Let me introduce The Kickdrums by listing just some of the artists that they have produced for, remixed, or mashed-up: 50 Cent, Talib Kweli, Slaughterhouse, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Estelle, The Black Kids, MGMT, Justice, The Tings Tings, and Kid Cudi. Phew!

With an eager aptitude for navigating genres and two killer mixtapes under their belt, the Kickdrums come to us with their official debut, Just A Game.

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Sometimes you just want to put on your giant cushy headphones, switch to the saddest Bon Iver track you can find, and cry your eyes out. We all do it (maybe). Other times, when you actually need to perk up, you need that good old four-piece funk fix. Look no further. Amidst the high-powered indie-pop that's been released recently, with its proclivity for tangled sentimentality and drawn-out catharsis, Dublin's Hoarsebox reaffirms that popular music is, and should be, entertaining as hell.

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Columbus, Ohio quintet Terribly Empty Pockets have a new EP out on Nettwerk Records, a yelping, enchantingly awkward sample of their rich pop. Cat Mountain won't be under $2 for long, so have a listen!

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A fan of Coldplay? South? Keane? Well, add one more to the list: Reykjavik's Leaves play yearning, orchestral alternative rock that's been praised by the New York Times and landed them a tour with Doves. Yes, it's a requirement that bands like this have to have one-word names. Read our spotlight after the break!

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Stephanie Schneiderman is a snake quietly shaking her apple in the ears of all too trusting an audience. Her new trip-hop album Dangerous Fruit has many slow, seductive tracks that start out as a soft whisper, and at some unknown point melt into dangerously mesmerizing numbers that make you want more and more.

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Jon Pareles writes up Emilíana Torrini's performance at NYC's Hiro Ballroom this past Saturday:

"Although Ms. Torrini is from Iceland, her lyrics are in English, and they are confessions of longing and loneliness, elated infatuation or caffeinated uncertainty... It takes poise and discreet determination to keep such wispy thoughts from turning sentimental, and Ms. Torrini has both."

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A "Band to Watch" on Stereogum, Hammer No More The Fingers is a trio from Durham, NC who plays catchy, Malkmusy indie rock. We're pumped to have this live album from our friends at the dotmatrix project, and think it's a great example of how fun and energetic their shows are. Read our review after the jump!

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A former bare-knuckle boxer from Yorkshire, England, Findlay Brown was called "Yorkshire's answer to Paul Simon" by The Guardian.

Listen to tracks from his latest EP All That I Have (including a pretty infectious remix) after the break!

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In 2006, singer/lyricist Jake Rabinbach made the ambitious decision to ditch the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple, following the sound of his childhood R&B favorites down to Memphis, TN. Once there, he flexed his musical muscle and quickly caught up with three other full-time musicians -- turning his solo acoustic act into a full-blown Southern frenzy as Jump Back Jake.

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"Becca Stevens, 24, is still something of a best-kept secret, known mainly among her fellow musicians. But since graduating last year from the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, she has established a strong identity for those who have paid attention. The songs on Tea Bye Sea introduce a sound both wistful and determined, reflecting her training in classical guitar; jazz and pop singing; and the dramatic, Celtic side of Appalachian folk music."

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