Artist Index

The name 3 Na Massa is slang for, in essence, salivating over something damn tasty. The overt sexuality of the Brazilian trio is intentional, as the group set out with its set to re-interpret women's amorous experiences with men to the tune of saucy bossa nova, jazz and electronica. myspace.com

These 12 (at the time of recording) multi-instrumentalists from Albuquerque could eventually give Beirut, DeVotchKa, and other gypsy-influenced artists a run for their money.  But, as A Hawk and a Hacksaw is an instrumental affair, let's hope they encompass some singing on future projects. iTunes

American Hearts, the debut solo release from former Verbena frontman, Scott Bondy, is a collection of stark folk and blues melodies sung by an Alabama rocker. artist link

The whole old soul/young bod perspective is so played; but to say British singer/songwriter Adele (who is just barely 20) is another victim of the tome only cheapens the Columbia signee's sassy, soulful narratives. She's a sweet angel in a dirty jacket. myspace.com

This Brooklyn-based songwriter originally migrated north from Georgia, but her Latin guitar stylings come from even further South (America). With a versatile voice and a nice debut on micro-indie New Street, keep your eyes and ears open for Adrienne McCann. myspace.com

After teenager Alessi Lauren-Marke signed with Virgin Records in her native England, she decided to record her first full-length album in Nebraska with Bright Eyes members Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott.  The result is the haunting chamber-folk of Notes from the Treehouse. myspace.com

Chicagoan Andrew Bird has drawn inspiration from early 20th century jazz and folk, gypsy balladry, rock, and soul, and throughout all of his cross-genre experimentation he has maintained an elegance and grandeur. His violin playing has something to do with this, but perhaps more importantly, Bird never lets his scholarliness overtake his soulfulness. artist link

Half a dozen members strong on stage, Annuals would be merely loud and annoying if they weren't so tight. Lucky for us and smart of them, this well-rehearsed troupe of North Carolinian misfits make chamber-pop quirk-rock hyphenates you'd be proud to mis-categorize. artist link

During a two-month trip to Cuba in 2001, Broken Social Scene's Andrew Whiteman decided to explore the possibilities of fusing his own indie-rock sound with Cuban music. The Canadian formed Apostle of Hustle upon his return, and National Anthem of Nowhere is his second album. artist link

A-S-A is actually pronounced "Ah-shah"; both sound eerily similar to "awesome." In her freedom-songs, this firebrand combines the African rhythms of her home continent with soul, R&B and acoustic pop bliss. myspace.com

This Japanese band brings their characteristic texture-driven sound back in force on Citrus, adding in rich, catchy, melodies and bilingual lyrics. The album showcases singer Yuki’s mesmerizing voice and the band’s innovative songwriting skills, resulting in a powerful, sweeping album clearly indicating their arrival into the pop music scene. artist link

Columbia's revered Aterciopelados last released an album in 2000, expanding an already broad palette - rock infused with bolero, mariachi, and flamenco - to include electronics and heavier dance leanings. Since then, both its core members, Andrea Echeverri and Hector Buitrago, released solo records that further broadened their wide musical horizons. On the band's new release, Oye, they bring a live band to the proceedings in a return to their 'roc' roots. artist link

The all female trio Au Revoir Simone projects a perfect blend of old and new, analog and digital. Their music, made mostly on vintage keyboards and drum machines, is at once nostalgic and forward thinking. artist link

Bajofondo Tango Club changed their name to only Bajofondo just to try and confuse you, but we won't let them. They wisely enlisted Rodriguez to liven up this track. English-language hiphop has yet to produce a female MC as intoxicating as Mala. myspace.com

Diario Mali pairs Italian classical pianist Einaudi with the exceptionally talented Malian kora player Sissoko to create a smooth, sometimes bluesy sound that blends their two very different traditions. artist link

Clever. A circus of sounds. The plunks of a banjo meet metal clanks, string arrangements, tuba, harmonica, innocent voices... everything but the kitchen sink, but we wouldn't put it past this experimental Boston troupe. artist link

Zach Condon seems an unlikely creator of the gypsy-fueled band Beirut, his being both young (he was 20 when he released his first album last year) and from New Mexico. The multi-instrumentalist gained critical acclaim last year with the help of Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeremy Barnes, and his Lon Gisland EP takes a step toward refining the grand and chaotic carnival sound of his debut. artist link

Damien Rice used to be the lead singer of this group - formerly named Juniper - before breaking out as a solo artist. Now it's this modern rock troupe's turn to sell out music halls, with frontman Paul Noonan's quirky tenor and the band's gigantic choruses. myspace.com

From the bustling musical mecca of Ypsilanti, Michigan, perfectionist Ben Benjamin whittles down pretty melodies to their core, then fleshes them out with daring color and a big, fat groove. Released via ever-dependable Ghostly, BB makes clean but delightfully complicated tracks. artist link

On his current set "Learning to Bend," Sollee covers the Sam Cooke classic "A Change Is Gonna Come." His own compositions could have come direct from the same songbook, but Sollee inflects his tributes to classic soul with banjo, djembe, and his able hand on cello. myspace.com

In one moment, Benjy Ferree sunnily croons his way through '60s style pop like Mungo Jerry and, in the next, leads a runaway glam rock orchestra like Marc Bolan. A perfect example of Washington, D.C.'s Small World Syndrome, Ferree reportedly decided to pursue music while bartending at the Black Cat, after Fugazi's Brendan Canty encouraged him to do so. myspace.com

This Florida band brings a campy mix of hiphop, funk, psych and fanny-pack-bearing dance-punk. SPOILER ALERT: Not all the members in the band are black. myspace.com

Rappers pay a lot of lip service to greats like, say, Prince, Miles Davis and J. Dilla, but so few actually sound inspired by their styles. Enter St. Louis' Black Spade, whose smooth flow could coax a rat from the subway rails. myspace.com

LA organization ArtDontSleep has created an underground community of music and art fans through events – both legal and illegal – that combine visual art, live graffiti, and DJ sets.  The compilation From L.A. With Love brings together music from producers that reflects this growing scene.  Blank Blue, one of the artists featured on the album, is the collaboration between producer Elvin Estela and vocalist Niki Randa.  
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Currently relocating from Rio to Berlin, the raucous and irreverent Bonde Do Role is a trio of DJ Gorky, DJ Pedro, and vocalist Marina.  Apparently most Brazilians don’t even understand much of the band’s lyrics, sung in an obscure Portuguese gay slang called Pajuba.  Their simple songs are all about energy and attitude – and that enthusiasm has them blazing through the 13 songs on their debut With Lasers in less than half an hour. artist link

On this, his solo debut album, Cale Parks skillfully layers loops, beats and melodies over and through each other, creating a polished electronic sound that continues seamlessly throughout the length of the album. artist link

