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California black-metal loner Xasthur, a.k.a. Scott Conner, emerged from relative obscurity with 2006's Subliminal Genocide, releasing an opus whose weird, shoegazey atmospheres impressed hipsters while its intensity earned the United States cred in a scene dominated by Europeans.

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Though they formed in the late '90s, this Glaswegian postgrunge band finally became Britain's next big thing when Puzzle, their fourth LP, debuted at No. 2 on the U.K. album charts in June. It's easy to see why: The trio has an effortless, if colorless, knack for penning solid, accessible guitar anthems à la Foo Fighters.

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"There's gonna be a revival tonight," intones Mark Lanegan, accompanied by members of the London Community Gospel Choir, to open the second Soulsavers album from British producers Rich Machin and Ian Glover. Enveloped by a lush organ and dusty, looped beat, Lanegan sounds, if not reborn, then hopeful, which is a fresh look for the grunge-scarred meth-blues crooner.

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This Texas duo have churned out spectral, psych-infused folk since 1991, when Tom and Christina Carter first trolled through the Anthology of American Folk Music and began perverting and reinventing classic American memes. Likeness features lyrics plucked from the public domain, layered over heavily manipulated guitars.

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A decade into a career spent deconstructing the rock-power-trio format, Sightings continue to excavate the same noisome hole. On their sixth album, the band drill even deeper, abetted this time by pomp-rock motivational speaker Andrew W.K. at the boards.

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Having refined their increasingly impressive instrumental chops, stoner humor, and parroting skills into sophisticated musical satire, New Hope, Pennsylvania's Gene and Dean Ween revert to some of the silliest parodies and jokes of their 20-year career.