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DiS spends a few days in the company of every press release, magazine, newspaper, message board, carefully disguised rumour on the face of the earth and bagpipes their rhetoric into a delicious, digestible rundown of 2005's trouser-manipulating (and some significantly less affecting) releases.

In this first part, we cover the releases we're faced with between now and the glorious start of Summer. The list is by no means comprehensive and if there's any glaring omissions you want to see added, e-mail DiS at colin.roberts@drownedinsound.com

Now 'til June

Band: Bright Eyes
Album: 'I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning' & 'Digital Ash in a Digital Urn'
Out: January 24th
Conor is often refered to (on this site) as the 'Outta tune voice of a generation'. Cementing his crown on both of these records, you can literally hear a young man maturing and living up to the hype being piled on him. 'I'm Wide Awake...' is a delicate acoustic masterpiece and a testament to a true singer-songwriting talent, with 'Digital Ash...' holding up as a diverse, intriguing and altogether addictive grower of an album. A must-buy on both counts.
Have we heard them?: Yes, diverse, exciting and intriguing. Both sides of Conor in stunning form.

Band: The Wedding Present
Album: 'Take Fountain'
Out: 24th January
Grown-up guitar pop return from the aging Wedding Present. A hotly anticipated new release from a band with a massive cult following. It drops on Valentine's day.... Ahhhh.
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: Gruff Rhys
Album: 'Yr Atal Genhedlaeth'
Out: 24th January
The inimitable frontman of possibly Wales' finest indie exports of all-time, Gruff gives us a big Welsh-language helping of solo material to tide us over until the new SFA album.
Have we heard it?: It's been on constant rotation in the office for a week now. Fragile at times, riotous at times and always forward-thinking. It's a stunning record.

Band: M83
Album: 'Before the Dawn Heals Us'
Out: January 24th
A mature, lush and truly affecting journey. M83 are an absolute revelation in electronica and should soundtrack films and your life. Let them do so with this, their most polished and immersive record to date.
Have we heard it?: Yes, we certainly have! Read Gen's spanking review here.

Band: ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
Album: 'Worlds Apart'
Out: January 31st
Texan four/five/six-piece ...Trail of Dead have been a constant source of noisy aural pleasure for a good while now and while some of their contemporaries would shows signs of regression, or a general downturn in the quality of songwriting, ...Trail of Dead have consistently progressed in a positive and exciting way.
Have we heard it?: Yes and it is fabulous. A more defined, coherent sound awaits you, as well as some of the most intensely riveting songs you'll hear this year.

Band: Chemical Brothers
Album: 'Push the Button'
Out: January 31st
For ten years, the Chemical Brothers have consistently innovated musically, whilst still appealing to the mainstream of dance music listeners. They ignore the endless calls of 'dance is dead' and continue to release albums filled with interesting colloborative work and exciting, rhythm-heavy tracks.
Have we heard it?: Yes, it's a real return to form. The collaboration with Bloc Party's Kele predictably put a smile on the face of DiS as well.

Band: Bloc Party
Album: 'Silent Alarm'
Out: February 14th
Bloc Party? Never heard of them... Arguably one of DiS' favourite bands in our history, the Paul Epworth-produced debut finally drops this February and is set to truly send them stellar. NME covers, national press-acclaim and a massive and growing fanbase mean this will more than likely be an 'Album of the Year'.
Have we heard it?: Yes and quite frankly, it's fantastic. Look here.

Band: Doves
Album: 'Some Cities'
Out: February 21st
Jimi Goodwin and his band of merry men unleash their third LP as Doves. Recorded in the Scottish Highlands, the band have said that the countryside has really rubbed off on the recording. Expect epic balladry and their trademark reverb-laden lush soundscapes.
Have we heard it?: No. Review in the next few weeks though!

