Dave Matthews Kevin Shields Jack White
Neilson Barnard / Larry Busacca / David Wolff - Patrick, Getty Images

The year is finally coming to a close, and we'd be less than truthful if we didn't admit there's a part of us that cannot wait for 2013 to arrive. The last 12 months had plenty of highlights in the world of music, but overall, 2013 looks even brighter -- from anticipated new albums and possible tours to potentially big Grammys and Rock Hall news. And, did we mention how glad we are that the presidential election is finally behind us? We doubt we are alone on that one. Add in the sad headlines of the past year, and we have five very good reasons we are looking forward to 2013. Check them out below.

 
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Adam MCA Yauch
Bryan Bedder, Getty Images
5

2012 Was Sad

 
 
No doubt about it, there was certainly some seriously sad stuff that went down in 2012. The biggest was the loss of Adam "MCA" Yauch, who we lost back in May after a three-year battle with cancer. The Beastie Boys legend and his bandmates had just been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, although he wasn't well enough to attend the ceremony. Other 2012 downers included Billie Joe Armstrong getting shipped off to rehab after his onstage meltdown at an end-of-the-summer festival in Las Vegas. Perhaps he was bummed out by Green Day's ‘¡Uno!, ‘¡Dos!’ and '¡Tre!' album trilogy, which received decidedly mixed reviews at best. Throw in the death of a Radiohead drum tech in a pre-concert stage collapse and Fiona Apple's drug bust, and the year was full of sad news.
 
My Bloody Valentine
Larry Busacca, Getty Images
4

Old Friends Are Coming Back?

 
 
Will My Bloody Valentine finally release their long, long awaited follow-up to their watershed 1991 'Loveless' album in 2013? Frontman Kevin Shields insists they will (admittedly a common claim over the years) -- and that's just one thing we have to look forward to in the next 12 months. Also possible in 2013 is a U.S. tour for the Stone Roses, the British cult icons who reunited this summer but neglected to include Stateside dates on their itinerary. They plan on spending much of the year on the road, so keep your fingers crossed.
 
Dave Matthews
Neilson Barnard, Getty Images
3

No More Election Talk

 
 
It's not that we are down on the presidential election process -- trust us, we do not take the fact that we get to vote for Chief Executive every four years for granted -- but we did get a bit sick of rock stars talking about it. From Dave Matthews, the National, Chris Cornell and My Morning Jacket all rocking for Obama to Michael Stipe and Tom Morello dissing Republican candidate Mitt Romney and his VP Paul Ryan, respectively, musicians are way too into politics, if you ask us. Maybe in 2016 the two could be combined and some rock star out there wants to run for president; we already came up with our own list of 10 rockers who could make a good presidents.
 
Enter Value
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2

The Grammys Might Not Suck

 
 
It's not often that we get overly excited by the Grammy Awards, but the 2013 ceremony could be a big one for indie and alt-rockers. Look no further than the Album of the Year category, where the Black Keys (‘El Camino’), fun. (‘Some Nights’), Mumford and Sons (‘Babel’), Frank Ocean (‘Channel Orange’) and Jack White (‘Blunderbuss’) will all compete for the prestigious honor. Overall, fun., Mumford and Sons and Frank Ocean are nominated in a total of six categories and the Black Keys are in five, while Alabama Shakes, Coldplay, Florence + the Machine and the Lumineers are among the artists with multiple nods. Basically, it could be a big night for indie and alt-rock.
 
Kurt Cobain
Frank Micelotta, Getty Images
1

Nirvana Will Crash the Rock Hall

 
 
They won't actually be inducted until the 2014 ceremony, but Nirvana will become eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013 and are a shoe-in as first ballot inductees -- the Class of 2014 will be announced at the end of the year, and no doubt Kurt Cobain and his former bandmates will be on the list. Other artists that will become eligible in 2013 and have a real shot at getting in the Hall at some point -- but probably not next year -- include Phish, Fugazi and Morrissey, while the list of acts that could be nominated for the first time but have virtually no chance of ever getting in includes the Afghan Whigs, Galaxie 500 and Royal Trux. 
 

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