2005 finds itself being a year of highly anticipated releases of new faces and classic favorites alike—many artists seem to have been away too long.
With Un-break My Heart: The Remix Collection, Toni Braxton reminds us that she was a dancefloor staple with her remixes. Slated for an April release, this 11-track set boasts the skills of the top DJs including Peter Rauhofer, Jr. Vasquez, Hex Hector, David Morales and Frankie Knuckles.
Dance and soul wailer Taylor Dayne is in the final stages of her new album due later this year, which will be documented on her VH-1 special Remaking airing this month.
Pop-pop divas Madonna, Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson are currently working on new material—Ms. Jackson may even have caught the reality bug as well ( the temptation of having her own show may get the best of her while preparing an album that brings us back to her 'Control' days ) .
Camp art band Fischerspooner tries to fight off the sophomore slump with the follow up Odyssey on Capitol. Garbage resurfaces from a long hiatus with a red-hot tour promoting Bleed Like Me, returning to the band's familiar guitar-heavy sounds.
While in rehab for pills, Kelly Osbourne began working on her next album Sleeping in the Nothing due June 7. This set will have an '80s feel and a more uplifting spirit than her prior pop-punk effort, reflecting the famous daughter's true colors.
The sassy and soulful Nikka Costa returns with her funk trademark on cantneverdidnothin,' even opening for Lenny Kravitz on his current tour.
Canadian songstress Alanis Morissette will be celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the release of her breakthrough album Jagged Little Pill with a stripped-down version of her signature album.
Sony is reissuing a new three-disc retrospective for Heart, just in time as the Wilson sisters will be on Showtime's The L Word in May. Also on Sony's plate is a new package from the Indigo Girls, containing the album All that We Let In on one side and a live DVD on the other. Bruce Springsteen is following suit, releasing his new disc Devils and Dust accompanied by a live DVD.
After a public battle with breast cancer, Anastacia will finally release her self-titled album in her native America, after it has been out abroad for over a year. This set scheduled for release in June will have Anastacia's trademark powerhouse vocals in the style of Taylor Dayne and Tina Turner. Like Anastacia, international sensations Texas and Kosheen are hoping their upcoming projects might have the same impact stateside as they do abroad. Import shops should carry Forever Faithless, the British dance outfit's first retrospective, including the prerequisite three new songs—one being the unlikely collaboration with the girl group the Sugarbabes. Also due out overseas is Geri Halliwell's third solo album since parting ways with the Spice Girls, highlighted by her cover of the Crystal Waters hit '100% Pure Love.' L'oreal spokesperson Natalie Imbruglia is coming out with Counting Down the Days, her third album of pop-rock gems. Scandinavian darlings the Cardigans have sights on the upcoming Isle of the Colourblind and the electronica intellect of the French group Telepopmusik 'breathes' again with the new album Angel Milk. Also keep an eye out for Lucia Holm's solo debut, she is making this side project in between rave band Sunscreem's duties. EMI is releasing Sinead O'Connor's Collaborations, pulling material from the Irish talent's catalogue of pairings with the likes of U2, Moby, Peter Gabriel, The The, Conjure One, Massive Attack and Afro Celt Sound System as Sinead makes a comeback from retirement.
