Thought this year was all about the Olympics, Euro 2012 and the Mayan Apocalypse? Well, you’re probably right, but it’s going to have an amazing soundtrack. With exclusive news, all access interviews and unseen photos, we preview the 101 albums that are going to matter most this year. It’s the ultimate guide to every release worth bothering about, and it’s only in this week’s NME.

Including:

“We’re returning to rock n roll – it’s our lifeblood” – The Killers shape up to take over once again.

“We’ve spent a year in the belly of a bull!” – The Cribs on their first record since the departure of iconic guitarist Johnny Marr

“I’m rapping about rich from now on!” – Tyler, The Creator on the massive success of Odd Future

Plus all the big comebacks, including Blur, Mumford & Sons, Plan B, Two Door Cinema Club, Crystal Castles, Paul Weller and loads more.

Also in this issue, Miles Kane defies the heat and the ball-crushing tightness of his white jeans to teach Australia how to rock like a mod at Southbound Festival, The Maccabees reveal their deepest influences behind their top 5 albums (“It’s like a nuclear apocalypse.. but fun!”), and Robbie from The Big Pink has his rock’n’roll credential put to the test.

Plus we give you the chance to win tickets to Isle Of Wight Festival, where you can see Noel Gallagher, Bruce Springsteen and Biffy Clyro, Enter Shikari frontman Rou Reynolds bangs on about how great it is to see At The Drive-In back in business, plus the complete guide to live music in the UK with our huge weekly gig guide.

Subscribe to NME here, or get this week’s digital issue for your iPad, laptop or home computer.

NME.COM blogs contain the opinions of the individual writer and not necessarily those of NME magazine or NME.COM.

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