This Glaswegian band may have only formed a dozen years ago, but its sound hearkens a much earlier era in pop music, with a swaying '50s feel and a practical overabundance in tambourines. The five-piece isn't afraid to dress the part, either. iTunes

Every great film has conflict and the same goes for Max Avery Lichtenstein's songs. It's no wonder he made his start in music composing for films; His melodramatic tracks are like the devastating turn of events that keep your butt in the seat despite your unnerving need to go to the bathroom. myspace.com

Though the band tours as a four-piece, Caribou’s new album Andorra is actually the (obsessively orchestrated) product of Ontario-based Dan Snaith, who played almost every instrument himself. Snaith’s wall-of-sound production style incorporates a dramatic array of organic instrumentation and electronic manipulations, all in the service of what are, at their heart, tender pop songs. artist link

When not attending to his duties as co-founder of Dope Lotus Records or remixing the work of artists such as Midlake, Asobi Seksu, or The Doors, Jason Drake is masterminding the acoustic/electric sound of Cassettes Won't Listen. The newest CWL album, The Quiet Trial, again has him moving in a new direction, with predominantly instrumental tracks. artist link

Lyrically evocative and musically exhilarating, this Canadian painter-cum-songwriter has crafted an engaging new record.  The tracks are not defined by any one genre – at times grunge seamlessly gives way to dance-punk – and the album overall creates an exhilarating, experimental pop sound. artist link

Surf guitar, meet cumbias. Psych, meet Cuban son. This powerful supergroup of Brooklyn musicians is the aural reflection of New York's melting pot culture, taking from '70s rock and Central and South American traditions. artist link

This Brooklynite makes some (heavy) rainy day music. Accompanied almost exclusively by piano and strings, Garneau isn't afraid to use his voice in unusual ways to broaden his music’s textures and emotions. Music for Tourists is his debut full-length album. artist link

Christine Fellows sounds like she's singing about stuff like heartbroken unicorns and bleeding stones and white lace curtains covering photos of dead loved ones, whether she is or not. myspace.com

The project of the Casady sisters, Bianca and Sierra, CocoRosie is about to release its third album, Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn. Although they are often considered an indie-rock band, they draw influence from hip-hop, opera, and other disparate styles. artist link

Twenty years ago, DJ duo Coldcut began leaving their mark on house, club, and hip-hop music with a number of popular remixes and dance tracks. By mixing and matching breakbeats with dub, ambient electronica, and acid underpinnings they earned the cred and cash to start two groundbreaking labels: Ninja Tune and Ntone. Sound Mirrors is a return to form, with glossy production, numerous guests (Jon Spencer, Roots Manuva, Saul Williams), and a playful, laid-back feel. artist link

Cryptacize takes a less-is-more approach on its debut, and not for lack of skill: it gives room to let its singers to do what singers do best (hint: sing) while making its bare bass and guitar lines as raw and nasty as a 1960's thriller. iTunes

Why have one when you can have a Brazilian? Seriously, folks, São Paulo's Curumin fuses funk with his lounge, with vocals in English and Portugeuse, making for very sexy and smart tracks. myspace.com

After almost ten years of releasing solo EPs and albums, Damien Jurado has taken on a full band for the first time, adapting his style but retaining his gentle, reflective sound.  Melding beautiful harmonies with full backing instrumentation and blunt, emotional lyrics, Jurado has created a powerful release. artist link

From Vice Records, we get seventeen f-ing weirdos from Athens, Georgia. Naturally, there are horns, a double kit and a mini choir, all under the influence of American folk and psych. myspace.com

Since the release of their earnest self-titled EP, Swedish band David & The Citizens have had limited releases around the globe. Until The Sadness Is Gone is a melodic, instrumentally eclectic and catchy album that retains their Scandinavian sound while placing them squarely in the international indie-pop world. artist link

Honey-voiced Dawn Landes dots her folk-pop with banjo and rock guitars, never allowing a simple song to go untouched by a myriad of musical influences. She cut her teeth gigging at various colleges in the New York area and, as an assistant recording engineer, Landes has the ear to meld seemingly incongruent elements into cohesive tracks. artist link

It's impossible to pin down Randolph Chabot's recording moniker Deastro.  There are synths, there are beats.  There are also lush Brian Wilson-inspired vocal performances, heartfelt lyrics, and a live band backing most of the album.  iTunes

Even with such a foreboding name, Sub Pop signee Death Vessel's bark can't even be said to be worse than its bite, considering the bark is surprisingly effeminate and resonates from what sounds like a wood porch somewhere in the remote Northeast. myspace.com

Although it began in the mid-90’s, Deerhoof has recently been gaining much more attention, opening shows for Radiohead, Wilco, and the Roots. Greg Saunier and his wife Satomi Matsuzaki, based in San Francisco, continue to lead the experimental band. artist link

This San Diego quintet's newest album is called "Ode to Sunshine." It features an aged photo of a be-speckled middle-aged man grinning ear to ear, earnestly hoisting up a glass of red. This band sounds just like that photo. myspace.com

These Eagles (no, not those Eagles) are partially comprised of members from Grizzly Bear, which would explain the washy nod to '60s pop music. The rest is a funky mix of spooky and dance-worthy. myspace.com

Chamber pop/rock group DeVotchKa returns with a new full-length in March, in all its cinematic and dramatic glory. "Transliterator" boasts Nick Urata's dreamboat vocals and the Eastern European musical influences that make the quartet's tracks pop. artist link

Brooklyn's Dirty Projectors, led by Dave Longstreth, are on a serious roll.  Before the release of their Domino Records debut, they collaborated separately with Bjork and David Byrne.  Where do they go from here? iTunes

What do you get when you put Vampire Weekend's keyboardist/producer Rostam Batmanglij and Ra Ra Riot's lead singer Wes Miles together?  Well, neither.  Their side-project is an outlet for the electronic tendencies not indulged at their day jobs.  btw, they owe Tom Tom Club an apology. iTunes

The Latin love continues on "Shine," as this Santiago DJ combines big dance beats, a handful of hand-claps and his signature scratch to a sunny acoustic guitar melody. Shine, indeed. artist link

This Hoosier is pretty dark for having worked with My Brightest Diamond. David Michael Stith, on Sufjan Stevens' Asthmatic Kitty label, makes some creepy and mostly-acoustic music with growths and spurts of electronic elements and arrangements to raise the hair on the back of your neck. myspace.com

If ever there was such thing as emotive electronica, this is it. Dosh is Martin Dosh, longtime percussionist for Andrew Bird. myspace.com

Can sixties-era pop, psychedelia, acoustic folk and rap peacefully coexist on one record?  Philadelphia-based Dr. Dog offers their Takers and Leavers EP as delightful proof that they can, indeed. With sweet songwriting and happy melodies, Dr. Dog’s playfulness becomes the driving force behind this release. artist link

