What? Although Christian Fennesz's music can be subtle, he hasn't gone unnoticed, racking up more than enough accolades for his ambient, noise-blasted compositions and experimental sound.

What? Originally slated for a June release under the title Invincible Summer, Common's eighth studio album, renamed Universal Mind Control, drops today, six months late but with no less of a feel-good summer vibe.

What? For nearly 20 years, former Red House Painters frontman and current Sun Kil Moon maestro Mark Kozelek has been building his own musical brand with sleepy vocals, wounded lyrics, and intimate acoustics. And his new release, a compilation of covers and rarities collected over the years entitled The Finally LP (out December 8), is packed with Kozelek's characteristic sound.

What? Independent label Asthmatic Kitty already has many out-there artists on their roster, from the skewed twee of Cryptacize to the lo-fi funk of Rafter. But David Adamson, a.k.a. Grampall Jookabox, tops them all when it comes to weirdness. Armed with songs that simultaneously recall '80s hip-hop and stark folk, Grampall Jookabox sounds as zany as his stagename implies.

What? Drawing influence from rock'n'roll's greats -- from the Velvet Underground's loose jangle and the Stooges' brash punk to Chuck Berry's '50s teen boogie and Sam Cooke's candy-coated doo-wop -- Atlanta, GA, quartet Howlies' upcoming debut, Trippin' with Howlies, is like a rock history textbook written by the classroom's smart alecs.

What? Like chocolate and peanut butter, Elton John and Brandon Flowers, or Dave Grohl and the Prodigy, some unlikely pairs go together perfectly. Case in point: British electronic knob twiddler Kieran Hebden (a.k.a.