

Just about everyone’s taste in music evolves and changes as they age. Some find themselves turning the volume dial down a little and listening to softer adult contemporary stations, but there are those of us who still have pop music coursing through our veins. I am a fan of pop music and, until recently, I have found it to still be an exciting and enjoyable genre. So I began to wonder if I was the problem. Am I getting too old to enjoy pop music the way I did a few years back? So last week, with that question in mind, I asked several music critics, bloggers and artists if they felt pop music was on the decline – this year specifically. The answer was almost unanimous: “Yes.” Great, it’s not just not me. Whew. That’s a relief, I guess.

Sitting through the American Music Awards a few nights ago only confirmed my belief that pop music is in a stagnant state. The awards show was one of the most painful ceremonies I’ve ever had to sit through. Sure, just like every year before, there are those constantly striving to push the boundaries and make something unique. But now, more than ever, top 40 radio has no interest in exploring territory outside of its own static comfort zone. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for artists who bring something different to the table to build an audience. I think this is why more and more people have been turning off the radio and moving away from traditional outlets. Music lovers are focusing their attention elsewhere, like music blogs, podcasts, etc. Thank you for visiting my site over the past few months. I genuinely hope I have been able to turn you on to a few artists that you may have otherwise missed.

Now, onto the list. I wanted to make it as accurate as possible, so I made sure to evaluate all the music I discovered over the year. Some of these artists may be new to you, and others I know will already be in your iTunes library. Every song, whether it was released as a stand-alone single or not, was fair game. As with any list of this nature, it is all subjective, based on my own personal taste. I hope you find something you enjoy. And finally, if you want my advice on how to make next year an exceptional one for pop music, it’s simple: ban will.i.am from making any new music. He is the single greatest threat to pop music since Milli Vanilli lip-synced their way to the top of the charts.

For most of us, music has always played an important role in our lives. Music is, without a doubt, one of the most beloved human experiences. Greek philosopher Plato once said, “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” I find it remarkable how certain songs can become attached to life experiences that will live on for as long as we do. Sometimes the visual counterpart to a song can leave an equally significant impression. Traditionally, music videos were only meant to be a means to stimulate record sales, but they can do much more than that — they can also help to capture the essence of a particular song and complete the performers artistic vision.

In this post, I randomly selected five of my favorite music videos to share with you. Initially, I tried to compile a list of my all-time favorites, but this proved to be a nearly impossible task. As with any list of this nature, it is all subjective, based on my own personal taste. Feel free to let me know what music video you would have included by leaving a comment below. You can watch all of the music videos I mentioned in this post at the bottom of the page.

Michael Jackson – “Thriller”

Growing up in an ultra-religious home, I was never introduced to the pop music that was ruling Top 40 radio during the 80s, but I knew who Michael Jackson was. He was virtually inescapable at the time. I remember spending the night with a neighbor and seeing the music video for “Thriller” for the first time. I was terrified, entertained and intrigued all at the same time. So, what music video list would be complete without it?!

The 14-minute clip, which was directed by  John Landis, took the idea of the music video to another level by transforming it into a mini film. The video, which many would still consider to be the most ambitious to ever be made, cost half-a-million dollars; at the time, it was the most expensive music video ever made. The week before the “Thriller” music video made its debut, sales for the album of the same name had slowed down to a respectable 200,000 copies a week. After the clip premiered on MTV, Thriller sales skyrocketed and pushed the album back to the top of the charts. Michael Jackson will always be remembered for his enormous contributions to music. “Thriller” is one of those contributions.

George Michael – “Freeek!”

Released in 2002, “Freeek!” was far from being George Michael’s biggest hit, but it did mark a drastic change in direction for the pop singer. The futuristic music video was directed by the still very much in demand director Joseph Kahn (Kylie, Britney).

The visual interpretation of the song incorporates a futuristic theme including cyborgs and sophisticated technology, and has a sexually assertive tone, like the leashed dogs that transform into female bondage slaves. With lyrics like “I’ll be your educational lover. Your one fuck fantasy”, the video fit the animistic lyrics perfectly. According to Michael, the song was meant to serve as a warning as to where humanity is heading with technology.

“Because I was trying to say something aggressive, it really freaked out my female audience,” Michael explained in a 2006 interview. “I love it as a record, but it stands out so much as not my normal intent. It made me understand how much people invest in who they think you are.”

“Freeek!” is one of the last really big budget music videos that I recall seeing at the time. They really don’t make them like this anymore, which really is a shame.

Björk – “It’s Oh So Quiet”

Spirited, energetic and strangely burlesque, the show-stopping “It’s Oh So Quiet” was an odd song choice for Björk to cover, but somehow it all worked. The music video, which was directed by Spike Jonze and shot in San Fernando Valley, California, featured Björk performing a series of eye-catching choreographed dance numbers. For the video, the Icelandic pop singer was clearly paying homage to the classic Hollywood musicals of Fred Astair and Gene Kelly. If the music video didn’t get your attention, the riotous chorus was bound to peak your interest. While the song wasn’t a big success in America, it was a staple on MTV. It did much better overseas, debuting at No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming her third and last UK Top 10 single.

Sinéad O’Connor – “Nothing Compares 2 U”

With all her recent drama with Miley Cyrus and her very public battle with depression and mental disease, it’s easy to forget what a talented artist Sinéad O’Connor really is. When Sinéad hooked up with British producer Nellee Hooper in 1990, the result was a fantastic cover of the Prince penned “Nothing Compares 2 U”. The song is easily one of the most iconic songs of the 90s, and the video is equally as captivating.

In the John Maybury directed video, after singing “All the flowers that you planted, Mama, in the back yard, all died when you went away,” tears begin to run down each of Sinéad’s cheeks. This moving visual was totally unexpected and unplanned. According to Sinéad, she cried because she was thinking about the troubled and complex relationship she had with her late mother, who allegedly abused her as a child. Speaking in a recent interview about the video for “Nothing Compares 2 U”, the Irish singer said: “It wasn’t what we had planned for the video. So what happened, happened accidentally and we decided to keep it.”

For both a song and its video to connect so deep is a rare occurrence, but “Nothing Compares 2 U” did just that. The emotional music video, which took home three moonmen at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards, represents the heartfelt lyrics impeccably.

The Smashing Pumpkins – “Tonight Tonight”

Almost a shot-by-shot re-creation of Georges Méliès’s silent film ‘A Trip To The Moon’, the music video for The Smashing Pumpkins song “Tonight Tonight” was unlike anything I had seen before.

The video, which was directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris and starred Tom Kenny and Jill Talley, starts with a group of people celebrating the launch of a zeppelin. When the zeppelin is airborne, an adventurous young couple leaps from the craft only to land on the moon. Shortly after landing, they encounter a gang of  evil aliens intent on enslaving them. After making an escape plan and breaking free, the couple jumps on a rocket, land in the deep blue sea and are eventually rescued by a passing ship

According to lead vocalist Billy Corgan, the video “was something special because the moment it was on TV – everybody, and I mean everybody on the street that you would meet wanted to talk about it. And I’m not just talking about fans of the Smashing Pumpkins. I’m talking about like the guy parking the car. You’d go into a restaurant, the waitress who is 52-years old was talking about it. It was just one of those videos for some reason – it just connected with everybody.”

The spellbinding music video for “Tonight Tonight” went on to win six awards at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1996, including Video of the Year, Best Direction, Best Special Effects, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Breakthrough Video.