The end-of-year list madness may be over - but now that all the looking back is done, it's time to take a look at what's coming in the first few months of 2015.
Today, we'll run through the most exciting rock & pop album releases in the early part of the year; tomorrow, we'll have a look at the best gigs in January, February and March.
Mark Ronson – 'Uptown Special' [January 16th]
Our appetite for this album has been nicely whetted by the release of stellar single 'Uptown Funk' with Bruno Mars and 'Daffodils' with Tame Impala's Kevin Parker. Other collaborators on the follow-up to 2010's 'Record Collection' include rapper Mystikal and – hold on to your hats – Stevie Wonder, while author Michael Chabon has written the lyrics.
Meghan Trainor – 'Title' [January 16th]
The 21-year-old from Nantucket has already had big hits with the sassy 'All About That Bass' and 'Lips Are Movin'; the former has earned her Grammy nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Not bad going at all. Her debut full-length release should hopefully be chock full of the same straight-up, irritatingly catchy, finger-clicking pop.
Belle & Sebastian – 'Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance' [January 16th]
They've been around quite a while at this point, but Glasgow's Belle & Sebastian are still one of the finest indiepop bands ever to roam the planet. Their ninth studio album reportedly takes some of its cues from Eurovision (when it used to be good), but in any case you can be sure of some super-melodic indie numbers.
Hudson Taylor – 'Singing for Strangers' [January 16th]
They're being marketed as Ireland's answer to Mumford and Sons, and we can see the comparison. Although there are technically only two members of Hudson Taylor – Dublin brothers Harry and Alfie – when they play with a full band they have that certain twangy-hoedown/'big singalong chorus' vibe to their radio-friendly indie sound. Their debut could be worth investigation, and no doubt they'll do well throughout the year.
Charli XCX – 'Sucker' [January 23rd]
One of the most exciting young pop singers/songwriters out there, Charli XCX has been releasing albums since she was 16; in the last couple of years, she's come to prominence with co-writes and guest appearances on Icona Pop's 'I Don't Care' and Iggy Azalea's 'Fancy'. Still only 22, 'Sucker' is her third album.
Kodaline – 'Coming Up for Air' – [February 6th]
The Dubliners surprised everyone with the massive success of debut album 'In A Perfect' world, which spawned huge hits in 'All I Want', 'High Hopes' and more. Their brand of emotional indie obviously struck a chord with the masses and their second album – co-produced by Jacknife Lee, Steve Harris and Jim Elliot – will be hoping to do the same.
Imagine Dragons – 'Smoke + Mirrors' – [February 13th]
The Las Vegas indie-rock quartet hit the big-time in 2012 with their debut album 'Night Visions', particularly with singles 'Radioactive' and 'Demons'. Their second album apparently will be more influenced by rock than drawing in the hip-hop influences of its predecessor, but either way it's guaranteed to spread their fiery veil even further.
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds – 'Chasing Yesterday' – [February 27th]
The former Oasis man releases his second solo album four years after his self-titled debut. What do we know about it? Lead single 'In the Heat of the Moment' is more than decent, while the guitar god that is Johnny Marr features on closing track 'Ballad of the Mighty I'. The elder Gallagher also has no competition – if you'd call it that – from his brother Liam this time around, since Beady Eye have now called it a day.
Labrinth – 'Take Me to the Truth' – [March 13th]
You could say that R&B star Labrinth has done pretty well for himself to date; collaborations with Tinie Tempah, Emeli Sandé and more have seen his stock rise majorly over the last couple of years, while his solo material has been huge, too. This is his second album, the follow-up to 2012's 'Electronic Earth' and reportedly features songs co-written with everyone's favourite ginger Ed Sheeran.