When I fist heard this group I could of sworn they were from the Southern United States. They combine bluegrass, blues and rockabilly into a indie folk concoction that sounds like something you would hear while train hopping in Tennessee. However they are not from the South, or America for that matter--Oslo Norway is where they reside.
Nicki Minaj is West Indian with a cool accent and eclectic beats her first single "Beam Me Up Scotty" is fresh and fun but somehow reminds me of a over-sexualized M.I.A...
I'm not saying I don't like the song, but it seems that ever since "Paper Planes" became a mainstream success M.I.A. impersonators have become acceptable.
Super Junior - "Sorry Sorry" and "Its You" My friend Emily loves this band and has unfortunately gotten me involved in her K-pop addiction, but the songs are so catchy and the beats are so fresh its hard not to like them.
Chae Yeon - "Shake" Another Korean making catchy tunes...
M Pokora - "They Talk Shit About Me" and "Catch Me if You Can" So He looks and sings like a french Justin Timberlake, however that doesn't make the songs any less addictive. I found him last summer and tried to repress my feelings for his music, however I couldn't do it any longer and now I am out of the closet.
Dan Black - "Symphonies" and "HYPNTZ" Black's first song was a Biggie Smalls cover (HPNTZ) when he signed with Polydor Records he was forced to change the lyrics and name of the song and thats how "Symphonies" was born. Both songs are worth listening to.
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - "Everything With You" They sound like the modern day reincarnation of the Smiths.
Uh Huh Her - "Explode" A sultry mix of electronica and rock, with a lo-fi undertone.
Ladyhawke - "My Delirium" This was relaesed in Octoder of 2008 but its been stuck in my head for the last week!
The King Blues - "I Got Love" The singer has a slight nasal voice but the song is cute and I wish he loved me! If Bedouin Soundclash decieded to make a rockabilly record this is what they might sound like.