Taylor Swift, Rick Ross, Black Keys, Rihanna and Kendrick Lamar top our list of most anticipated releases.
Thanks to Beyoncé's atomic surprise attack, not to mention epic releases from Lady Gaga, Eminem, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Drake, Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry, 2013 was a stellar year for music.
But, believe it or not, 2014 holds the promise of even more amazing releases, and MTV News has compiled a list of our 66 most anticipated albums of the year. From Kendrick Lamar to Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Broken Bells, Rick Ross, Austin Mahone, Skrillex and Kendrick Lamar, we will spend the first full week of the year telling you everything we know about the hottest rock, pop, hip-hop, R&B and EDM projects on the horizon.
Check back every day this week for another list of albums you won't want to miss.
Here's a preview of what you'll be reading about:
Hip-Hop
Kendrick Lamar: K.Dot crushed it in 2013 with his debut, his killer "Control" verse and seven Grammy nominations, so expect him to raise the lyrical bar again in 2014.
Kanye West: While Yeezus left some fans confounded, a new album in the works with Q-Tip and Rick Rubin could give 'Ye fans the sound they know and love.
Schoolboy Q: The Black Hippy MC has given a preview of what we can expect on Oxymoron with "Collard Greens" and "Man of the Year."
Rick Ross: Rozay is making fans wait for sixth solo album Mastermind, but it might be worth it thanks to a sample of Notorious B.I.G. on "You're Nobody (Until Somebody Kills You)."
Chance the Rapper: How do you follow a smash mixtape like Acid Rap? With a promised "Social Experiment" that has rap fans on the edge of their seats.
Nicki Minaj: Is 2014 the year Nicki takes back the New York rap crown from Kendrick? It sounds like after a trip into the pop world Minaj is ready to get back to basics.
Meek Mill: He's given us some amazing Dreamchasers mixtapes, so now fans are ready for a full length from Meek.
T.I.: After scrapping his Trouble Man II album, Tip says he's thinking of a "theatrical" title for his next album.
Nas: Some people postpone albums because they're not ready, but Nas says he's taking his time on his next effort because he's just too excited to rush it.
Future: The Astronaut Kid hopes to follow his huge 2013 with an effort that will live up to singles like "Honest" and "Real and True."
Indie
Broken Bells: The Danger Mouse/James Mercer (The Shins) dynamic duo will drop their surprise sophomore album in February, with first single "Holding On For Life" promising some dark disco times.
Against Me!: The band's sixth album deals with its frontwoman's transition from Tom Gabel to Laura Jane.
Warpaint: The woozy L.A. band says to expect a more rocking sound on their second effort.
Young the Giant: Best known for big ballads, expect more classic rock jams from YTG this time around.
Dum Dum Girls: Inspired by classic goth-y literature, the Girls are prepping another set of exquisite bummer noise pop.
Pangea: Slow, haunting, Badillac, garage rock, what else can we say?
St. Vincent: Annie Clark promises a "party record you could play at a funeral." We're in!
The Men: We're not sure what this punk band's fifth album will sound like, but we suspect horns will be involved.
Black Lips: The flower power punks have hooked up with Black Key Patrick Carney and the Dap Kings musical director on their seventh studio effort.
Skaters: All hail rock 'n roll, as these Manhattan guitar rockers are primed to deliver their NYC-themed latest,Manhattan.
Rock
Foo Fighters: Ending a brief hiatus, the Foos are cooking up the follow to their made-in-the-garage masterpieceWasting Light.
U2: Years in the making, the Irish supergroup's latest features production from Danger Mouse and, allegedly, some dance-y beats.
Imagine Dragons: Once they're done basking in the glory of their smash Night Visions album, these guys plan to hit the studio again in search of more platinum visions.
Coldplay: After losing some fans with the experimental Mylo Xyloto, the lads appear to be back in A Rush of Blood to the Head-era rock.
Black Keys: The follow to El Caminois expected to have some handiwork from frequent collaborator Danger Mouse.
Beck: After a six-year break, Beck is back with Morning Phase, the spiritual sequel to his beautiful bummer, Sea Change.
Foster the People: Don't expect more "Pumped Up Kicks" from these guys, who promise a "polarizing" effort that will employ some unusual rhythms.
Fun.: How do you come back from a huge breakthrough album? We don't know, but we figure frontman and hit machine Nate Ruess has some ideas.
Gerard Way: This could be the year we get the first solo material from the former My Chemical Romance lead singer and creative fountainhead.
Tool: Eight years since their last one, these dark rockers are poised to serve up more of their patented gear-grinding anthems of doom.