Eleni Mandell’s album Miracle of Five began by recording Eleni’s vocal and nylon string guitar, then the band, including Wilco guitarist Nils Cline, overdubbed their parts.  The result is an album with plenty of well-placed and sometimes surprising textures that never lose sight of the focus – Mandell’s guitar and voice delivering her straightforward songs.
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This sultry L.A. singer keeps good company: collaborating with folks like Chuck E. Weiss (Tom Waits) and Tony Gilkyson (X), her pop tunes have a dark, arty and soulful edge to them, perfect mood music for the next time you need to devise the perfect crime. myspace.com

Just as could be expected from the son of an Academy Award-winning actor, Perkins adds sweeping drama and intellectual arc to his acoustic-led narratives. myspace.com

After enjoying tremendous success with the March Of The Penguins soundtrack, which she composed, Emilie Simon is back with her first US album release. The album finds this 28-year old French singer-songwriter enchantingly meshing her airy vocals with synthesizers and electronic beats, creating a distinctive, steamy atmosphere. artist link

Written and recorded over the past four years in Los Angeles, Montreal, Toronto and New York, Knives Don’t Have Your Back was Emily Haines’ 2006 debut, a collection of intimate, piano-driven tunes in stark contrast to her full-time band Metric’s bold, danceable rock sound.  “Everywhere I’ve lived while working with Metric,” Haines says, “I’ve written songs on the piano and played them for no one.” Last Gang Records has now released a follow-up EP What is Free to a Good Home, which features this remix of “Mostly Waving.” artist link

Perhaps it is no surprise that the sparse and reflective songs on To The Races were composed almost entirely in the back of Eric Bachmann’s van, which also served as his abode for most of the summer of 2005.  Bachmann’s warm vocals, complemented by Miranda Brown’s winding harmonies lend a soothing and meditative feel to this release. artist link

Eugene McGuinness, a 21-year-old musician that splits his time between Ireland and England, has yet to release an album, but between live shows and a recent single and (forthcoming) EP through Domino Publishing, he has garnered a strong following and some valuable radio play in the UK.    myspace.com

Songwriting brothers Peter and David Brewis and keyboard manipulator Andrew Moore make up the Sunderland, England band Field Music. Their second album, Tones of Town – also the second they’ve self-produced – finds the band moving in several directions at once. artist link

Fionn Regan's debut album, The End of History, propelled this gifted Dublin-based artist into the limelight of the already competitive Irish folk/acoustic scene (think Damien Rice). With an intimate and sometimes bare acoustic sound, the album is a beautiful introduction to one of the most watched new singer-songwriters from Ireland. amazon.com

Take shelter! A Mexican punk band has set fire to the circus! And it sounds really good! myspace.com

Sup Pop records marks its 20th year in existence this summer and, lo/behold, they've got themselves a dustily melodic breadwinner out of Seattle five-some Fleet Foxes. It doesn't scorch like Nirvana's "Bleach" but it exhales with shimmering guitars and impressive vocal layers like a tuckered toddler after a day at Gymboree. myspace.com

A mix of dance and psych-rock one minute and eerie pop the next, this Asthmatic Kitty act is just as bouncy and weird as their name implies. myspace.com

Forro is a regional Brazilian dance and musical style. Percussionist-to-the-stars Mauro Refosco, well versed in the popular genre, began gathering friends and collaborators at the NYC club NuBlu several years ago, and the ever-changing lineup of Forro in the Dark became a local phenomenon. Their first record, Bonfires of Sao Joao, features guest appearances by many of the artists Refosco has supported over the years, such as David Byrne, Bebel Gilberto, and Miho Hatori. barnesandnoble.com

With loops, hard punctuation, climaxes and eloquent dissonance, Sweden's Fredrik makes the aural equivalent of calligraphy. myspace.com

Throughout the 90s Luscious Jackson brought funk, pop, and hip-hop together with a decidedly New York point of view.  This summer sees the release of co-founder Gabby Glaser’s solo debut Gimme Splash, and she continues where the band left off, bringing all the grit and good times of her past project while adding some welcome balladry. artist link

Begun in 2005, Georgie James is the collaboration of Washington, D.C. based John Davis and Laura Burhenn. The duo’s first full-length album, Places, shows off their admiration of 60s and 70s pop artists ranging from The Kinks, Simon & Garfunkel, to Flamin' Groovies. artist link

Parisian duo Gotan Project continue their experiments modernizing tango and other Argentinean folk music on their second album Lunatico. "Mi Confesion" features Argentinean hip hop artist Koxmoz rhyming in Spanish over their sensual dance beats. artist link

Tony Dekker and his band choose to record in old barns, houses of worship, purportedly wooden buildings one finds in rural wildernesses like Dark Island, N.Y. and Rockport, Ontario. Location is everything, as the band breeds an earthy, spooky aura all over its fourth album "Lost Channels." iTunes

Rock 'n' roll was born from blues and country; those genres were informed by spirituals and gospel. Ozarks native Ha Ha Tonka makes sure that circle remains unbroken on their Bloodshot effort. artist link

For our Twin Cities hat-trick, we have folk-inspired songwriter Haley Bonar, who sites Justin Timberlake and Black Sabbath as influences. Which is just so wrong. Think more along the lines of Richard Buckner, Ingrid Michaelson and losing your electricity on a stormy day on the Plains. myspace.com

Tambourines, horns, harmonies, big thumping percussion and singer Lexy Benaim's nerdy, buoyant vocals make the new album from Harlem Shakes as technicolor as one can dream. iTunes

Rarely does the name of a band's hometown actively reflect their sound, but Champagne (Illinois) is a good start for Polyvinyl rock band Headlights. In tackling the metaphor, they're intoxicating. artist link

Born in South Florida to Ecuadorean immigrant parents, Roberto Carlos Lange was influenced by the sounds and colors where he grew up, especially the late-night, muffled bass in and around his house.  He makes that kind of hazy indirectness work on the found-sound collages of Awe Owe. myspace.com

What's good enough for Antony is good enough for us. Hercules and Love Affair, in a deal with DFA, makes vulnerable disco for the masses. myspace.com

"Virginia is for lovers" goes the motto for Hot Lava's home state. With a name like theirs, plus explosive pop-laced rock songs, they've got part of the tome right. myspace.com

The Montreal-based band Islands is constantly rotating its roster of musicians. The diversity of musicians (Return to the Sea features guest appearances from members of the Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade) and broad instrumentation drives Islands' unique genre-hopping sound. artist link

Tiny-voiced Isobel Campbell hails from Glaswegian band Belle & Sebastian, while Mark Lanegan is a sometimes-solo artist from the band Screaming Trees. Together, they make a surprisingly cohesive duet record, most of which Campbell wrote. The breezy "Honey Child" carries her purr and his growl over an epic arch of strings. artist link

Keeping with their name, It's A Musical builds their songs like scenes: analog synths take center-stage, horn sections enter from stage left, vocals enter from stage right, dialogue ensues. myspace.com