Band: The House of Love
Album: 'Days Run Away'
Out: February 28th
Old-skool Creation Records stalwarts return with a brand new album, but their classic sound. They're also playing a couple of gigs to celebrate the release.
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: Boom Bip
Album: Blue Eyed in the Red Room
Out: February
Largely instrumental and sample-free, Boom Bip drops this new LP via Lex. In fact, the only vocalists on this record are Gruff Rhys and Nina Nastasia
Have we heard it?: Yes - whilst currently unadored by the masses, this is lush, expansive electronica. Splendid.

Band: Mando Diao
Album: 'Hurricane Bar'
Out: March 7th
Sweden gave us all Hives, Mando Diao's second offering 'Hurricane Bar' hopes to be the cream which we've all been prescribed. Memorable riffs, good live shows, all through the sultry Scandanavian rock filter. If this is your bag, then you won't do much better than checking it out.
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: Kaiser Chiefs
Album: 'Employment'
Out: March 7th
Oh, how they grow... You'll remember DiS put out their debut single 'Oh My God' a little while back and after a minor label battle, here they are to release their first full-length. Splendid guitar-pop from the Leeds five-piece.
Have we heard it?: Yes, it's compulsive and catchy. Check out 'Modern Way', melodic genius.

Band: Idlewild
Album: 'Warnings/Promises'
Out: March 7th
Following the top-three 'breakthrough' success of Idlewild's last album 'The Remote Part', Idlewild return with a new bassist and a second guitarist.
Have we heard it?: Not yet.

Band: Damien Dempsey
Album: TBA
Out: March 14th
Fresh from supporting Morrissey on some UK dates and all over the States, Damien Dempsey has shown audiences all over the world his potential. This is the record where he really delivers. Beautiful, heartfelt songwriting, combined with one of the most uniquely beautiful voices in music, Damien's Irish folk is easily accessible, yet deep and emotionally sublime. Embrace him.
Have we heard it?: Yes. The live feeling on this record showcases his songs in the most perfect of lights. A must-buy.

Band: Moby
Album: 'Hotel'
Out: March 14th
We should all be excited that Moby is an international megastar, loved by human and animalkind alike and is an actively political player. It's just hard to get excited about someone who is dull, musically and personally. One can only hope that this album represents a shift in his times. A return to sample-free instrumentalism has been signalled and this sweeping change could be exactly what the bald hippy needs.
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: The Mars Volta
Album: 'Frances the Mute'
Out: March 21st
The Mars Volta have proven that there is life after At The Drive-In and this life is exciting, challenging, diverse and hairy. You may have already listened to this via the unbelievably low-rent leak circulating the internet and be aware of its majesty.
Have we heard it?: Yes, check the Michael Diver-penned bizzy-nizzle right here.

Band: Daft Punk
Album: 'Human After All'
Out: March 21st
The return of the inimiatble French duo, and their first studio work since 2001's 'Discovery', with its mind-blowing accompanying 'Interstella 5555' animated film.
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: Gorillaz
Album: TBA
Out: March 21st
This time with Danger Mouse at the helm rather than Dan the Automator, Damon Albarn's hip-hop-pop-strop side project gives us a second helping. As with most things Damon seems to work on, the record is shrouded in secrecy, but we have been promised a darker and in places rootsier sound than the project's eponymously-titled 2002 debut.
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: New Order
Album: 'Waiting for the Sirens Call'
Out: March 28th
Apparently, this record has 11 tracks - 9 of which are possible singles. Sounds good, eh? First new material since 2001's 'Get Ready'.
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: Stereophonics
Album: 'Language. Sex. Violence. Other?'
Out: March 28th
Ridiculously-haired-drummer-free, it has been stated elsewhere that 'this is the album the 'Phonics should have recorded after 'Word Gets Around',' DiS remains skeptical until we get our dirty hands on a copy, but maybe we'll get lucky.
Have we heard it?: No, but it's sitting on the desk in front of me.

