In 2004 Cornershop dropped “Topknot,” a chill Indian funk jam with unknown vocalist Bubbley Kaur (and a little-known M.I.A. on the remix). For the fusionistas behind “Brimful of Asha,” the 1997 co-tribute to Bollywood singer Asha Bhosle and the Velvet Underground, it was an ideal match. Now, frontman Tjinder Singh lets Kaur sing a whole LP—in Punjabi—and her girlish voice shines over digitally-quilted, culture-mashing beats. The gem is “Double Decker Eyelashes,” a cocktail of powdered-wig harpsichord, tabla beats, and antsy funk bass. Once a mere band, Cornershop here reimagines itself, brilliantly, as a franchise.

Listen to "Supercomputed": Cornershop - 'Supercomputed' (Old Timemachine Version) by cornershop

“Ambling Alp”

The "Ambling Alp" was the nickname of the six-and-a-half-foot-tall Primo Carnera. Though the song is named after the Italian-born 1930s heavyweight champion, Yeasayer are actually paying tribute to boxing legend Joe Louis with this first-person psychedelic dance-rock tune. “I was always interested in writing a song that had boxing mythology in it,” Yeasayer’s Chris Keating said. “It’s pretty fascinating: There were so many amazing characters, and it was so closely entwined with 20th century history.” Yeaseyer also invokes German champ Max Schmeling and hints at the historical significance placed on the historic bouts between the Nazi-era boxer and the African-American Louis.