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There's not a ton of polish to these Brits' angled post-punk, which may explain why some of their 2005 peers -- Bloc Party, Maxïmo Park -- won the ratings war. But the group's final album (they broke up in October) still punches like a champ, with sharp bursts of intelligent energy.

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This sexed-up duo seemed destined to go the way of bands like Kenickie -- female-fronted, major-label casual-ties hawking big, fun songs that disappear from memory immediately. But Morningwood's theme (the generic strut "Best of Me") for VH1's deplorable reality series Daisy of Love may provide another shot at fame for fiery singer Chantal Claret.

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Ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr recently joined the Cribs, as is evident in the chiming intro to "Last Year's Snow," from the feisty British band's fourth full-length. He also brings a sense of calm to Ignorant, which could be frustrating to those looking for a snarling good time, but the pairing is mostly brilliant.

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There's no mistaking Alec Ounsworth's voice: Even with backup from New Orleans ringers -- drummer Stanton Moore and keyboardist Robert Walter, among others -- the Clap Your Hands Say Yeah frontman can't escape his nervous yelp.

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The Son Volt and Death Cab for Cutie frontmen (respectively) go spare on this tribute to Jack Kerouac's 1962 novel Big Sur, wedding text from the chronicle of a writer's alcoholic breakdown to simple melodies and instrumentation.