There's a new sound rising from the wild, wild mid-west. It's the pulse of edgy pop-rock sung with unfettered emotion. It's pinprick hooks toughened by crunchy guitars and aggressive solos. It's songs that burrow into your head and stay there. It's The All-American Rejects, an Oklahoma band whose self-titled debut album was re-released this year on DreamWorks Records. Since their album hit stores, the group has gotten buzzworthy spins on MTV and finished their first headlining tour.

Edie Brickell's voice is instantly familiar, even after a 10-syear break from recording. But her latest release, Volcano, is unlike any of her previous recordings. Co-produced by Charlie Sexton, the album is a powerfully immediate, distinctive solo effort on which she is the only vocalist and plays guitar throughout. Brickell first achieved fame and success in the late 1980s as the lead singer of the platinum-selling folk-rock group The New Bohemians — whose Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars sold over a million copies and included the Top 10 single, "What I Am."

Clem Snide, a musical group of art-country revelers fronted by lyricist/songwriter Eef Barzelay, noted for the use of their song "Moment in the Sun" as the theme to NBC's "Ed." The band has released four full-length records, and the nonstop, worldwide touring band has a rabid, cult following (some known for traveling thousands of miles to see them perform). They've also performed on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn."

Update 1976, Misfits, outside the public eye, Hollywood, punk rock, X, Masque, Whisky a Go, Go bands & people & friends & enemies, complete disdain for business, strawberry soda & gin, love, marriage, death, sort of famous, writing, recording, touring, community lost, relationships eventually strained, acting, divorce, drinking, parents die, writing, new love, children, life in the mountains, confront self, solo writing, recording & touring, lose inspiration for writing & music, hard times, rediscover love of music & writing, more acting, finally make acoustic record.

Goapele possesses an alluring voice that infuses poignant lyrics with soul and substance. Billboard describes her album, Even Closer, as an "arresting set that organically mixes R&B, hip-hop, jazz, and electronica
in introspective, candid songs that colorfully reflect this soulful sista's diverse range and life experiences." In
2003, the dread-headed Bay Area beauty was acknowledged in Rolling Stone and MTV as one of the Top Ten artists to watch for. Goapele is the child of an exiled South African freedom fighter and a Jewish American political activist. Her name means "to go forward" in Setswana. Goapele truly lives up to her moniker.

Joe Jackson isn't an artist known for repeating himself.
In his craft, Jackson strives
to push the boundaries,
proving himself a master songwriter and composer of pop, new wave, ska, reggae, blues and jazz music. He shifts gears back to his roots with his latest work. Volume 4, renewing an old collaboration with the scrappy band that accompanied him on the trilogy of critically acclaimed albums – Look Sharp, I'm The Man, and Beat Crazy – that first established him as a major artist in 1979-80.

A singer of unusual clarity and originality, a multi-instrumentalist of rare ability, and an incisive songwriter, Tim O'Brien has, during the last 20 years, made a lasting mark on what some are calling Americana music. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, O'Brien was a founding member of seminal bluegrass band, Hot Rize, earning recognition as one of America's most innovative and entertaining bluegrass bands. O'Brien's music feels familiar and comfortable while never lapsing into the predictable. He has performed and recorded for such artists as The Chieftains, Guy Clark, Alison Brown, Bela Fleck and Dwight Yoakam.

Teitur is a young singer/songwriter from the Faroe Islands who has recently released his debut album "Poetry & Aeroplanes" (produced by Rupert Hine) on Universal Records. He currently lives in London but has been touring the U.S. extensively to rave reviews. Teitur has been opening for John Mayer and receiving standing ovations from audiences of 800 to 1,300 people. His next single, "You're The Ocean," will be released this month. Teitur's exquisite guitar playing and captivating vocals are reminiscent of his early influences - James Taylor, Paul Simon and Sting.

Judy Wexler, an award-winning singer and actress, is a petite woman with a warm, sensuous voice. She has worked with great jazz players such as Tom Garvin, Ron Anthony, Stacy Rowles, Tamir Hendelman, Karen Hammack, and Jamie Findlay. Judy began studying piano when she was just 5, and ever since has been pursuing her love of music. Although a long-time resident of Los Angeles, she performed in clubs and cabarets in San Francisco, and starred in musical theater productions that won the Bay Area Theater Critics Award and the Cabaret Gold Award.

