Happy New Year, Afterelton Music Mix Readers!

I hope everyone had a kick ass New Year's and a great time with family and friends during the holiday season.

To start the year off right, we’re going to take a look at five of the most anticipated albums of 2011 and then get into our usual round-up of the highlights in music news, artist interviews, single releases and videos.

EXCITING 2011 RELEASES

Some of the most hotly anticipated albums of 2011 are as follows:

Hercules & Love Affair – Blue Songs

Release Date: January 31

Blue Songs is the sophomore release from American house music group Hercules & Love Affair. The group consisting of DJ Andy Butler and out lesbian Kim Ann Foxman, have teamed up with Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke on the song “Step UP.” Wonder if another hit like “Blind” will come from this one? No word yet on whether Antony Hegarty will appear on this album.

R.E.M. – Collapse Into Now

Release Date: March 7

R.E.M.’s fifteenth studio album was recorded in Berlin, Germany; Nashville, Tennessee and New Orleans, Louisiana and features guest appearances by Patti Smith, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, The Hidden Cameras’s Joel Gibb, and Peaches. R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills states “there are some really slow, beautiful songs; there are some nice, mid-tempo ones; and then there are three or four rockers.”

Lady Gaga – Born This Way

Release Date: May 23

According to Gaga, Born This Way, the follow up to her record-breaking debut The Fame, will sound like “bad kids going to church.” She’s also called the album her “most innovative” work so far and “the greatest album of this decade.” While clad in her meat dress at the MTV Video Awards last year, Gaga sang a bit of lead single “Born This Way,” that’s already got Elton John singing its praises: “This is the new ‘I Will Surivive’… This is the new gay anthem!”

Britney Spears – Untitled

Release Date: March

Britney’s upcoming seventh studio album will be “a departure from what you’ve heard,” states her manager Adam Leber to MTV News. DJ Pauly D, star of MTV’s Jersey Shore, shares the same manager as Spears, and was able to hear the music before it’s official release. His opinion: “I think this is gonna be one of her greatest albums.”

Beyonce – Untitled

Release Date: TBA

While the titled is yet to be determined, but whatever it's called, this album is almost sure to be amazing. The diva known for countless number one singles, turns 30 this year and has remained mum about the details on her hotly anticipated follow up to I Am… Sasha Fierce. Word on the street is her new single, co-penned with The-Dream, is “INSANE,” says producer Los Da Mystro. Meanwhile, producer Jim Jonsin hints that Beyonce’s fourth solo album could have an ‘80s feel.

INTERVIEWS

Canadian John O’Regan is the man behind synth-pop solo effort Diamond Rings. Known for sporting lipstick and a rainbow flag on his face, O’Regan draws heavily from his androgynous predecessors: David Bowie, Boy George and Grace Jones. But when it comes to sexuality, O’Regan often skirts the questions.

Despite this, O’Regan heavily focuses on confusion with sexuality in his music, and at a time when a heightened awareness for teen bullying exists, this subject is drawing major interest to Diamond Rings’ debut full-length album, Special Affections. Produced entirely on his MacBook pro, the album has garnered positive reviews from Pitchfork and AllMusic, claiming it to be one of the year’s finest debuts. Check out why O’Regan dodges questions about his sexuality in this interview at Spinner.com and listen to Diamond Rings music here.

Patrick Wolf

In other music news, singer-songwriter Patrick Wolf announced via Twitter this past week that he’ll be marrying his longtime boyfriend (together since August 2007) Williams Charles Pollock. Wolf tweeted “this is the happiest new years day and day of my life. william charles pollock has asked for my hand in marriage. finally. finally. my man x. “ Congratulations to them both and check out Wolf’s latest single “Time of my Life” right here.

SINGLES

Exciting news for Britney Spears fans, today is the day that Spears’ team releases the debut single off her forthcoming album, out in March. The single “Hold It Against Me”became available on iTunes at midnight and was released to radio at the same time. Earlier in the month, the pop star’s track had been leaked with an alternate singer’s vocals, and Spears tweeted in response, “Heard an early demo of my new single leaked. If u think that’s good, wait til you hear the real one Tuesday.” But after hearing both Britney's version and that of singer/songwriter, Bonnie McKee, I feel like I prefer Bonnie's. What do you think of Spears' heavy use of dupstep in the song??

One of the most successful DJs and producers on the electro scene in Germany, PH Electro (real name Paul Hutsch) has released his latest single “Englishman In New York,” a cover of Sting’s 1988 classic hit. The song is an absolutely stunning synth-pop track that’s sure to send chills up your spine, and the DJ’s From Mars Remix is even better! Check out the video for the track here. What are your thoughts??

Frankmusik

To increase the anticipation for his upcoming sophomore album Do It In the AM, Frankmusik is giving away a free copy of “Hurt You Again” to his fans on freefrankmusik.com. Go grab yours today! “Hurt You Again” is a bonus track and the incredibly gifted songwriter and singer shines on this track. His album is sure to be smash this year!

Finally, R.E.M. has premiered the single “It Happened Today,” off their forthcoming album Collapse Into Now, out March 8^th in North America.

“It Happened Today” sounds like classic R.E.M. and features Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder. Check out “It Happened Today” on R.E.M.’s official Channel.

ALBUMS

The American alternative rock band from Sacramento, California, Cake, became widely popular in the 1990’s with their single “The Distance” charting highest to date. The band is noted for lead singer John McCrea’s half-sung, half-spoken vocals. Their sixth full-length album, Showroom of Compassion, is out January 11, 2011, their first album since 2004’s Pressure Chief. McCrea states this album will differ from past efforts in that he’s allowed both reverb and acoustic piano on the LP, something he thought other bands used to sound more classy and grandiose.

Other January 11 Releases:

Ladytron –Ace of HZ

Cage the Elephant – Thank You Happy Birthday

Dirty Vegas – Electric Love

The Decemberists – The King Is Dead

Portland, Oregon-based indie folk-rock band The Decemberist’s sixth studio album The King Is Dead will be released on January 18, 2011 on Capitol Records. Recorded during the spring of 2010 in a barn near Portland, the album has been called the “most pastoral, rustic record they’ve ever made” by Rolling Stone. Lead singer Colin Meloy says his primary musical influence for the project is R.E.M., and Peter Buck of R.E.M. appears on three of the tracks.

Other January 18Releases

The Script – Science & Faith

James Blunt – Some Kind of Trouble (Deluxe Version)

White Lies – Ritual

Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde

VIDEOS

Funny or Die comedian Rebecca Drysdale has made one of the best and most comedic It Gets Better videos I’ve seen. The production and the lyrics are great, but be warned — some parts may not be safe for work.

Check it out...

Marsha Ambrosius, former member of R&B duo Floetry, has released the video for her latest single “Far Away.” Inspired by real-life experiences, Ambrosius raises awareness against bullying in the video which features a man ostracized because of his sexuality. Ambrosius includes this message:

“Dear friends, every year over 1 million people commit SUICIDE. Some were BULLIED because of their SEXUALITY. I lost a friend to SUICIDE, and I’m asking all of you to support alternative lifestyles. Don’t Put up with or join in with BULLYING. It’s time we become more aware in this WORLD. Take a responsibility to make a difference. So if my MUSIC can save one life. I’ve done my job.”

Watch the video here.

Jonsi

Finally, Icelandic performer (and openly gay musician) Jonsi has released the video for his single “Sticks and Stones” off the How To Train Your Dragon Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The song is excellent, like practically everything else Jonsi does, and the video incorporates footage from the computer-animated film.

Enjoy!