There's something inherently jarring about seeing Justin Vernon in Times Square. Given the mythology surrounding last year's chilling, sparse insta-classic For Emma, Forever Ago (he holed up in a northwestern Wisconsin cabin to exorcise personal demons!

Brandon flowers is on the couch. Both literally -- the dressed-down Killers lead singer is fidgeting on an oxblood leather love seat in the lobby of Hollywood's historic Roosevelt Hotel -- as well as figuratively -- dude can't help but dig deep. "I know I say things that other people don't," confesses Flowers, 27. "I process what I'm thinking and say it anyway.

Dave Portner is freaking out. Better known by his cryptic sobriquet Avey Tare, he's lying flat on the floor, eyes open wide, startled by something invisible and evidently very strange in the air above. Bandmate Brian Weitz, or Geologist, is splayed out beside him, swaying his head from side to side extreeeemely sloooowly.

As the host of VH1's Best Week Ever, dapper comedian Paul F. Tompkins makes a living siccing his snark on cultural ephemera. Gym Class Heroes frontman Travis McCoy does much the same via his witty rhymes on songs like "Drnk Txt Rmeo" and "Cookie Jar," both from 2008's The Quilt.

In 2008, indie rock discovered a brand-new mecca: the woods.