Maura Kennedy, one-half of the folk-pop mavens, The Kennedys, released her first solo album on Planned Effervescence Recordings on January 19, 2010. Parade of Echoes is a thirteen-song soliloquy to the light and dark sides of pop, cast in the brilliant sheen of her carillon harmonies and bell-like lead vocals.

Vampire Weekend is back with their sophomore album, Contra. The four-piece indie rock band met at Columbia University before producing their debut album in 2008. The band has said that their influences are drawn from popular African music and western classical music. Give one of their songs a listen and you’ll quickly realize how true this is – and indeed, how great it sounds.

AT SEA’s captivating audio presence can be likened to a conglomeration of Jeff Buckley meets Muse meets Pink Floyd. In the spirit of fun — the band is unafraid to explore new territory in all directions, creating both walls of sound and quiet ballads, and performing in various configurations, stemming from an intimate one-man unplugged gig to shows housing a full–band-with- occasional special-guests appearances. “In the end, it’s about taking the listener on a ride,” says Jason, lead vocalist and founding member.

Uplifter is the ninth studio album by American rock band 311, released on June 2, 2009 by Volcano Records. It is the band’s first album in nearly four years, the longest gap between albums in 311’s career.

While getting hit by a “HA-DOU-KEN” or “SHYO-RYU-KEN” may land you in the hospital being pounded by a “SONIC BOOM” can leave you wanting more like it did for a packed Santos Party House when the Boom Boom Satellites (BBS) unleashed a barrage of audio mayhem on the big apple this past November.

Also known as the “Techno Capital of Norway,” Tromsø has produced many talented musicians like Bjørn Torske, Frost, Kings of Convenience’s guitarist/songwriter Erlend Øye, and most notably Röyksopp’s Torbjørn Brundtland and Svein Berge, who in late November lit up New York City’s Webster Hall brighter than Tromsø’s winter skies.

UnRated NYC caught bassist Geoff Council, drummer Jeff Olson, guitarist Andrew Burns, and lead vocalist/guitarist Jason Brody on stage at The Suffolk in late October performing tracks off their self-titled EP to a group of enthusiastic concert goers.

If her music is uncommon, so is Maiysha’s back story. Born to an attorney father and a TV journalist mother, Maiysha grew up as a self-described “Cosby kid-I have no shame about it,” she says, “to the extent that my parents even nicknamed me Denise, because I was a little quirky, with weird outfits and big hair.”

The Almost’s second album for Tooth & Nail /Virgin Records began taking shape just as soon as the band came off the road after touring for their 2007 debut, Southern Weather, including a stint on that summer’s Warped tour.

AM Taxi began establishing a rep as a dynamic live outfit with headlining performances at local clubs like the Metro and soon after recorded their second EP, The Good, The Bad and The Fed Up. Entering an Austin studio with producer Mike McCarthy (Spoon, Patty Griffin, And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead), AM Taxi proceeded to record a major-label debut that reflects the group’s diverse influences.

All the photos in this gallery are of The Prodigy at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom on Thursday, March 26th, 2009. No pictures or material may be reproduced without written consent from the owner, all pictures are copyrighted.

“We started this band 21 years ago, writing songs and playing live because we enjoy doing that,” McGrath said. “Nothing’s changed. It was in our hearts, and it’s the same 21 years later. It’s just about being in a band again day to day. We still have a dream and a passion.

With the help of five singers, two percussionists, a horn section, a bass player, and a sitar player Garza and Hilton set out to bring that big band party vibe to their loyal fan base from around the world.

All the photos in this gallery are from Keane’s New York City performance to a sold out Radio City Music Hall crowd on Wednesday, May 27th, 2009. No pictures or material may be reproduced or rebroadcast without written consent from the owner.

Formed in 1987, Green Day is a rock band consisting of the always entertaining Billie Joe on vocals and guitar, funky Mike Dirnt on bass guitar, and, of course, Tré Cool on drums. The band has sold over 22 million records in the United States, won three Grammy Awards; Best Alternative Album for Dookie, Best Rock Album for American Idiot, and Record of the Year for “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”.

Japan’s young masters of the ancient tsugaru-shamisen, are back with a new album, Prism. The aptly-named release reflects their long-standing commitment to traditional Japanese folk music, refracted through modern musical sensibilities, incorporating elements of pop, rock, and world music sounds.

Most recently, Matty released his sophomore album, Life Commercials, a unique blend of funky drums and bass, scorching rock/pop guitars and honest lyrics. Everyone can find something to relate to on this collection of tracks.

The first chords of the album instantly pull you into their meditative yet provocative world of atmospheric reverberance where you can just “put your guard down, breathe and follow through.” This blues rock/folk band was clearly not afraid to step out of the dull indie guitar rock scene and create music of sheer beauty, vigor and quality that sustains throughout the entire album.

The eleven captivating songs on Shontelligence were recorded over a two year period. Co-written with producers Sturken and Rogers, the album presents an array of songs which display Shontelle’s depth and versatility; like the motivational anthem, “Battle Cry,” also featured on a compilation album inspired by President-Elect Barack Obama’s campaign called Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement, and “Life Is Not An Easy Road,” a reggae-influenced track that encourages strength in the face of adversity.

Sugar Ray transformed a club down the block from Union Square into a headbanging gravitron of rock fury, plastering everyone in its wrath against the wall. These guys have the “Summer Vibe” on lock down, and the pics in this gallery are all the proof you need.