Ringo Deathstarr - "Down On You"

Ringo Deathstarr - "Down On You": "I missed these guys at SXSW because I got the memo about them too late - but missing them is what made me check out their EP, which features this highlight track. Fabulous noise-pop, it takes the lurching melodic buzz of the first Lilys record to an even sweeter conclusion."

The Killers - "Shadowplay"

The Killers - "Shadowplay": "I know I shouldn't like The Killers doing Joy Division, but I have to admit that I do. While it clearly doesn't have the raw electricity of the original, this crisper-sounding take on the song is no less dark, while having a 'cooler' sound and is maybe even a bit sexy (although I hesitate to use that word)."

Be Your Own Pet - "The Kelly Affair"

Be Your Own Pet - "The Kelly Affair": "I'm not sure that I like this tribute to Beyond The Valley of The Dolls, probably because I love the original just too darn much, but I do love that they recreate Ashley St. Ives' screams of "Bentley! Rolls!" during the guitar solo."

A Place to Bury Strangers - "Don't Think Lover"

A Place to Bury Strangers - "Don't Think Lover": "I stumbled onto these guys at the Hot Freaks party at the Mohawk. It starts off like harsh JAMC, before shifting into `60s guitar rock in an echo chamber, before shifting back to JAMC distortion, then back again to 60s rock with a wistful, garage-y guitar lead. It's not nearly as jarring as it sounds."

Cut Copy - "Lights and Music"

Cut Copy - "Lights and Music": "These guys helped people to get their dance on at our party (Rhapsody Rocks Austin), despite it being 2:30 in the afternoon! Not radically different from their first album, although not in a bad way, this track manages an excellent blend of 80s synths with catchy guitar riffs to make a futuristic jam."

Robyn - "With Every Heartbeat"

Robyn - "With Every Heartbeat": "I first got turned onto this song when on vacation in London last fall, but it wasn't until the tidal wave of attention started for her in the US that I really got into it. Robyn's candy-coated but emotional vocals paired pulsing synths are a simple but great combo - made even better by the fact that she can bring it live, as I witnessed first hand at SXSW last week."

Santogold - "Creator"

Santogold - "Creator": "So, yes, I can see the similarities to M.I.A., but having been familiar with Santi White's (a.k.a. Santogold) past work (which spans rock to R&B), I know she's just a chameleon and this is just one element of what she does. Plus, I'm in love with her female dancers - dressed in clothes that mix military and flight attendant looks, they do funky robotic dances/poses while they sing, all behind dark shades. I know it sounds like a gimick, but it lets Santi party while her girls hold down the Kraftwerk lock and step around her. It's tight."

The Ting Tings - "Great DJ"

The Ting Tings - "Great DJ": "I feel like this was one of the breakout songs of South by Southwest this year - lots of people went to see them live and I heard this song played at other parties too. It takes a second to get exciting, but every time they get to the chorus, there's some serious electro-rock pogoing going on. I'm sure it'll be in a commercial soon enough!"

Chikita Violenta - "Laydown"

Chikita Violenta - "Laydown": "This sounds like great Brit-styled alt-rock, even with a touch of shoegaze-tinged hushed vocals, except that this band is from Mexico! Thanks to IODA's SXSW day party for helping me to stumble onto them quite accidentally!"

Wire - "1 2 X U"

Wire - "1 2 X U": "So simple and with so few words, but with so much energy that it's brilliant - not to mention economical, at under two minutes long."

The Carpenters - "Superstar"

The Carpenters - "Superstar": "I re-discovered this at the karaoke bar the other night. It's so amazingly cheesy, especially the "baby baby baby baby oh baby" part - but that's the part that got everyone in the bar singing along. Total guilty pleasure. (And, no, unlike "Let's Dance", I did not sing this one.)"

David Bowie - "Let's Dance"

David Bowie - "Let's Dance": "I did this song for karaoke last night at my friend Courtney's birthday party. She thought I did a good job with it, but I wanted to go back and listen to the original to hear how it's really done!"

Ex-Boyfriends - "Private D"

Ex-Boyfriends - "Private D": "This song reminds me of everything I loved about indie rock in the 90s. Not unlike the-dear-to-my-heart Superchunk, this song is melodic, it rocks - and dammit, when they harmonize with all their lungs while singing "...like a private detective!" in the chorus, I challenge you not to sing along with them. Hell, once you know it, you'll sing along with the whole chorus. It's like pop music wrapped in crunchy rock and filled with heart."

M83 - "Couleurs"

M83 - "Couleurs": "I first heard this song two months ago and I'm still obsessed with it now. PLAY IT! PLAY IT! PLAY IT!"

Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - "Falling Slowly"

Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - "Falling Slowly" - "This song won the Oscar last night for Best Song and I couldn't be happier. It's a beautiful and heartfelt tune that was far less calculated than its competition in that catagory, yet far more emotional. I only hope that a whole new audience will discover it now."

Killing Joke - "Love Like Blood"

Killing Joke - "Love Like Blood": "This awesomely Goth-ish (Goth-esque? Avant-goth?) Brit-rock number shows just one of Killing Jokes' many faces, proving themselves here both dark and danceable."

Pino Donaggio - "Body Double (from Body Double)"

Pino Donaggio - "Body Double (from Body Double)": "I watched Body Double the other week for the first time, while I was home sick. It had its moments, despite being a pretty brain-dead take on Vertigo and other Hitchcock, but this 'song' from the score stayed with me. This is the tune they play every time the male lead watches a mystery woman do a private dance - through his telescope. The synths are pretty 80s Euro-cheese - as are the breathy female vocals - but it's catchy anyway."

Jane Wiedlin & Sparks - "Cool Places"

Jane Wiedlin & Sparks - "Cool Places": "Jane Wiedlin and Sparks' Russell Mael's low-key interplay makes them sounds like dorks trying to party...but that still makes them cool, doesn't it? New wave gold."

The Posies - "Coming Right Along"

The Posies - "Coming Right Along": "I'm not really familiar with the Posies, but Rhapsody put this song in my (user-responsive) Personal Playlist and I was immediately fascinated by the dirge-like, ominous tune. There's something about the minimal presentation that plays up the dark, eerie qualities of the instrumentation. Heavy."

The B-52's - "Mesopotamia"

The B-52's - "Mesopotamia": "A warped history lesson featuring Fred Schneider, the B-52s walked like an Egyptian before the Bangles did, complete with the Kate/Cindy vocal harmonies that made their songs so glorious."