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.