Be not fooled: J-Boogie's Dubtronic Science record "Soul Vibrations" sounds exactly how you think it sounds. It's graffiti splayed over a science fiction landscape where nobody sleeps and everybody has "a move." myspace.com

This singer-songwriter is perhaps best known for his contributions to Wooden Wand, but his solo debut will very likely eclipse that reputation with its lyrics-centered dark Americana and its lazy promo photos. myspace.com

Dudes with beards and guitars nowadays need a way to distinguish themselves in the marketplace. This strapping Canadian has a vocal range and otherworldly drawl to melt hearts, and witty lyrics to boot. artist link

Former Grandaddy mastermind Jason Lytle fronts this new solo psych-pop effort in every respect, playing every instrument and performing every vocal part himself, resulting in a sound that is as gigantic -- yet strangely intimate -- as his homebase of Montana. iTunes

With the first strums of guitar on this track, one can't help but wish Autumn came sooner. This New Yorker's croon and cutesy rhyming schemes are playful yet melancholy, a complexity that runs through many of her compositions. artist link

The stripped-down, lean production style of O’Connor’s third full-length album is the theme that brings the album together sonically and emotionally. Influenced by a tumultuous year prior to the release of Over the Mountain…, O’Connor delivers these songs with a combination of earnestness and urgency. artist link

Producer Dan Romer (Ingrid Michaelson, The Woes) helped Jenny Owen Youngs develop a broad soundscape on her Nettwerk debut Transmitter Failure.  Throughout the album, Youngs deftly switches between her signature soulful melodies and grittier tunes with witty lyrics. iTunes

This guitarist, originally hailing from San Francisco, has been known recently as a member of his band The Little Willies, but Heaven Is Creepy serves as a welcome reminder that his solo career is still very much alive and vibrant. Though both Martha Wainwright and Norah Jones make cameo vocal appearances, most of the tracks are instrumental, and highlight Campilongo’s distinctive and ambitious jazz-rock-country fusion. artist link

As a singer and violinist, Joan Wasser's resume includes performances and recordings with Lou Reed, Sheryl Crow, Antony and the Johnsons, Rufus Wainwright, and others. With her new band Joan as Police Woman, she is hitting her stride as a singer and songwriter. Real Life, a mature and quietly ambitious record, is the band's debut full-length. amazon.com

“My only goal for Civilians was to make a better record and different record than I’ve ever made,” says veteran singer, songwriter, and acclaimed producer Joe Henry. Recorded and mixed at his home studio, Civilians reflects lessons Henry has learned in recent years producing artists such as Solomon Burke and Bettye LaVette. artist link

John Vanderslice has been a pillar of indie ingenuity for over a decade, admired as much for his recording as for his weighty songwriting (Vanderslice founded an all-analog recording studio, Tiny Telephone, in San Francisco in 1997, which counts Death Cab for Cutie, Okkervil River, and Spoon, among its clients).  But his new album finally shifts toward a familiarity that should draw new listeners in without sacrificing the sonic artistry for which he is known. iTunes

"I've got a bird of gold," sings the idiosyncratic Jolie Holland on "Your Big Hands." The same could be said of her voice on this mid-tempo rocker. Her new album, The Living and The Dead, sounds both modern and intensely rooted. myspace.com

With a little reverb and some delay on the electric, McKiel's rattling wail goes a long way. All the way, in fact, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, where this rock singer/songwriter sings his damaged songs infused with quality pop melodies that heal. myspace.com

José Gonzålez made a splash last year when his cover of “Heartbeats” (originally by Swedish band The Knife) was featured in the Sony Bravia TV spot “Balls.” Much in the style of Nick Drake and Elliott Smith, the Gothenburg-based Gonzalez can sound delicate on the surface while the songs themselves are often dark and brooding. artist link

With a newly piano-based writing approach and a new producer (long time collaborator Sam Kassirer), Ritter’s fourth studio album continues his freewheeling (and we mean Dylan) delivery of historical, biblical, and personal subject matter. artist link

While they may not sound like much on first listen, Juana Molina's quiet compositions hide a lot beneath the surface. Son, her fourth album, is also her most mellow, though it still shows off a knack for incorporating small dissonances into otherwise simple arrangements. The Argentina-native Molina combines bare acoustic instrumentation with subtle layers of electronics, her voice often disguised as just another synth or drum beat. artist link

Senegalese-French singer Julia Sarr teams up with French flamenco guitarist Patrice Larose on this album inspired by a dream of producer Laurent Bizot. The album - a debut recording for both artists - pairs two rich traditions to create a fresh and worldly sound. artist link

Afro-funk from... Germany. Energetic junkyard funk rhythms meet sophisticated arrangements. myspace.com

At times merging house, funk, jazz and jungle influences, Sylvia Gordon and Deantoni Parks have made a record that defies classification, yet turns its raw and sometimes desperate elements into a sound that is both fun and anthemic.  Gordon’s vocals flow powerfully over the changing genres, creating appealing consistence to this eclectic album. artist link

Acoustic guitar breakdown, piano tinkling just in time for the chorus, Jayhawk -ian harmonies, falsetto vocals - play this heartbreak song and not just someone, but anyone, will let you into their pants. myspace.com

"La Strada," the 1950's Fellini movie, is about a young girl who gets sold to a violent Carnie as an apprentice. La Strada, the band, is a five-piece accordion rock troupe from Brooklyn, bustling with charmed orchestrations and high energy. The first will break your heart into a million pieces; the latter will put it back together with stickers and magic. iTunes

SWF Seeks Sprvsrs: tiny-voxd gal w/ gtr luvs soul, spite, J. Sobule, J. Buckley. Call xoxo myspace.com

On her third Nonesuch release, Saltbreakers, singer-songwriter Laura Veirs devotes an album’s worth of metaphor to the ocean and the stars. It’s all personal, of course, but Veirs’ deft and inventive lyrics coolly maintain the theme as a subtle backdrop. artist link

With the "Mean Old Clock" EP as her first release, Australian singer Leena is only just getting started. This heavily-mixed set has contributions from producers Josh Pyke, Joe Chiccarelli (The Shins, Tori Amos, My Morning Jacket), and Mike Daly (Whiskeytown). myspace.com

Versatile Heart is the latest release by folk-rock legend Linda Thompson. Recorded in NYC and Scotland over a three-year period, it showcases a songwriter who has confidently defined her own voice since her 1970’s work with then husband Richard. “Beauty,” a duet with vocalist Antony (of Antony and The Johnstons) was written for Ms. Thompson by Rufus Wainwright. artist link

It's good to know somebody's claiming Long Island - not Brooklyn, not New York - as their center of operation. Little Vic spits smart rhymes, backed by understated, rich beats. myspace.com

Emil Svanangen, better known as Loney Dear, was in perfect company on his tour with Andrew Bird this winter. His folk-pop soars with more than just a guitar and his plaintive voice. Add some electronica and orchestral arrangements, and you're talking about a solid effort from start to finish on "Dear John." myspace.com

