Avril Lavigne died snowboard accident

Avril Lavigne is the first celebrity death hoax of 2011. The rocker is rumored to have died in a freak accident.

2011 New Music Guide

Hot New Albums of 2011

26 albums we can not wait to pick up.

Having rung out the old, music fans are looking ahead to fresh music from their favorite artists. Given the predictably unpredictable release schedules of some A-listers, consider this a first look at the sounds of music in 2011, with surprises and disappointments yet to appear. Music journalist Jonathan Zwickel brings us this preview of the full-length sets slated to drop in the months ahead.