Minnesotas the Vestals are spearheaded by singing and guitar-playing brothers Jeremy and Ben Gordon who after honing their skills both at home and on-stage actually qualified as finalists in the 2000 edition of the yearly John Lennon Song Writing Con…

The Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience made a splash in their own low-key way with their 2001 album QUIET IS THE NEW LOUD. Their Simon & Garfunkel harmonies and gentle, acoustic ballads got the UK press all hot and bothered about a "New Acoustic Move…

Oakland CAs Fleshies first launched themselves out of their dingy practice space in 1999 Banshee vocalist Johnny No Moniker led Vonny Bon Bons bass Mattowar guitar and Hamiltron drums into on-stage battle leaving actual songcraft behind in favor of d…

A singersongwriter from the New York City area Sarah Fimms ethereal piano-based music first appeared in 2001 when her debut CD Cocooned was released Building on the success derived from her work on MP3com Fimm managed to get a fair amount of college…

Originally formed during their high school days in 1994 the hard rock quartet Sinch -- Jamie Stem vocals and sampler Tony Lannutti guitar and synth Mike Abramson bass and Dan McFarland drums -- sounds like a throwback to such 90s Seattle rocks as Ali…

The Travoltas formed in 1990 with founding members Stephen La Haye Vince Koreman and Perry Leenhouts joining forces after the demise of two earlier Dutch bands Kriezus and Stillborn With a sound that combines an energetic mix of the Beach Boys and th…

In its press materials the Detroit sleaze metal band Zug Izland described its songcraft as an exploration of imperfect human morality brought forth through the imagery of a pure fantasy Maybe so but the combos origin as the backup band for Insane Clo…

The Chenille Sisters quirky appeal truly reached across all ages -- while their irreverent country-folk sound was originally targeted to adults they also recorded a number of albums specifically for children Formed in 1985 in Ann Arbor Michigan the C…

If live electronic music is boring in concert dull people behind laptops and synths no guitarists who jump around why would The Sydney Morning Herald name the electronica unit Infusion not the Best Live Dance Act award but the all-around Best Live Ac…

b. Elisabeth Esselink, 14 August 1965, Delft, Netherlands. Esselink is an Amsterdam-based artist and co-owner of a second-hand record shop on the edge of the city's infamous red light district. She had previously sung with noise outfit Sonetic Vet, b…

b. 25 November 1964, Ellensburg, Washington, USA. Lanegan maintained a remarkably fecund solo career while still part of his regular band, Screaming Trees. Initially providing an outlet from the snarling guitars and punk attitude of his work with the…

She was born Leslie Feist in Calgary in the mid-70s but goes by her surname when it comes to making music for a living The Jhay-inspired songstress got her start playing in a high-school punk band called Placebo not to be confused with the UK modern …