Band: Brendan Benson
Album: 'Alternative to Love'
Out: March
Jack White's best mate gets this new LP produced by erm... Jack White. Benson is a melodic genius and a consistently rousing live perfomer and this album will hopefully showcase this more than previous, occasionally lacking efforts.
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: Queens of the Stone Age
Album: 'Lullabies to Paralyze'
Out: March
After splitting, then not splitting and losing a member along the way, US hard-rocking, drug-taking mentalists QOTSA are back this March with a brand new LP.
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: British Sea Power
Album: 'Open Season'
Out: March 21st
Described as a mellower side of BSP, it's a comedown from 'The Decline of...'
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: Rufus Wainwright
Album: 'Want Two'
Out: March / out now on import
Elton John recently proclaimed Rufus Wainwright 'the greatest songwriter of modern times', which probably isn't far from the truth. A true talent, with an unnervingly perfect grasp of songwriting. This is guaranteed to be an emotional journey of the highest order.
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: Fischerspooner
Album: 'Odyssey'
Out: April 4th
Preceded this March with the single 'Just Let Go', Fischerspooner continue to take every genre in existence, turn them on their proverbial heads and record the results. More make-up, but possibly less hype this time, it's going to be something special.
Have we heard it?: Yes and the easiest way to describe it is, quite simply 'mental'.

Band: The Go-Betweens
Album: 'Oceans Apart'
Out: April
They've been knocking out their punchy, punky pop classics since 1987 and after last year's triple-header of re-issues, there's a brand new album on the way this year. Hooray!
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: The Flaming Lips
Album: 'At War With The Mystics'
Out: April/May
Eleventh/Twelfth studio record for them crazy Americans. Predicting a 'Lips record is generally a pointless exercise because it quite obviously will end up being completely different. Just expect Wayne Coyne and a theramin at least.
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: System of a Down
Album: 'Hypnotize' & 'Mesmerize'
Out: April & Autumn
Two new studio albums for the bearded political metallers. With System of a Down, you can always expect obtuse rhythmic patterns, bordering-on-insane guitar lines and one of the most distinctive howls in rock today. Look forward to these as well as extensive UK touring and festivals.
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: Elbow
Album: 'Station Approach' (working title)
Out: April/May
Elbow have adopted a 'back-to-basics' approach for this new album. Recording in open-plan studios in Manchester, laying down songs that were written whilst touring over the last few years, the band have been recording in front of projected works-in-progress from visuals man Mark Thomas. He's done imagery for Girls Aloud and Appleton as well, don'tchaknow!
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: Sleater-Kinney
Album: 'Entertain'
Out: May 24th
Feminists, riot grrrls, man-haters - whatever you label S-K as, you can't deny the fact that they are rather excellent. Sub Pop release this, their seventh studio album  and following 2002's 'One Beat'. Dig it.
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: Massive Attack
Album: TBA
Out: Spring
2003's 100th Window was generally well-received by critics, yet failed to convert this positivity into a good deal of sales. Everyone knows Massive Attack are capable of producing arguably some of the most influential and interesting music of this generation. Let's hope this new LP is a true return to the commercial and critical heights of 'Mezzanine'.
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: Boards of Canada
Album: TBA
Out: Spring
The LP has been late in arriving at the Warp offices apparently. Look forward to more relaxing beats with inimitable synth lines. Exciting stuff.
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: Ladytron
Album: TBA
Out: Spring
Freshly signed to Island, Ladytron return in the spring with this record plus an extensive tour. Word on da street is that this LP is more progressive and deeper than previous efforts. Plus, they're all quite pretty really, aren't they.
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: The Coral
Album: 'The Invisible Invasion'
Out: Spring
Liverpool's scraggly six-piece are currently working on their follow up to last full-length 'Magic & Medicine' with Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley of Portishead fame. The band released an interim mini-album 'Nightfreak And The Sons Of Becker' in January 2004 and state that it was more representative of the direction their sound is heading than any previous release.
Have we heard it?: No.

Band: The Who
Album: 'WHO2' (working title)
Out: Spring
Townshend and Daltrey have been demoing and recording together in preparation for this brand new recording for a couple of months to date, and Daltrey states that if the sessions are successful, they will tour this year too.
Have we heard it?: No.

DiScuss: What's getting you excited this year?