English singer/songwriter Scout Niblett shares a minimalist sensibility and general vocal range with her more glamorous contemporary Cat Power, but there are less obvious comparisons to be made on her new album, The Calcination.

Iceland’s Seabear started out as singer Sindri Már Sigfússon’s solo project but quickly morphed into a seven-strong collective of multi-instrumentalists.

It's difficult to listen to the incomparable soul stylings of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings and not think their energetic recordings came out of a vault somewhere. But even with all their gritty authenticity, Jones and company are no '60s relics.

What began as a fun little collaboration between the L.A.-stationed actress Zooey Deschanel and Portland, OR–based songbird M. Ward has evolved into a lush and layered musical marriage of talents that is as subtle and classy as an old leather couch.

On the heels of her excellent Dusty Springfield covers album, Just A Little Lovin’, Shelby Lynne returns with a set of acoustic guitar–based songs that give off similar breakup-record vibes to that of Joni Mitchell’s Blue.