Rancid, 'Indestructible' (Hellcat)

Punk survivors keep up the fight.

Back in 1993, almost eight years after the Clash sputtered to a close, Rancid released their self-titled debut, which exhumed the Clash’s ultra-potent punk rock and shocked it back to life. Indestructible is Rancid’s sixth album, and by rights the band should sound like laughable necrophiles. But they don’t.

My Life in Music: Dashboard Confessional

Run-D.M.C. Jacko. Counting Crows? These are a few of Chris Carrabba’s favorite things

Run-D.M.C. Jacko. Counting Crows? These are a few of Chris Carrabba's favorite things

My Life in Music: Eddie Vedder

From punk-rock messiahs to Middle Eastern mystics, Eddie Vedder's musical heroes are just as intense and difficult as he is
From punk-rock messiahs to Middle Eastern mystics, Eddie Vedder's musical heroes are just as intense and difficult as he is

My Life in Music: Perry Farrell

Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction surfs the astral plane from Zeppelin to the Orb
Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction surfs the astral plane from Zeppelin to the Orb

Northern State, 'Dying In Stereo' (Startime) / Fannypack, 'So Stylistic' (Tommy Boy)

New York girls infuse hip-hop with sass, Chekhov references.

Northern State and Fannypack, two New York female rap trios, both obsess on hip-hop sounds that ruled before they were born. Specifically, Northern State pass the mic like the early Beastie Boys, while Fannypack’s beats evoke ’80s electro and J.J. Fad’s “Supersonic.” What really separates them is self-consciousness.

Future Stars: Mars Volta and the Ataris

Balls-out classic rock and power-pop punk

Mars Volta

Who: Featuring Omar Rodriguez (left) and Cedric Bixler (right) of much-missed emo shredders At the Drive-In, the Mars Volta expand ATDI's manic thrust with free jazz, sampled soundscapes, and balls-out classic rock.

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