Scharpling and Wurster, 'The Art of the Slap' (Stereolaffs)

Wreaking havoc on the total absurdity of the music world.

Over the past decade, Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster and WFMU radio DJ Tom Scharpling have become one of the most inspired comedy duos ever, and definitely the rock-savviest.

Khan, 'Who Never Rests' (Tomlab)

When musicians become what they once tried to destroy.

Remember the late '90s, when electronic music was going to rescue us from boring rock'n'roll? Who would have figured that a decade on, some of techno's would-be saviors would be making boring rock'n'roll?

Dntel, 'Dumb Luck' (Sub Pop)

Indietronica producer mails it in, despite guest stars.

You might expect producer Jimmy Tamborello, also half of the Postal Service, to push the boundaries of his woozy laptop-pop tomfoolery with the first record under his Dntel alias in six years.

World/Inferno Friendship Society, 'Red-Eyed Soul' (Chunksaah)

Fanciful storytelling from carnivalesque Brooklyn clan.

The two bands that Franz Nicolay plays keyboards for -- the Hold Steady and World/Inferno Friendship Society -- share a drunken, wild-eyed aesthetic. But while the former group is classic rock and proud, the latter plays oft-frantic cabaret punk with heavy klezmer touches.

Mixel Pixel, 'Music for Plants' (Kanine)

Cautionary tales about partying fall flat.

How do you make twee indie pop even more twerpy?

Todd Edwards, 'Odyssey' (i!)

A hyped-up house producer finally speaks his mind.

Dance music is full of auteurs, and one of the greatest and most undersung is New Jersey's Todd Edwards, whose cut-and-paste production style has influenced everyone from Daft Punk (whose "Face to Face" he coproduced and sang) to entire swathes of U.K. garage.

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