The break-dancing revival starts here, with Montreal's new electro-pop purveyors Chromeo (Pee Thug and Dave 1). Stepping into the burgeoning electro-clash movement with their disco, funk, and glitchy beats, these vigorous, chrome-plated tracks dip into the territory of vintage Prince, evoking memories of head spins and body popping.

Filed in: Electronica

They say they're from Brooklyn--but it's got to be South Brooklyn, right? Oakley Hall draw their own Mason-Dixon line with a sludgy country-rock attack that recalls the Drive-By Truckers. More pointedly, the group sounds like they've reoccupied Skynyrd's old Panhandle shed, ghosts be damned.

Filed in: Indie Rock

Fans of the droll medical dramedy may have noticed that the good doctor has some pretty good taste in music. From the blue whimsy of Gomez to the dark country of Lucinda Williams to a surprising and moving Xtina cover by Elvis Costello, it's a sharp and meditative set.

Listen to Josh Rouse live from Studio C

Filed in: Pop/Rock

You'll quickly forgive the California mixmaster for jumping on the hip-hop/Southeast Asian bandwagon, for if he lacks M.I.A.'s charisma he's a master of the beat mash. Madlib makes traditional Indian strains sound like time-honored threads for stitching turntable tunes.

Filed in: Beats/Instrumental Hip-Hop

A defining contributor to the indie-rock sound of California's Central Valley, Earlimart has expanded into an ambitious and accomplished band. Having retained the experimental edge and DIY approach of its earlier recordings, Earlimart still peppers its songs with layers of distortion, strings, and keyboards, but with more finesse and complexity.

Filed in: Indie Rock