Formed in the Southern Sahara in 1979, this band of Tuareg rebels blends North African protest music and Western rock. In the last decade, the group has toured the international festival circuit, earning fans like Robert Plant and TV on the Radio. The shows draw a multi-generational crowd; the vibe is utterly joyful.

Destroyer is the nom de rock of Dan Bejar, who's a songwriting member of the much more successful New Pornographers. Bejar's fey brand of louche is not everyone's cup of tea, but he rides it to ecstatic choral heights at least once or twice per album. His latest, Kaputt, was released on Jan. 25.

With their slackerfied-Blondie sounds, California trio Best Coast have a lot of potential as an up and coming band to get big on their first time around.

Caterwauling Brooklyn experimentalists Dirty Projectors have collaborated with Bjork; a track from their new Album Ascending Melody can be downloaded for free at their official website!