Two years ago, Joseph Arthur's Come To Where I'm From lured journalists out on the limb of hyperbole. The album was named the #1 record of the year by Entertainment Weekly and prompted Alternative Press to call Arthur "one of the last true artists left in the world." His most recent album, Redemption's Son, topped critics' 2002 year-end lists. Arthur is currently putting the finishing touches on his anticipated new record, which he plans to release in 2004.

Jon Brion has worn many hats in his distinguished career. As a singer/songwriter, producer, session player and composer, Jon has written and produced with such artists as Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann, and Evan Dando. His session work can be heard on such albums as Tidal from Fiona Apple, Elliot Smith's XO and Macy Gray's On How Life Is. Highly acclaimed as a composer whose film scores include Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love. Brion currently scoring the new Michel Gondry directed film, "The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and producing the upcoming Fiona Apple album.

Shawn Colvin is a highly acclaimed singer, guitarist and songwriter. She has received six Grammy nominations throughout her six-album, 15 year recording career; her breakthrough release, A Few Small Repairs, won two of Grammy's biggest awards -- Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year for "Sunny Came Home." Colvin's songs and vocal performances have been included in many film soundtracks. She has acted on the large screen (Grace Of My Heart, Heartbreakers), on television ("Suddenly Susan," "The Chris Isaak Show," "The Simpsons," "The Larry Sanders Show") and on stage ("The Vagina Monologues”).

Ricky Fanté's gritty,
infectiously heartfelt vocals reclaim the heritage of classic Memphis. Fanté was raised in southeast Washington, D.C., on a steady diet of jazz, soul and R&B – from Stevie Wonder to Elvis Presley, James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic to D.C.'s homegrown "go-go" scene. His upcoming debut album, Rewind, is a soulful excursion into the deep roots that nurtured the likes of Otis Redding, Al Green, Wilson Pickett, Sam Cooke, and so many other defining voices of soul.

One of the most celebrated songwriters alive, John Hiatt's compositions have been covered by dozens of artists including Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, B.B.King, Iggy Pop and Mandy Moore. The Indianapolis native began his solo career in Nashville in 1974, and over the next decade he ran through number of different styles from rock & roll to new wave pop before finally settling on a rootsy fusion of rock & roll, country, blues and folk. With 15 releases under his belt, his latest titled Beneath This Gruff Exterior includes a collection of relevant, provocative and distinguished songs appreciated and admired by songwriters the world over.

Jason Mraz, has enjoyed a wonderfully successful year riding the wave of his Elektra debut, Waiting For My Rocket to Come, which was certified Gold in summer 2003, propelled by the Top 5 hit, "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)." With his second single, "You and I Both," ascending the charts, it looks as though 2004 will be more of the same for the hard-working Mraz who toured for 44 weeks in 2003! His enthusiasm for the music and unchecked exuberance are clearly what has made Mraz's live shows one of the most talked about in years.

In the new generation of Latin composers, there is an artist that stands out for his innovative repertoire and his own, personal way of telling the stories that inspire him. It is Fernando Osorio, who arrives brightening the future of Latin music with works that have already been successful by such esteemed artists as Marc Anthony, Jerry Rivera, Cristian Castro, and most recently, "La Negra Tiene Tumbao," written for Celia Cruz.

Sweet Pea Atkinson, Don & David Was, all original members of the popular R&B-pop fusion band Was (Not Was), reunite for the first time in 12 years! The band members, originally from Detroit, worked together as Was (Not Was), issuing four albums from 1981 to 1990. Since their hit, "Walk the Dinosaur," Atkinson pursed a successful solo career, while Don & David Was ventured into producing. David Was produced artists from Bob Dylan to Holly Cole to Rickie Lee Jones. Don Was, a Grammy award-winning producer, has produced such artists as Bonnie Raitt, The Rolling Stones and B.B. King. Also performing with the group are the MC5's Wayne Kramer and super-producer Narada Michael Walden.

Dan Wilson, best known as the writer and singer of Semisonic's hit, Closing Time, (and across the Atlantic as the writer and singer of Semisonic's smash UK hit, Secret Smile) has recently signed to Rick Rubin's American Recordings. Wilson and Rubin together are finishing the home-recorded set that first caught the ear of the renowned producer. The album will be released on American/Lost Highway in mid-2004. Wilson is also spending time these days traveling the globe as a songwriting collaborator and producer, working with artists such as Mike Doughty (Soul Coughing), Robbie Williams, Skin and others.