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January 2009: Sharon Jones

Working as waitress at the start of 2008, soul-pop singer Sharon Little was suddenly the opening act for big-name stars Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, and T-Bone Burnett in their national Raising Sand tour. Though she could be called an overnight sensation, Little has been honing her distinctive, bluesy style for years. More >>

December 2008: The Low Anthem

With the self-release of their third LP, Rhode Island-based The Low Anthem have again demonstrated why they are the quintessential Americana group. From their style to their fan base to their production, The Low Anthem is organic, sincere, and just plain enjoyable. More >>

November 2008: Annuals

Intricate, melodic, and vivid: the sound of North Carolina's Annuals is the epitome of sunny indie-pop. Their thoughtful harmonies, anthemic orchestration and percussion, and bright electronica has earned them rave reviews since their indie-label debut in 2006, the critic's darling Be He Me. More >>

October 2008: Delta Spirit

Based in San Diego, the Delta Spirit have made their musical home somewhere between indie-rock and alt-country, with a foundation built on battle-cry vocals and unconventional instrumentation, even including trash can lids. More >>

September 2008: Felice Brothers

Formed by three brothers and a friend, The Felice Brothers have crafted a rough musical style that's comparable to those of Bruce Springsteen and Townes Van Zandt. The band, from New York's Catskills, spent a lot of its time panhandling and traveling in a school bus on tour. More >>

August 2008: Fleet Foxes

On their self-titled debut album, Fleet Foxes craft mysterious folk-flavored songs which they describe as "baroque harmonic pop jams." They combine enigmatic lyrics with haunting soundscapes and have been drawing both fans and critical praise since their South by Southwest appearance in March. More >>

July 2008: Black Kids

Formed in 2006, the Black Kids reached fame quickly as a result of their growing online popularity. In 2007 they skyrocketed into the mainstream glare of mass media coverage, after their breakout performances at the Athens Popfest. They also released their EP Wizard of Ahhhs (for digital download only), praised for its humble classic pop. More >>

June 2008: Langhorne Slim

Langhorne Slim's thoughtful lyrics and energetic live shows have earned him a reputation as a folk singer-songwriter with a punk-rock sensibility. After success on an indie label, this week he releases his first major label album, Langhorne Slim. More >>

May 2008: Santogold

Combining elements of hip-hop, punk, new wave, electronica and classic pop music, Santogold's self-titled debut album is truly a remarkable piece of work. Philadelphia native Santi White, along with songwriter and producer John Hill - a.k.a. Johnny Rodeo - is quickly developing a reputation as one of music's best and brightest, and this album certainly shows why. More >>

April 2008: Melody Gardot

It's not hard to see why Melody Gardot's debut album Worrisome Heart (Verve) has already established her as one of music's most exciting new discoveries. The 23-year-old chanteuse's songs offer deeply compelling evocations of love, loss and heartache, while her voice offers a level of emotional authority and technical fluency that one would normally expect from a veteran performer. More >>

March 2008: Back Door Slam

This band has been wowing festival audiences in the past year, showcasing a true blues sound. These natives of the tiny Isle of Man, include Davy Knowles on vocals, lead guitar, mandolin and lap steel, Ross Doyle on drums, and Adam Jones on bass - all three, still in their twenties. More >>

February 2008: Nicole Atkins

Her major label debut album Neptune City, was released in October 2007, starring the title song of the album as well as "Brooklyn's on Fire!" and "Together We're Both Alone." There's a lot to enjoy from this laid-back rocking Jersey girl with her dark songs, long hair and beautiful eyes! More >>

January 2008: Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend has emerged from the fertile New York indie-rock scene. Still, they stick out of the crowd for two reasons. First, their endearingly wordy lyrics make Vampire Weekend's songs sound collegiate in the best possible way. And second, their unique sound inventively mixes contemporary American indie-rock, Western classical music and South African traditional music. More >>