2006? Are you kidding me? We are in the second half of this decade, and I am losing track of time really quickly. It seemed like yesterday when teeny-bopper pop and rap-metal ruled the decade, but like the dinosaur, its time has come and gone as well. Shouldn’t the world be much farther along in 2006? Back when most of us were kids, weren’t we promised flying cars and a boatload of robots when we got to this point in time? Hell, wasn’t Robocop supposed to be patrolling the streets of Detroit by now?

Maybe I was watching too many episodes of The Jetsons, or Voltron…

Anyway, even though sadness for Robocop not patrolling Woodward for the Super Bowl fills my psyche, I still have to talk about what’s heading our way in 2006. 2006 looks to be somewhat interesting, but usual big names rearing their heads back into the scene, and the perennial newcomers heading into the mix.

But before the 2006 preview begins, we have to take a look at the groups that promised me personally (kidding, of course) that they would have an album out, but lied:

Dr. Dre Detox: In January, a July release was expected. July came by, with no new Dre album. Now, still not much is known about the album, other than it features Eminem, Snoop and The Game. A May release is now expected for Dre’s first album since 1999, or is it?.

Outkast Idlewild & TBA: Another album promised by summer, pushed back to the fall, and now the album is scheduled for a March release. It will coincide with the group’s HBO musical, titled “My Life In Idlewild”. Another album, a more proper Outkast album, is due by fall 2006. Hopefully, it will feature Andre 3000 and Big Boi on the album together, and not two separate albums.

Rob Zombie TBA: It’s due in March, and supposedly the album is not as heavy as past works have been. That’s about what I know right now…

Deftones TBA: Well, they’re touring starting in February on the Taste of Chaos tour, so the album has to come out sometime around then, right?

Ok, onto the people that should have an album out in 2006, pending natural disasters and getting their heat turned off, because of energy costs:

The record shelves will be busy in January from the rock crowd, with new releases from The Strokes (Jan. 3rd), and Yellowcard (Jan. 24th). The Strokes seem to be taking a slightly edgier direction with their first single “Juice Box”; while Yellowcard’s first single “Lights & Sounds”, has a big hook that will lure buyers in. February will bring the second release from 2005 sleeper band Hawthorne Heights, whose “If Only You Were Lonely” heads to stores on February 21st. High school girls everywhere think this will debut at #1 when it comes out; I’d say they’re full of crap. AFI will come back from a three year break from their breakout record “Sing the Sorrow”, when it’s released on February 28th.

The first band to rise from the ashes that was Blink 182 arrives in April, as Tom DeLonge’s Angels & Airwaves hits the streets. Later in the summer brings albums from Rise Against, Thursday, Atreyu and everyone’s favorite, Good Charlotte. Taking Back Sunday will also be following up their breakthrough record, and promise a fuller sounding album, in late April. And a hotly anticipated record from the biggest 2005 breakout band, My Chemical Romance, should be here before the leaves of 2006 starts to fall.

On the hard rock side, metal purists are salivating at the prospect of Slayer’s first proper album in almost five years; which is scheduled for an April release (and probably two years worth of touring after that). Atlanta’s Mastodon goes major label with their summer release; while Shadows Fall’s first album with Atlantic is due sometime in August. Hatebreed will be bringing back the mosh pit to you, hopefully by June. I am sure you will be seeing them and Slayer tour at some point together down the road.

In the more rock radio side of things; Papa Roach may bring us another album by fall, and Maynard James Keenan will be working on his primary project, Tool, with an album out by August. And if we are really lucky, Metallica may actually get out of the therapy sessions, and put out a new album by year’s end.

On the pop side of things; Paris Hilton & Kevin Federline both have albums due this year, but if that is the best thing pop music has to offer this year, we are completely screwed. (At least it won't be together... can you imagine the horror?)

Tours:

The Taste of Chaos second edition rolls through the States, starting in February, and hits Cobo Arena on March 11th. This edition promises to be a heavier sendup than last year, with the Deftones, Atreyu and Story of the Year topping the bill.

Coldplay will have a second leg of their “Twisted Logic” tour, with always insane Fiona Apple opening up. They are due to hit the Palace on February 22nd. Also, Nine Inch Nails goes for round three of touring this year, with the closest date taking place February 21st at the Toledo Sports Arena.

U2 may (or may not) be doing another round of dates in the spring and summer, hopefully there may be another date at the Palace, or even DTE Energy Music Theatre. For the older set, Queen will be touring for the first time since communism fell in Eastern Europe, with former Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers. They will hit the Palace on March 24th. Expect dates in the spring from Nickelback and Korn.

One of the breakout bands of 2005, Fall Out Boy, makes the jump from theatres to arenas. They are rumored to have a date at the Palace on April 20th, with the All American Rejects and Hawthorne Heights. Too big of a jump so soon? Maybe…

OzzFest 2006 will go on, but with Ozzy Osbourne not headlining for the first time ever, there are many speculations going around as to who will headline. Meanwhile, the Warped Tour will carry on in ’06, with the usual batch of bands for the high school set. Let’s just hope the Warped Tour organizers pick somewhere with some shade this year; that Silverdome parking lot is one big hotplate.

Well, there are still a lot of things we don’t know for 2006. Things are always subject to change, and don’t blame me if Dr. Dre or Rob Zombie still don’t release their albums this year. But we all know that Paris Hilton will release her record in ’06. We are truly blessed…s