Norwegian fivesome Lukestar were apparently inspired to form after uncovering a mutual love of Queen, which does not explain at all why they pair itty bitty voices with great big noisy drums and three-chord guitar rock. iTunes

Lyrics Born and funk's alive. Founder of Quuanum Projects and one half of Latryx, Tom Shimura aka Lyrics Born has been an innovator and cheerleader of modern hiphop. He combines a number of genres to make big beats on "I Like It, I Love It." artist link

In 2000, Matt Ward reclaimed his M. Ward nickname from childhood and released his debut disc, which highlighted his guitar prowess and introspective voice. Post-War, Ward’s newest release, stays faithful to this style while adding a full-time backing band for the first time, making for a record that is both mature and surprisingly intimate. artist link

Even if you don't speak French, you're probably fluent in this Montreal quartet's other languages: carnival-esque pop, dreamy psyche elements, and big choruses. myspace.com

Listening to Man Man is like looking at a Picasso. There's a nose here, maybe an elbow where the mouth should be, an eyeful of hues even when only one color is present. And this Philly troupe is as adventurous on wax as they are on stage. myspace.com

Manu Chau is the ultimate multiculti. Born in Paris, currently residing in Barcelona, he sings in several languages (five on the new record), and mixes genres subconsciously (rock, reggae, punk, ska, found sounds, gypsy music, and more). La Radiolina is Chau’s first studio album in six years, and both fans and critics have been eager to praise his return. artist link

This Brazilian's Bill Withers-ian vocals meet sexy Samba and Afro-Cuban beats. myspace.com

One half of the duo Azure Ray, Maria Taylor has just released her second solo album. Her new album is more organic than her debut, which she attributes to the many shows she played touring for the first album. artist link

We couldn't write about one half of Azure Ray and not the other! Maria Taylor suggests fans listen to her latest solo set laying down. Other tracks on her album suggest you also ride a horse, write a love letter to The One That Got Away and walk in the rain without an umbrella. iTunes

Maritime's midtempo rock rises from the ashes of Dismemberment Plan and Promise Ring, two disparate groups whose losses have since become Maritime's gain. Davey von Bohlen's cool-as-a-cucumber voice drifts over jangly guitars on "Young Alumni," alternately evoking calm and urgency. artist link

Marshall Crenshaw is back!  He never left, of course, still playing dozens of shows each year on the self-described "NPR circuit".  But Jaggedland, his first studio recording in more than six years, is a bracingly dynamic and intimate collection.  The sessions included legendary drummer Jim Keltner, guitarists Greg Leisz (Lucinda Williams, Robert Plant) and Wayne Kramer (MC5s) as well as vibraphonist Emil Richards (Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra). iTunes

This husband-wife duo isn't exactly new but they manage to make each record sound like a new riff on the drums-and-keys combo. Kori Gardner's voice continues to soar higher while Jason Hammel could beat stripes off a zebra. myspace.com

Brooklyn’s matt pond PA (they used to live in Philadelphia) delivers another collection of melodic pop on their recent EP If You Want Blood.  Their full length Last Light will be released this fall. artist link

"My heart keeps beating like a hammer," sings Metric front-woman Emily Haines on the Canadian band's track "Help I'm Alive." Listeners can't help but to experience the same, with high-octane dance rock, big synth and guitar lines, and Haines' pure melodies. artist link

Mexican Institute of Sound is a one-man project helmed by music industry tastemaker Camilo Lara (he is Managing Director of EMI Mexico).  With only his computer and record collection, Lara creates impressions of his bustling hometown of Mexico City through his party-friendly musical collages. amazon.com

Camilo Lara, the one-man-mastermind behind the Mexican Institute Of Sound, indulges in hot and heavy bass beats, sampler house and tinges of rumba, mambo and other Latin styles. Lara reveals his soft spot for dub on "Dub-A el Tiempo." artist link

Camilo Lara paints an authentic mural of electronic, dub and a handful of Latin dance music traditions together and keeps the BPM high. Thankfully, Lara is actually from Mexico; if he were trying to be ironic it'd just break our little hearts. iTunes

The Trials of Van Occupanther, Midlake’s sophomore release, is an exploration of heartbreak and longing, characterized as much by warm harmonies and acoustic piano as dance beats and vintage synth sounds. Produced with a palpable spacey, antiqued perspective, the album seems to nostalgically lament the inability to return to earlier days. artist link

British-based David Edwards is well known for remixing hits from acts like Bloc Party, Snow Patrol, Stars, Super Furry Animals, and Hard-Fi. Here, on one of his originals, his tune is like dropping ecstasy and sniffing your favorite scent from childhood. myspace.com

Modeselektor (Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary), meet Apparat (Sascha Ring).  Apparat, meet Modeselektor.  The resulting collaboration, Moderat, merges the skills of both artists’ experimental yet club-ready beats. iTunes

On his forthcoming self-recorded and self-engineered album, Going Places, Montag (aka Antoine Bédard) expands his previously minimalist sound to include layers of electronic pop. The album also features a long list of guest artists, including M83's Anthony Gonzales, Stars' Amy Millan, and Au Revoir Simone. artist link

Hollywood, Broadway, TV, music – Mos Def has done them all well, and not only is he not slowing down, but he still seems to enjoy them all.  His latest solo project has further bolstered his already wide acclaim as an eclectic hip hop artist. iTunes

The members of Secretly Canadian's Music Go Music probably grew up on a lot of musicals and Elton John. Blame the Broadway revival of Xanadu for the band's current rise. myspace.com

The front cover of Neko Case's newest concoction features the sultry firebrand perched on the hood of a 1968 Mercury Cougar with a lance hoisted above her shoulder, her face determined and earnest. The album is just kinda like that. Also, imagine guests like M. Ward and members of the New Pornographers, Calexico and Visqueen helping push the thing. iTunes

Melbourne-based singer-songwriter New Buffalo (aka Sally Seltmann) wrote her second album, Somewhere, anywhere, on a century-old piano by the sea. The circumstances come across in the intimate feel of the songwriting and the recording. “You can turn your back on the world,” Saltmann says, “and it’s just you and the piano – very comforting.” artist link

Each track on this release is defined by the croon in Nicole Atkins' voice, delivered over layered backing vocals, piano, and strings. Her lyrical folk-pop sound recently earned her a deal with Columbia Records, and this EP is a precursor to a much-anticipated full-length album due in 2007. artist link

This Detroit band takes the Afrobeat sound, recently popularized by Antibalas, infuses it with New Orleans-style jazz, adds some electronic references, and mixes the whole package into a groove unlike any other. At the forefront of the sound are the horns and percussion, while the bass steadily delivers the funk flavor that defines the album. artist link

