Cover - "Crystalized" by Gorillaz

Original: "Crystalized" by the xx's

Genre: Alternative Hip-Hop
Hometown: Essex, England
Latest Album: Plastic Beach (2010)
Label: Parlophone/Virgin Records
Other Notable Songs: "Feel Good Inc" and "Clint Eastwood"

Fun Fact: The band's 2001 debut album Gorillaz sold over seven million copies and earned them an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Most Successful Virtual Band

Gorillaz Website HERE.



The Original:

New Favorite - "Ain't No Rest For The Wicked" by Cage the Elephant

Genre: Blues/Rock
Hometown: Bowling Green, KY
Latest Album: Cage the Elephant (2008)
Label: Relentless Records
Other Notable Songs: "Shake Me Down" and "In One Ear"

Fun Fact: The single, "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked", was the free single of the week on iTunes for the week of April 12, 2009.

Cage the Elephant Website HERE.

Local Music - "Light Outside" by Wakey! Wakey!

Genre: Acoustic/Folk/Pop
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Latest Album: Almost Everything (2010)
Label: Family Records
Other Notable Songs: "War Sweater" and "Brooklyn"

Fun Fact: Mike Grubbs (Wakey! Wakey!) is currently on tour with pop artist Jenny Owen Youngs. To promote their tour, she covered his "Dance So Good", while he covered her song "Led to the Sea". Both songs are available for download for FREE online.

Wakey! Wakey! Website HERE.

Wakey!Wakey! - Light Outside from VsTheBrain on Vimeo.

International - "Overpass" by John Steel Singers

Genre: Indie Rock/Pop
Hometown: Brisbane, Australia
Latest Album: Tangalooma (2010)
Label: Dew Process
Other Notable Songs: "Rainbow Kraut"

Fun Fact: Lead singer, Tim Morrissey, had a toy horse as a child which he named John Steel, which provided inspiration for the band's name.

John Steel Singers Website HERE.

Acoustic - "Limit to Your Love" by James Blake

Genre: Indie/Jazz/Soul
Hometown: London, England
Latest Album: CMYK (2010)
Label: Hemlock Records
Other Notable Songs: "CYMK" and "I Only Know (What I Know Now)"

Fun Fact: At only 22 years old, James Blake has already released 3 EPs and has recorded and mixed all of his tracks at home on his personal computer.

James Blake Website HERE.

Cover - "Just" by Mark Ronson feat. Phantom Planet

Original: "Just" by Radiohead

Genre: Jazz/Hip Hop/Alternative
Hometown: London, England/New York, NY
Latest Album: Record Collection (2010)
Label: Sony
Other Notable Songs: "Oh My God" (feat. Lily Allen) and "Bang Bang Bang"

Fun Fact: A DJ, producer and guitarist, Mark Ronson was voted the most stylish man in UK by GQ magazine. He attributes his personal style to close friend Patrick van Reijendam, a Dutch fashion designer based in London.

Mark Ronson Website HERE.



Watch the Original by Radiohead HERE.

New Favorite - "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Genre: Alternative/Indie Folk
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Latest Album: Up From Below (2009)
Label: Rough Trade Records
Other Notable Songs: "40 Day Dream"

Fun Fact: On June 5, 2009, the band released "Desert Song", a music video which is part 1 of a 12-part feature-length musical.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros Website HERE.