London

OK, so Jay-Z signed her to Def Jam, but mainstream hip-hop ain't ready for the S-O-V or UK Grime.

If there was a top ten list for most fun albums of the year then Lily Allen would be at the top of it. The sweet voice of this UK songstress was carried well through the summer air. - Ryan of the RSL blog

London grime - audacious, experimental, electronic hip hop - come get it from ya moma

London based math rockers knit energetic guitars, harmonic chimes, with rambling base lines, and angular rhythms. Bright Eyes Make for Good Dogs stands out with its howling vocals.

uber pleasant indie pop - good songwriting, nicely crafted and produced with layers of instruments: guitar, synth, strings, horns, etc. - distant and lazy vocals - they'll be at this years SXSW and should be one of the darlings of the festival