But, if your little heart can take some more fireworks, 2007 is shaping up to be another busy year in the music world. A lot of bands are going to explode beyond their wildest dreams, and others are gonna swing like a certain Iraqi ex-dictator.

With each and every passing year, critics tell us which bands to listen to, and others to avoid. And every year, more people will buy a bunch of crap that the critics hate but you happen to love, and sing along to every song. Well, here's my first installment of a list of new releases along with my obligatory commentary.

Here is your guide to the new releases due out in 2007:

Remember: All Dates Are Tentative, and you should not pin your hopes and dreams on an album being released on that particular day

January to March 2007:

Fall Out Boy- Infinity on High (Release Date: Feb. 6, 2007): Now that the love-them or hate-them band has blown up, this becomes a critical album in the group’s career. If the songs “This Ain’t A Scene” and “Carpal Tunnel Of Love” are any indication, the band’s signature hooks and sing-a-longs will stay firmly in place.

Bloc Party- A Weekend in the City (Release Date: Feb. 6, 2007): After the stellar Silent Alarm, the English buzzmakers hope to turn critical acclaim into sales gold.

Jimmy Eat World- N/A (Release Date: Feb. 27th, 2007)- After Futures did ho-hum business, the Arizona group hopes to recapture the glory of their Bleed American record.

Guns n Roses- Chinese Democracy (March 6, 2007): Axl has said this is the date of when the 13 years in the making album is out. I say; let’s see the recorded product in my player, and I’ll believe it. As a friend and I were saying; I wouldn’t put it past Axl to put out a blank CD and call it “Chinese Democracy.”

Other Albums Being Released- January through March:

Good Charlotte- Good Morning Revival (March 13)
Shadows Fall- N/A (March 27)
Machine Head- The Blackening (March 27)
Arcade Fire- N/A- (March)
Chimaira- Resurrection (March)

April to June 2007:

50 Cent- Before I Self Destruct (April): After the endorsement fest that was The Massacre, Fiddy is looking to get some of his street cred back. It’s pretty sad when Ja Rule looks more underground than 50 at this point, so 50 will be trying hard to regain his baddest-mf’er in the rap game stature. Who knows, he might try too hard…

Maroon 5- N/A (April): Adam Levine has it good these days; His band is trying to be the next Hall and Oates and he’s nailed Jessica Simpson. Life is good, but will the sophomore slump catch up with the band? It’s always a possibility.

Velvet Revolver- Libertad (April): No, this isn’t a reference from the beginning of Scarface, so the concept album on Tony Montana’s life is out. Instead, we’re hoping more blazing Slash riffs pepper the album and that Libertad makes it to the shelfs before Chinese Democracy.

Radiohead- N/A (May): Not much is known yet, but odds are, this could be pushed back way past the rumored May date.

Other Rumored Releases Between April and June:
Megadeth- United Abominations (April)
Coheed and Cambria- N/A (June)
Every Time I Die- N/A (June)

July 2007 to December 2007:

All right, anything from here has a general release date on them, so we really don’t know when these albums will officially come out, but here are our best predictions.

In the Summer, we are expecting releases from the following:

• Linkin Park’s rap-rock free album. Still cant wait to hear how that’s gonna pan out.
• The Academy Is’s album that should break them out of the emo ghetto.
• Chris Cornell’s second solo record. Earth to Chris; Stick with Audioslave, your first solo album cured people of insomnia all over the US

This Fall, we are expecting releases from the following:

• Avenged Sevenfold’s “epic” sounding record, or so they say. Guys, just don’t screw up the momentum you have right now.
• Big Boi of Outkast’ solo record. Don’t call it a debut. In most people’s opinions, Speakerboxx was his debut solo record, and not an Outkast record.
• H.I.M.’s followup to their breakthrough album, Dark Light. Expect Hot Topic to stock the hell out of this one.
• Kid Rock’s first album in three years. My suggested album title; How to Lose a Hair Metal Skank in Ten Days.
• Metallica’s first album in four years. Expect more of a polished heavy sound over the tin-can sounding St. Anger.
• Panic! At the Disco’s sophomore record. Maybe! It Wont Suck.
• Green Day’s follow up to American Idiot. Billie Joe Armstrong will solidify his status as, well, you fill in the blank_______.
• And we just might get records from Smashing Pumpkins and Dr. Dre; that’s if either of them climb out of their holes.

Like I’ve said a hundred times in this article, not all of these records will actually come out on the dates specified. And if you’re hoping for Axl on March 6th, don’t hold your freakin’ breath. Make sure to check the internet for update information through the year. Be careful... as we all know, everything you read on the internet is true.

And just a heads-up, Britney Spears will release an album this fall. With the way she looks right now, she better start working out right now in order to get rid of her sloppiness. And the sloppiness I’m referring to isn’t the extra weight she’s put on….

Not that I care, but if you want to sound off, email me at arthatesyou@detroitbuzz.com.
And happy freaking New Year!