Who: Alabama's own Jamey Johnson, a shit-kicking, hard-drinking badass who is well on his way to being country music's biggest outlaw.

Sounds Like: To start, think Steve Earle and Merle Haggard, not Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban. On his album That Lonesome Song, Johnson mixes tender ballads like "In Color" with barnstormers like "High Cost of Living" and raw country tales influenced by booze, drugs and his own divorce. "I was trying to reach that dude at the bar going through what I was going through," Johnson says of the album.

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We've been fans of Kanye West-approved Chicago MC Kid Sister since catching her set at last year's CMJ fest in New York. Her album Dream Date is out November 25th on Downtown Records, and you can check out the bouncy "Family Reunion" (featuring a sharp verse from David Banner) right here:

"Family Reunion" [right click and select "save as"]

New York's Secret Machines are about to drop their third album of psychedelic epics anchored by monster drumming. The trio's self-titled record — their first effort with new guitarist Phil Harnats, who replaces Ben Curtis — comes out October 14th and you can download the ear-smashing "Atomic Heels" right now:

"Atomic Heels" [right click and select "save as"]

Every week, Hype Monitor wades through the most buzzed-about bands all across the Internet.

The Band: Glasvegas
The Buzz: Latest UK saviors of rock gird their echoey guitar pop with a strong undercurrent of soul.
Listen If: You wish those old Motown singles were a little more keen on the distortion pedal.
Key Track: "Daddy's Gone," where vocalist James Allen does Ronnie Spector by way of Billy Bragg over "Be My Baby" tom tom hits.

The Band: Elzhi
The Buzz: Satellite Slum Village member gives hip-hop its soul back, turning out tough rhymes over grainy R&B productions.
Listen If: You want Kanye without the ego, with beats that are more throwback than throw-it-all-against-the-wall.
Key Track: "Guessing Game," which keeps an electric guitar sample twitching for nearly six minutes while Elzhi spells out the anatomy of rhyming.

The Band: Grouper
The Buzz: Avant-artist Liz Harris brings the noise, swaddling ethereal pop songs in gurgling clouds of distortion.
Listen If: You used to play Kate Bush records through a walkie-talkie for extra eerieness.
Key Track: "When We Fall," a hushed and somber funeral song glowing inside a skeleton of guitar.

Who: Solange, the 22-year-old sister of Beyonce who is ready to make a name for herself with her second album Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams.

Sounds Like: Solange brings an electronica-tinged update on classic soul and Motown to her Sol-Angel, thanks in part to producers like Mark Ronson and Pharrell. Her hit single "I Decided" is a synthesis of what would have happened if the Supremes hung out with Gnarls Barkley.

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A few months back, we spotlighted red-hot Baltimore rap duo Get Em Mamis and their hypnotic anthem "Cold Summer." Now, Roxzi and Symph have sent word that they're prepping a new mixtape. Produced by Darkroom Productions, who created much of the music from The Wire, the Material Girls mixtape features the warp-speed MCs rhyming over beats that sample the original get-em mami, Madonna. GEM gave us an advance listen to the first two tracks, "Music" and "Who's That Girl." Check 'em out right here:

"Music"

"Who's That Girl"

Photo:Travis Schneider
Every week, Hype Monitor wades through the most buzzed-about bands all across the Internet.

The Band: Army Navy
The Buzz: That combative name is a bit of misdirection: these Seattle power-poppers write songs more suitable for lovers than fighters.
Listen If: You wish the Stone Roses were a little more forceful or Oasis were a little more restrained.
Key Track: "Saints," a bit of bounding jangle-pop guided by Justin Kennedy's plaintive, searching vocals.

The Band: Tough Alliance
The Buzz: Impish Swedes turn dance music inside out, making moody floor-fillers that mashup disco and house.
Listen If: Your favorite dance move is the wallflower classic: a slow, meaningful head-bob.
Key Track: "First Class Riot," where it seems the band ingested more XTC than ecstasy, resulting in a bright, yearning bit of Britpop.

The Band: <3 Svanhvit!
The Buzz: None yet, but there should be: this collection of Icelandic teenagers has one of the most satisfying live shows to come along in a while, delivering big, riotous group-sing pop songs that sound like exclamation points.
Listen If: You want the next thing before it happens, or have a soft spot for bands with more than 6 members and a saxophone.
Key Track: The new "Gluggin," where the band tones down its rambunctiousness to deliver a sweet, lilting ballad.

Who: The Gaslight Anthem, a quartet of blue collar punks from Bruce Springsteen's hood that tell stories about young romance and working-class folks on their new album The '59 Sound.

Sounds Like: Like New Jersey's prodigal son, New Brunswick's the Gaslight Anthem sound like a punked-out, supercharged version of early Bruce combined with the Replacements' angst and the Hold Steady's wit. "No surrender, my Bobby Jean," lead singer Brian Fallon sings on "Meet Me by the River's Edge," name-checking two Springsteen songs in one simple line.

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We've already told you about the awesome wackiness that is Repo! The Genetic Opera, but here's a brief recap: Darren Lynn Bousman, the director of the three Saw movies, is attempting to resurrect the rock opera genre with a film starring Paris Hilton, Skinny Puppy's Nivek Ogre, Sarah Brightman and Anthony Stewart Head (Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer). The plot revolves around organ transplants and assorted gore. Now Rolling Stone can exclusively reveal the film's poster art (above) and offer a sneak peek at three songs from the soundtrack, which will see a digital release on September 30th (the DVD is out in January 2009).

"Chase the Morning" (featuring Sarah Brightman, Nancy Long, Alexa Vega)

"Night Surgeon" (featuring Anthony Stewart Head, Paul Sorvino, Bill Moseley, Ogre)

"Zydrate Anatomy" (featuring Terrance Zdunich, Paris Hilton, Alexa Vega)

Photo: Steve Gullick
Every week, Hype Monitor wades through the most buzzed-about bands all across the Internet.

The Band: Okkervil River
The Buzz: Austin post-folkies return with The Stand-Ins, continuing their narrative about cynical singers and the people who love them.
Listen If: You have a soft spot for oaky vocals and big, broad strums. Or you just really, really, really like to hear musicians get theirs.
Key Track: "Singer Songwriter," where a self-involved and well-moneyed artiste is taken to task with a sneer that would do Dylan proud.

The Band: Horse Feathers
The Buzz: Sweet home Appalachia; the sound of winter comes early with delicate acoustic and sweet, sawing violins.
Listen If: There's a campfire in your head 24/7.
Key Track: "Working Poor," whose waltz tempo and stacked harmonies feel like falling in love.

The Band: Alias
The Buzz: Ambitious producer super-collides hip-hop and ambient, causing dead-eyed ravers to run out and buy backpacks.
Listen If: Your problem with Music for Airports is that it doesn't go anywhere.
Key Track: "Well Water Black," where Why?'s Yoni Wolf provides a fluttering falsetto to mirror Alias's clicking, clattering rhythms.