Now 21 years old, Laura's already on her third album, has garnered two Mercury Music Prize nominations, released an EP produced by Jack White and continues to reap a ton of critical acclaim.

Named the Citypages Best Jazz Artist of 2011, Atlantis Quartet have garnered the attention of jazz fans and critics alike, fitting right into the sweet spot where complexity and accessibility meet.

What started as a demo project for Andrew Jansen turned into a full band named after the content of the songs he was writing about, Crimes. The original demos, with all parts performed by Anderew, were about a seedy action, jealousy, or crime. The songs were posted online and paired with links to Minneapolis Crime Statistic.

With their debut album In Heaven, which was released on September 27 by Domino Records, the group make good on the hype. Twin Sister have hit upon a compelling, spacious sound that blends indie rock songwriting with a lush instrumental palette that drawns upon influences as wide-ranging as '70s AM-radio-style soft-rock and '90s-esque trip-hop.

For a band that plays mostly lengthy, cathartic, guitar-led instrumentals, Explosions in the Sky have amassed an impressive following. Since the band formed in 1999 in Austin, Tex., their have albums have reached ever-larger audiences and racked up increasing critical adoration. The quartet stopped by The Current studios to chat with Mark Wheat and play a few songs.

Explosions in the Sky stopped by our studio and played two songs off their latest album Take Care, Take Care, Take Care. Here is a slideshow with all the goods.

Brooklyn band The Drums serve up a master class in wired guitar-pop. Their infectious music is sourced in everything from '60s garage-rock to '70s power-pop and '80s post-punk and new-wave.