It's been thirty years since The English Beat (or The Beat as they are called in the U.S.) formed in Birmingham, England in 1979. Well-known for their early-80s ska/punk hits like "Mirror in the Bathroom" and "Too Nice To Talk To," The English Beat broke up in 1983.

The indie-rock quartet uses influences from all over the UK and combines them with rockabilly and doo-wop sensibilities, creating a sound that has gained them wide ranging praise from around the globe. Their self-titled debut was released in January, 2009.

The Ting Tings have gained fans from around the globe, flexing their versatile musical muscles by shining on both indie and top 40 charts in the last twelve months.

Bob Mould, a musician famous as a solo artist and as a former member of bands Husker Du and Sugar, has started out his 2009 with the release of his ninth solo record, "Life and Times."

Singer, playwright, director and songwriter Oren Lavie has grown up all over the world, carrying influences from each of his seemingly native lands into his music.

Eleni Mandell's breathtakingly honest and sweeping compositions have gained her acclaim far and near from her native Los Angeles. He swaggering pop-noir style has take full flight in her newest CD, "Artificial Fire."

Through mashing musical contradictions, the Handsome Furs have quickly stormed the music world since debuting in 2007. The husband-wife team of Dan Boeckner (also in Wolf Parade) and Alexei Perry tie together electronic sensibilities with jangly pop while telling stories that span the emotional grid.

A.C. Newman isn't just on the indie-pop music radar - he is the radar, and continues to captivate listeners with his newest record, "Get Guilty."

"I Can't Go On, I'll Go On," the 2008 CD release from The Broken West, is power pop at some of its strongest, straight from the powerfully poppy world of Southern California.

The Duke Spirit were founded on one of music's most time-honored traditions: singer Liela Moss and guitarist Luke Ford met in art school and dropped out to form a band.