Orenda Fink of Azure Ray makes up the "O" portion of this band, while Scalpelist (Cedric LeMoyne of Remy Zero) represents the "S". An invisible, but omnipresent, "M" comes from Michael Patterson (Beck, Notorious B.I.G., Black Rebel Motorcycle Club), who produced this melancholy collaboration. iTunes

El Niño y el Sol is the result of a collaboration between Martin Perna (Ocote Soul Sounds) and Adrian Quesada, both founding members of two of the world's most successful afro/latin/funk big bands, Antibalas and Grupo Fantasma, and both longtime fans of each other’s work. The album is defined by beautiful instrumental music, a cohesive integration of each of their unique styles. artist link

Of Montreal IS Mr. Kevin Barnes, and he’s been making music under the moniker since the mid 90’s. The one-man-band has loose ties to the Athens, Georgia Elephant Six collective of 60’s-influenced bands, though Barnes has certainly branched out with his use of synthesizers and other electronics. artist link

Tbd Records is having a good run lately, with releases from, well, Radiohead and White Rabbits. Stillwater, Okla.-native Other Lives has a good home for its emotional tunes, with song after song like the perfect exit music to a tear-jerking finale of an HBO drama.  iTunes

Pacha Massive (from ‘Pachamama’ meaning “Mother Earth”) is the collaboration between Dominican-born Nova (keys / guitar / producer) and Colombian-born Maya (bass). The Bronx-based duo’s debut - also the first U.S. based signing for the pan-Latin Nacional Records - is a funky blend of traditional Latin rhythms, dub and electronica. artist link

Manners is Passion Pit frontman Michael Angelakos' first full-length lp.  His 2008 ep Chunk of Change won fans with its playful sing-alongs atop simple and quirky dance beats, and the new album ups the ante with deeper songwriting and tighter production. iTunes

Patrick Watson is a four-piece art rock outfit that sports the name of its chief songwriter. The band’s combination of influences – classical, folk, electronic, and Beatles-esque pop – earned them a prestigious spot on this year’s Polaris Music Prize Shortlist. artist link

Brooklyn, New York quartet Pela has crafted a signature rock sound with infectious hooks, an airtight rhythm section and inventive guitar work.  Pela has shared stages with The Flaming Lips, Sleater-Kinney, and The Decemberists, and are featured in the upcoming documentary Rockin’ Brooklyn, alongside TV on the Radio, Coco Rosie, The National, and others. artist link

An anonymous - and highly motivated - electronic musician, Podington Bear has been creating instrumental songs as podcasts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for all of 2007. artist link

Pop Levi used to make money flaunting his luscious locks as a hair model. Prior to that, he hocked creamy ice cream from a van. Today, it's the throwback ('70s rock and glam) songwriting that pays the bills. His debut full-length will appear next year on Ninja Tune Records. artist link

Billboard has called PJPJ a “shockingly dynamic, danceable, and hilarious affair.” The Brooklyn duo, comprised of vocalist Jeremy Haines and producer Sammy Rubin, rocks playful dance beats and samples under some pretty wacked-out narratives on their first full-length release, XOXOXOXOXO. [Full Disclosure: Sammy is a producer at MFP.] artist link

There's something giddy in the music from London pair Psapp (pronounced "sap"). Glitchy synths and beats carry singer Galia Durant's voice into an imaginary world where video game music meets lounge tunes. Add an odd obsession with cats and the occasional cash-register noise and you have Psapp's unique and memorably sweet formula. artist link

Richard Frenneaux, the founder and frontman of Red Light Company, grew up in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.  When he decided to form a band, he recruited via the internet, attracting musicians to a set of already-recorded material.  myspace.com

Though typically described as an "anti-folk" artist, Russian-born Regina Spektor borrows from pop, soul, jazz, and classical traditions on her debut for Sire Records. Spector shows off her clever arrangement ideas on Begin to Hope and she has the restraint to use them sparingly. Her unique voice fronts sweet arrangements of strings and elementary beats in the sparse "Fidelity." artist link

Of course these dudes are French.  The band's earnestness seems to flaunt their influences – from the Beatles, duh, to the Beach Boys, Elliott Smith, as well as their classically-trained backgrounds. myspace.com

Two of hip hop’s most influential figures, Aceyalone and RJD2, came together to produce the ambitious and intricate Magnificent City earlier this year.  Now the album is getting its own instrumental release, highlighting the complex beats and textures that helped make the album so appealing. artist link

Grand Animals is the latest release on New Line Records by New York’s Robbers On High Street. The album was produced by Daniele Luppi (Gnarls Barkley, John Legend). artist link

Frenchman Frederick Landier's project Rubin Steiner, a combination of disco, hip-hop, dance-rock, and experimental electronica, is not just "another story": it is a story that will confound children and cause sexual relations between consenting adults. myspace.com

Frontman Ryan McPhun traveled from his California home to take up residence in other spots in the world, most notably New Zealand. He collected new influences in his travels – as well as bandmates – and now pumps out African-drenched, rhythm-driven pop tunes for Sub Pop. artist link

This 26-year old singer/songwriter has been professionally writing and performing her jazz-influenced folk-pop music for over ten years.  On Modern Romance, she offers up some refreshing new originals as well as deftly tackling covers such as Duke Ellington’s ‘Mood Indigo’ and the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s ‘Modern Romance.’ artist link

This dream-pop trio writes imaginary communiqués between the members of the School of Seven Bells, a maybe-fictional institute of pickpockets in South America in the '80s. The synchronicity of the sisters' voices in these songs indicate that such correspondences are among the prettiest in petty thievery history. iTunes

Seabear’s new album finds 23-year-old Swede Sindri Már Sigfússon’s breathy vocals layered atop lo-fi pop and folk staples: acoustic guitar, subtle synthesizers, and occasional toy instruments. myspace.com

Atlanta singer-songwriter Shannon Wright sounds intense.  Her rather dark new album Let in the Light is centered on her distinct, low rasp and an accompanying piano or guitar.  Wright’s cryptic verses find relief in choruses with a minimal, disarming directness. artist link

This Japanese singer-songwriter has supported acts from M. Ward and Howe Gelb - a testament to his mastery of roots and acoustic-based instrumentalism -to bands like Animal Collective and Deerhoof, an indication of his playfulness and imagination. myspace.com

Shy Child is a child of the '80s. New Wave, Kraftwerk and a modern dash of experimental
dance-pop, make an appearance in this ferocious duo's craft. Kill Rock Stars, indeed. myspace.com

This track asks, "Who you gonna run to?" Considering how goddamn sexy the song is, the question comes off as rhetorical. Minneapolis may be freezing, but this trio keeps warm by grinding their synthesizers. myspace.com

"Betray" sounds just the way you'd think a song named "Betray" would sound. With a menacing bass riff, flitting electronic synths and a trip-hop rhythmic core, Anticon.'s SON LUX knows how to set a dark mood. artist link

