British indie rockers who sing lovingly ironic songs about being British indie rockers. Their debut album features a piano-ballad ode to embarking on a "New Project" and a song called "El Salvador," whose melody evokes Avril's "Complicated." The rest is sweetly melodic blip-rock for Radiohead fans in need of tender chuckles.

The Ponys
Laced With Romance
(In the Red)

These Chicagoans must have gotten A's in history class. They sound like '80s English post-punks trying to sound like '60s American garage rockers--who were themselves mimicking '60s English bands imitating '50s American R&B groups. But the Ponys turn that space-time vertigo into a Farfisa-fueled, fuzz-guitar fantasy camp.

Sluts of Trust
We Are All Sluts of Trust
(Chemikal Underground)

Still mad about that unlistenable Liars record? This Glaswegian two-piece adds '70s guitar riffage and gonzoid hip-shake to their violent Birthday Party bleat. They've even been called Scotland's answer to the Darkness, but only if you prefer wasted hookups and barroom blood sport to a thing called love.