I always need a soundtrack to my summer. For some reason songs that are released in the spring/summer seasons always have more of an impact on me. Maybe it's because during those seasons me and my friends find the time to go on various road trips, outings etc., where we blast various songs we're feeling at the moment. Between now and summer there will be several worthy album releases from top notch artists to fill the summer with lots of rhythms, rhymes, hooks, and hits.

First thing's first, the reigning diva of pop, Mariah Carey, who continues to overpower music charts, releases her 11th studio album tomorrow (April 15) entitled E=MC2. She explains the e stands for emancipation and the MC is Mariah Carey to the second power(a spinoff from her 2005 Emancipation of Mimi album. Her latest single, "Touch My body" has helped her surpass Elvis Presley as solo artist with most number one hits.

Jason Mraz – The man with the serene voice and the clever poetic lyrics wants to prove he's no longer the "Geek in the Pink" with We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things on May 13. Since his first single in 2003, "You and I", he's stayed on my list of favorite male singers.

Duffy – Looks like the European invasion isn't over. Not only do we have singers like Estelle, Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone and Leona Lewis who hail from the U.K and take over U.S charts but now newcomer Duffy who hails from Wales has entered the American market. Rockferry will be in stores May 13. Duffy's single and music video for "Mercy" is currently out.

Other releases soon to come: Ashlee Simpson's Bittersweet World, Madonna's Hard Candy, Lil Wayne's The Carter III, Santogold-Santogold, Alanis Morrisette's Flavors of Entanglement, Teyana Taylor's From a Planet Called Harlem, N.E.R.D's Seeing Sounds, Coldplay's Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, Ne-Yo's Year of the Gentleman. for more updates about these artists and their releases visit their official Web sites. And to learn about more releases from your favorite artists visit metacritic.com.