Band: Extra Golden
From: USA and Nairobi
Sound: A blissful marriage of traditional rock and Benga with shades of Afropop, shuffling guitars, and stuttering rhythms
Similar Artists: Konono No. 1, Kapere Jazz Band, Fela Kuti, Orchestra Extra Solar Africa
Listen Now: “Obama”
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Band: Takka Takka
From: Brooklyn, NY
Sound: laid back layers of guitars upon percussion upon vocals upon percussion that ranges from bar band rock to tribal and new wave influences to folk and then back again
Similar Artists: Orange Juice, Talking Heads, The National, Peter Gabriel, Yeasayer
Listen Now: “Silence”
Band: Torche
From: Miami, FL
Sound: Blistering metal that borders on entirely accessible: more smashing than the Pumpkins with tighter-than-Foo melodies
Similar Artists: Melvins, Queens of the Stone Age, Baroness, Jesu, Saviors
Listen Now: “Healer”
Band: Albert Hammond, Jr.
From: New York, NY
Sound: Guitar-driven, melodic rock with laid-back tinges of reggae and glassy-eyed soul softening the edges
Similar Artists: Sean Lennon, Spoon, T. Rex, Ambulance LTD and uhh, The Strokes
Listen Now: “GfC”
Band: The Wedding Present
From: Leeds, England
Sound: angst-ridden guitar rock that ranges from jangly to thunderous; witty lyrics to boot
Similar Artists: Superchunk, The Fall, Buzzcocks, Pixies, Teenage Fanclub
Listen Now: “The Thing I Like Best About Him is His Girlfriend” (Jet Age Remix)
Band: Silver Jews
From: Nashville, TN
Sound: Profoundly literate, wry sketches and tales delivered with laid-back swagger and bittersweet grace
Similar Artists: Sebadoh, Will Oldham, Stephen Malkmus, Beck
Listen Now: “Strange Victory, Strange Defeat”
Band: Ratatat (or RATATAT depending on who you ask)
From: Brooklyn, NY
Sound: Imagine majestic melodic 8-bit video game soundtracks played in perfect intervals by Eddie Van Halen and the ghost of Duane Allman
Similar Artists: Daft Punk, Walter Meego, Hot Chip, Trans Am, Laromlab
Listen Now: “Mirando”
Band: Steinski
From: New York, NY
Sound: the O.G. of sample-based hip-hop sound collages
Similar Artists: DJ Shadow, Girl Talk, Cut Chemist, Liam Howlett, RJD2
Listen Now: “The Payoff Mix”
Band: These United States
From: Washington, D.C.
Sound: Delicately dense portraits and hyper-literate lullabies to the American soul and spirit
Similar Artists: M. Ward, Andrew Bird, Iron & Wine, Bon Iver
Listen Now: “First Sight”
Band: Kelley Polar
From: Sullivan, New Hampshire
Sound: Body-movin’ zero gravity pop filtered through the ’80s… the 2080s
Similar Artists: Isolée, Human League, Thomas Dolby, Daft Punk, Junior Boys
Listen Now: “Entropy Reigns (In The Celestial City)” (live on “Fair Game”)
Band: Plants and Animals
From: Montreal, Quebec
Sound: Lush, 70s AM rock gets sprawling, epic treatment with incredible results
Similar Artists: Buffalo Springfield, Arcade Fire, My Morning Jacket, Loose Fur
Listen Now: “Feedback In The Field”
Band: All the Saints
From: Atlanta, GA
Sound: Soaring, crashing - all the while buzzing - reverb-drenched rock
Similar Artists: The Stone Roses, Alice In Chains, Black Sabbath, Dead Confederate
Listen Now: “Sheffield”
Band: I’m From Barcelona
From: Jönköping, Sweden
Sound: Uplifting, joyous bedroom pop to the 29th power
Similar Artists: Polyphonic Spree, Beulah, Bodies of Water, Architecture in Helsinki
Listen Now: “Oversleeping”