There is something decidedly bookish about this electronic-pop mish-mash from Belgium, like the looping classical guitar and vibraphone riffs. Or it's the fact that the lyrics are in French, and anything that's in a foreign language you don't speak sounds smart, stupide Amèricain. myspace.com

Swan Lake combines the rock grit and experimental cajones of three distinct songwriters: Dan Bejar (Destroyer and New Pornographers), Spencer Krug (Sunset Rubdown, Wolf Parade) and Carey Mercer (Frog Eyes). With spacious, weird soundscapes, our hearts swarm indeed. iTunes

Growing up, 22-year-old Sydney Wayser split time between living in Paris and L.A.  Her sophomore set spends equal energy on lush orchestration and artful, sweet lyricism. myspace.com

After performing around a dozen shows at this year's SXSW music festival and earning buzz from armloads of music blogs, Minneapolis trio Tapes 'n Tapes signed to XL Records early this year. Their barebones recordings, capturing the breathless energy of tracks like "Insistor," further their frantic and enthusiastic rock n' roll. artist link

One of KRS’ newest signees, this D.C. crew combines pop and folk elements with its quirky rock tunes. This song is one of the group's bounciest, with tricky lyrics and a practically tropical rhythm section. artist link

On The Acorn's "Glory Hope Mountain," frontman Rolf Klausener takes us on the same journey his mother made from Honduras to Montreal before he was born. It results in an audio soundtrack to the trials and tribs of the road, with Latin rhythms dominating the folk narratives. myspace.com

After a break from touring and recording, this Vancouver band is back with their third full-length album release, a slow-baked project that has been over a year in the making. The result stays true to the Tanya's original folk-blues tradition, coming together with a distinctive balance of covers and newly composed originals. artist link

TBSN consists of Lori Sean Berg and Shane Aspegren, of Paris and Nebraska, respectively. Initially coming together to create a soundtrack for a short film, Marie-Madeleine, TBSN began by exploring a "landscape-filled direction," creating collages of Afrobeat, dub, and dreamy electronica. artist link

The Blow's minimal electronics provide a perfect backdrop for visual and performance artist Khaela Maricich's blase vocal delivery. The other half of the Portland-based duo is Jona Bechtolt. artist link

Bowerbirds were born of the natural surroundings in the rural Carolinas, their songs condemning the destruction of the earth and extolling the beauty of the outdoors. They make us want to be better people and maybe build bird nests of our own. artist link

On their second album, The Budos Band II, The Staten Island-based Budos Band continues their exploration of funk, afro-beat, and soul music. For the album, the eleven-piece band recorded ten new instrumentals live at Daptone's House of Soul in Bushwick, Brooklyn (also home of Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings). artist link

A barely-discernable melody, distorted guitars on the back burner, irregular time signatures, obscure lyrics... yep, sounds like modern pop to me. myspace.com

A Deathset song doesn't start; it explodes. From the first beat of the drum machine to the final indecipherable scream (or, as they say, "impossible, right?"), "Impossible" is an immature, fun – albeit short – roller-coaster ride. myspace.com

San Francisco duo The Dodos make an awful lot of noise for just two people. The folk and punk mixture has guitar loops and metal-inspired drumming to keep a fire burning from first to last. amazon.com

Does Brian Wilson drink? If he does, The Explorers Club owes him a few. myspace.com

It isn't easy for the Heavy to stick to any one genre. Soul and R&B infiltrates the rock, hiphop overtakes a hummable pop chorus. Whatever the U.K. fivesome crafts, however, is bound to start a party. artist link

In a departure from the stylistic conceptual leanings of The Hold Steady's 2005 release, Separation Sunday, the new album Boys and Girls in America features polished production, thick with rock and roll guitars and keyboards. artist link

It's a bold move when a band launches their career with a single song.  Perhaps for Jason Friedman and Eleanore Everdell, they felt justified having laid their previous band, The Boggs, to rest.  The first evidence of the new incarnation is a single – jagged guitar with a programmed rhythm section – with a dubbed-out remix of the same song as the b-side.  Everdell's airy vocals float somewhere above the proceedings. myspace.com

School friends Ritzy Bryan and Rhydian Dafydd formed The Joy Formidable in their hometown of Mold, North Wales, and eventually settled in London with drummer Matt Thomas. myspace.com

Oh no no, it's not enough for vocalist Alex Turner to move a bazillion copies of his records with Arctic Monkeys. No, he has to hook up with the Rascals' Miles Kane and make creepy, epic rock tunes that could walk straight out of a film noir. The nerve. myspace.com

Evan Dando has become synonymous with The Lemonheads, the 80's & 90's college rock perennial that began twenty years ago. He hasn't released an album under that name in over ten years, and now, after several relatively quiet and introspective solo recordings, he has re-formed the band for a loud return to form. He is joined on the eponymous album by the rhythm section from punk icons Descendents, as well as Garth Hudson (The Band) and J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.). artist link

If the Kinks and T. Rex looked in the mirror simultaneously, they'd smile and see The Ms. Practically each of the five members of this Chicago-based Polyvinyl crew can play each other's instruments and engineer. myspace.com

30 Year Low is apparently the final album from the team of Shannon McArdle and Timothy Bracy, who are not only calling an end to their band, but also to their marriage. Crass as it may be, musically speaking, their loss is our gain. Described as “a triumph of disappointment, sorrow and bad feelings” in the liner notes, the album reveals the band’s heroes – icons of American folk, blues, and rock – while ably defining a sound of its own. artist link

Boasting Gift of Gab, Lateef the Truth Speaker and Headnodic, this hip-hop supergroup pumps out genre-bending party grooves. Not satisfied with that amount of raw talent, the trio also tapped acts like DJ Shadow, Mr. Lif, Chali 2na and Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley to round out their record. myspace.com

Population, the second studio album from Canada’s The Most Serene Republic, showcases the raucous, polyrhythmic pop that has landed them tours with the Strokes, Metric, and Arts & Crafts label-mates Stars and Broken Social Scene. artist link

Challengers is the fourth critically acclaimed album from The New Pornographers since their formation in 1997, and their most organic sounding record to date. The band’s conscious decision to minimize electronic manipulation on the recording serves the songs well, giving their clever lyrics and vocal phrasing well-deserved prominence. artist link

Duo Nelson Kempf and Keeley Boyle exchanged the snow of their hometown Kenai, Alaska for the rain of Portland, Oregon and came up with perfect American roots-pop in between. "Eight Golden Greats," indeed. myspace.com

The Million Colour Revolution, the 2005 album from Barcelona’s Professor Manso and Mister Furia, otherwise known as The Pinker Tones, was an intoxicating mix of traditional Latin sounds, pop, funk, soul, swing, lounge, and psychedelia. Now a remix album, More Colours, breathes new life into those tracks – a testament not only to the original material but also to their status among like-minded remix artists. artist link

The Postmarks' approach focuses on classic songwriting and features the (female) vocals of Tim Yehezkely. The band describes the environment where their songs and recordings have been carefully crafted as “a heartbreak factory." artist link