Pop
Taylor Swift: What will her fifth sound like? She says expect a whole musical identity and some big-name collaborators.
Rihanna: Getting back on her album-a-year grind could have Rih Rih working with Nicky Romero and David Guetta again.
Demi Lovato: Her judging days over, Demi is 100 percent focused on making new music.
Ed Sheeran: Ed's leaning on his pal Taylor Swift to give him feedback on the songs for his next one.
Fifth Harmony: After a long wait, the group debut is finally ready, and tourmate Demi Lovato might make a cameo.
Little Mix: Fellow "X Factor" alums are prepping the dancey, more mature Salute for February.
Austin Mahone: In a word, the surging teen pop singer is planning a "crazy" debut with songs produced by RedOne and Max Martin.
Shakira: The "Voice" judge's first single features Rihanna, so that's as good a start as any.
A Great Big World: After coming out of nowhere, the "Voice" stars will drop their debut next week.
Lea Michele: Expect an emotional ride from the "Glee" star, starting with the Cory Monteith tribute, "If You Say So."
Naya Rivera: Another "Glee" star, Rivera will finally put out a full length three years after signing her major-label deal.
Lindsay Lohan: Out of the game for a while, the actress has been working with the Kills to add a rock edge to her pop sound.
Nick Jonas: Could Nick go all the way solo in 2014? If pics of him snogging his girlfriend while filming a music video are any indication, the magic 8 ball says "yes."
R&B
Chris Brown: A voice like fine china, but the bad-boy persona is bad news. Still, Breezy's fourth-quarter X Files mixtape is reason to hope for Xthis year.
Frank Ocean: Enigmatic Ocean made songs in the key of his life onChannel Orange, but vibes comes via the Beach Boys and the Beatles, not Stevie Wonder, this 'go-round.
Elle Varner: The "hug life" crusader's follow-up to 2012'sPerfectly Imperfect should earn her a deserved spot in the pop&b mainstream.
Jennifer Hudson: JHud has been racking up surprising rap cameos from J. Cole to Macklemore, a clue perhaps about the direction for her third studio album.
Jessie Ware: The U.K. singer helped usher in the nineties revival with Devotion; the rhythm-and-blues golden age is likely to figure on her sequel too.
Jhene Aiko: It should be nothing but smooth sailing for the "Bed Peace" crooner on the Def Jam follow-up to her sultry Sail Out EP.
Kelis: Ex-husband Nas spun their breakup into chart gold, but all we know so far is that her Dave Sitek-helmed Food promises to be raw, soulful.
Mack Wilds: Who knew quarter waters could inspire borough ballads? The "90210" heartthrob and Salaam Remi revived the '90s essence of the Rotten Apple on New York: A Love Story; what's next?
Mariah Carey: The title track from her upcoming The Art of Letting GoLP is the reason every girl ever sang into a hairbrush (just ask Ariana). And features from Nas, R. Kelly, The-Dream and Q-Tip guarantee more of the same.
Miguel: Is it even possible to follow up an instant-classic like "Adorn"? We can't wait to hear Mr. Pimentel try.
Pharrell Williams: After blessing countless hooks in 2013, Skateboard P gets understandably greedy for his bar-free solo effort.
Toni Braxton and Babyface: Check the veteran duo's vintage 1992 "Arsenio" performance if you need proof that Love, Marriage & Divorce,due in February, is two decades overdue.
Sampha: The South Londoner's vocals come to you as if at a far-off distance. His whispery wail on Drake's "Too Much" is just a taste.
Solange: Since the release of herTrue EP, Solo's moved from Brooklyn to the Bayou, where an infusion of blues could very well color her next album.
SZA: Rather than gunning for Beyonce's platinum throne on her TDE debut, SZA has made DIY divas like Bjork her prototype.
EDM
Afrojack : The Dutch DJ/producer is prepping his Island Def Jam debut and if lead single, "The Spark" is any indication, this will be 'Jack's year.
Skrillex: After a hectic year of non-stop touring and projects, we can't wait to see what the "Spring Breakers" scorer has in store for us.
Avicii: If he's smart, the current kind of dance music will hit fans again with another mind-melting mix of EDM and ... whatever, to capitalize on the smash "Wake Me Up" phenomenon.
Steve Aoki: Though he spent 2013 touring heavily, Aoki is sure to have some new music from his tour bus recording sessions for fans.
Dillon Francis: After years of singles and EPs, the time is finally right for the debut full-length from DJ Hanzel.
NERVO: After collaborating with everyone from Beyonce to Omarion and R3hab, could this be the year the Australian sister act release a full length? 
Steve Angello: The former Swedish House Mafia member is prepping his forthcoming Wild Youth album. 
