My Morning Jacket, 'Evil Urges' (ATO)
Bustin' out of Bonnaroo, Jim James and Co. craft an epic summer jam.
By Shannon Zimmerman 06.02.08 5:00 PM
The trajectory of My Morning Jacket from humble folkies with jam-band tendencies into a group with Super Bowl halftime potential may seem an unlikely career arc. From the band's first album, 1999's The Tennessee Fire, singer/guitarist Jim James has couched his ghostly, reverb-soaked falsetto in American Gothicism. The tunes were pretty and a tad creepy, but somewhat shapeless.
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In My Room: Lil Mama
The 18-year-old rap diva allows us into her Brooklyn bedroom.
By William Goodman 06.02.08 2:59 PM
1. HOMEMADE POSTER "I was on tour with Chris Brown, and one of my fans gave me this poster with my pictures. To have a grown male fan, it really shocked me, but I was happy to know that someone really cared and knew my background, like where I'm from. I think that's pretty special."
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The Little Ones
L.A. optimists create insanely catchy, mood-altering pop.
By Mikael Wood 05.30.08 3:40 PM
The Little Ones play a perky brand of blue-skies indie pop that sounds like a retrofitted blast from California's endless-summer past. Behind frontman Ed Reyes' friendly-dude demeanor, however, lurk the beginnings of a cranky old man.
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Santogold, 'Santogold' (Downtown/Lizard King)
Because we need a new-wave goth B-girl.
By Barry Walters 05.29.08 4:41 PM
As a former major-label A&R scout, the background talent behind alt-soul singer Res, and frontwoman for Philly pop punks Stiffed, Santi White -- now reborn as Brooklyn's Santogold -- comes on like the experienced "newcomer" that she is. "I want to get up out of my skin," she declares on opener "L.E.S.
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Lykke Li, 'Little Bit EP' (LL)
Maybe not the next "Young Folks", but closer than most.
By Matthew Perpetua 05.29.08 4:33 PM
Lykke Li's timbre and vocal phrasing may bear a striking resemblance to fellow Swedish pop singer Robyn, but her music is far more delicate.
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Kassin+2, 'Futurismo' (Luaka Bop)
Versatile trio from Rio completes genre-hopping tropical trilogy.
By Jon Young 05.29.08 4:30 PM
Previous albums from the band called the +2's spotlighted singer/guitarist Moreno Veloso (2001's Music Typewriter) and electronic experimentalist Domenico Lancelotti (2004's Sincerely Hot). This time, bassist Alexandre Kassin takes control.
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