The Sea and Cake, an indie supergroup of sorts (featuring respected solo artists Sam Prekop and Archer Prewitt, producer and Tortoise-member John McEntire, and bassist Erik Claridge) are back with Everybody, the band's first full length in four years. The album finds the band continuing their singular brand of dreamlike, jazz and soul-inflected pop music that sounds delicately crafted and effortless at the same time.         artist link

On their debut for Bar/None Records, The Slip veers from arena rock to hushed folk and pop. There is a superficial familiarity to their music, but the band's sense of fun and experimentation keeps the Eisenhower album interesting. The trio, comprising two brothers and a childhood friend, divides its time between Montreal and Boston. artist link

Your new favorite suit is your ugliest one: the Uglysuit mull the Third Coast with One Catchy-Ass Chorus. myspace.com

Shortly after London’s The Veils released their 2004 debut, the band split up and left founder Finn Andrews to start from scratch. Nux Vomica is the realization of both the new band’s evolution and Andrews’ matured songwriting and vocals. The album achieves a grandeur that sounds organic, not overdone. artist link

Were the actual war on drugs to sound anything like The War On Drugs, then everybody's still on drugs but can keep good time. Frontman Adam Granduciel makes extensive use of his guitar samplers and vocal effects, layering them over consistent rhythms and auxiliary instrumentation. myspace.com

Solo artists Deb Talan (from Boston) and Steve Tannen (from New York) obsessed over each other's music long before meeting each other. At Tannen's CD-release party, they bonded and decided to form the folk-pop group The Weepies. Their musical crush reveals itself throughout the sweet and mellow Say I Am You. artist link

Also known for his work in Born In The Flood, Nathaniel Rateliff, aka The Wheel, makes his rumbling solo tracks feel equally dangerous and soothing. And he’s got a tenor you could take home to Mom. myspace.com

When Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst and business partner Nate Krenkel heard that Saddle Creek passed on signing Tilly & The Wall, they snapped them up into their newly formed Team Love label. The album marries sunny melodies and bright lyrics, and highlights the unorthodox rhythms of dancer Jamie Williams, who amplifies her tap shoes instead of a drum kit. artist link

Originally hailing from the musical mecca of Rhode Island, trio Time Machine relocated to a lesser destination, Los Angeles, where they pump out the Thinking Man's club tracks, chock full of samples, nerdy rhyming schemes and pop beats. myspace.com

Brooklyn’s Tiny Masters of Today write high-energy songs about authority, politics, school – all classic themes of youth – only in their case that youth means 10 and 12 years old for the founding brother-sister duo Ivan and Ada, respectively. While wearing their Ramones and Stooges influence on their sleeve, they manage to summon enough eclecticism to deliver some fun surprises. artist link

Despite their age, the young teenagers Ivan and Ada who make up Tiny Masters of Today can easily run with the big dogs of the music business. This is quite evident on their newest album, Skeletons, in which they collaborate with big names such as Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Fred Schneider of The B-52's. With their short, energetic punk songs, you can't help but think of classically punk bands such as The Ramones and The Sex Pistols. iTunes

Tom Brosseau’s unique, androgynous voice adds to the mystery of his music. Blending a century’s worth of folk traditions, Brosseau manages to submerge both the “singer” and “songwriter” beneath songs that sound like recently discovered relics. He performs regularly at the revered Los Angeles club Largo. artist link

Even at 60, Tom Zé continues to innovate within the framework of Brazilian folk and jazz. True to his experimental reputation, Zé's latest album for Luaka Bop is a self-described "operreta" that addresses social injustice - racial, sexual, and economic. artist link

Smoke-breathing DJ/songwriter/composer Tricky is back at it after a five-year hiatus. This dirty rock jam makes the wait worthwhile. myspace.com

Some people are turned on by a man who dresses like a woman who's dressing up like a man. Tu Fawning is a modern day woman pretending to be transported back to a speakeasy in the 1930's pretending to perform in the future. Does that make any sense? God we hope so. myspace.com

Known for their aggressive, electric live shows, Two Gallants have fostered a dual musical personality by sometimes recording with a raw, stripped down acoustic sound. Their latest EP The Scenery of Farewell is one of two released this year, and shows off their ability to reconcile the two personalities.
artist link

On Get Yr Blood Sucked Out, husband and wife team Viva Voce continue the journey they started with their debut, The Heat Can Melt Your Brain, refining their spacey-groove-over-strong-bass-riff style.  Throw in some ethereal duets by the pair and a solid, rhythmic foundation and this energetic record comes together with coherence and rock-infused grace. artist link

Portland by way of Alabama couple Kevin and Anita Robinson trade in classic rock, folk, and psychedelia.  Recently, they've evolved into a quartet after years touring and recording as a duo. iTunes

With "All The Time" clocking in just under two minutes, you won't hardly know what hit you. Was that the Vaselines? Even if it is shoegaze, am I allowed to dance? Can I join the band if I'm not a girl? myspace.com

Trip-hop's not dead; it's just been kickin' it in France. This turntablist has stupendous and snobby taste in hip-hop samples and thick beats, with many fine guest vocalists gracing his latest album. artist link

She released her first full length when she was only 20 years old, but White Hinterland mastermind Casey Dienel has a sweet chirp that makes her thoughtfully arranged songs ageless. "Dreaming" has a jazzy swing that – caution – may affect your hips. myspace.com

Originally formed in Columbia, Mo., this Brooklyn based pop collective brings some cabaret to their vocal-centered indie rock, which may result in dancing. Even bunnies have bite. artist link

According to their MySpace page, Oakland trio WHY? specialize in "darkly tinted pop," which doesn't quite express the band's penchant for clever, tongue-in-cheek lyricism. "The Hollows," for instance, has commentary on frontman Yoni Wolf's mustache and two men f*cking on a basketball court. artist link

Hailing from Martha’s Vineyard, Mason recorded his first album in 2004 at age 19. Three years later, with the release of his follow-up, If The Ocean Gets Rough, he is already a seasoned veteran. This is his first album for Astralwerks. artist link

With only the Bedrooms ep on their resume thus far, the five -piece from Brooklyn has a wealth of possibility ahead of them.  They're currently working on a debut full-length with producer Britt Myers (Essex Green). iTunes

YACHT is just one of several creative outlets for musician and multimedia artist Jona Bechtolt.  He formed the Blow in 2002 with Khaela Maricich, then began his YACHT solo project shortly thereafter.  Now, after several years of juggling visual and musical arts, he is set to release YACHT’s newest album this summer. myspace.com

Born Vinicius Gageiro Marques, Yonlu was the screen name of a 16-year-old Brazilian savant who shared his musical visions of post-rock, boss nova and experimental noise with the world before killing himself in his parent's bathroom. What's most surprising is that so much of his songs are completed works, while it seems, sadly, his life was not. myspace.com