Southeast

PARAMORE
The Tennessee-based quartet known as Paramore is one of 2007's greatest success stories, and they have a recent "Best New Artist" Grammy nomination to prove it. The honor also coincided with the band's second album, RIOT! (Fueled by Ramen), receiving RIAA gold certification. Released earlier in 2007, the album features the breakthrough hit singles, "Misery Business" and "Crushcrushcrush." Lead singer Hayley Williams's girlish snarl combined with the band's smart, crisp pop rock hooks has made them a favorite on the festival circuit and online, where their website (Paramore.net) averages 70,000 page views per day and their MySpace page has logged over 17 million total plays thus far. —EP

THE WHIGS
This Georgia trio has re-invented raucous. The gritty and soulful tracks from their 2005 self-released debut Give 'Em All A Big Fat Lip and this year's Mission Control embody southern rock but with an added fiery punk speed. Their live shows are beyond loud and sweaty. When the band went in to record Mission Control with producer Rob Schnapf, they were determined to capture the fierce, boisterous edge from their live performances. Critics clamored to find more stars when the album was released early this year, and the combination of good press and performances on The Late Show with David Letterman, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien has catapulted The Whigs to the top of the buzz list. —LW

BAND OF HORSES
Released in March of 2006, Seattle's Band of Horses' debut Everything All the Time (Sub Pop) struck critical gold. They opened for friends Iron & Wine, played on The Late Show with David Letterman, and were nominated as one of the ten finalists (along with Joanna Newsom, Beirut, Tom Waits and Cat Power) for the Shortlist Music Prize. After undergoing some major changes, including the exit of original member Mat Brooke, who left the band to pursue other projects, and a relocation to Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, Ben Bridwell, Rob Hampton and Creighton Barrett went back in the studio with producer Phil Ek to create Cease to Begin, their strikingly beautiful and subtly sophisticated second album. —EP

CHRISTOPHER DENNY
Sounding more like someone that should be played on a Victrola than an iPod, Christopher Denny emerged from the blues and folk scene of Little Rock, Arkansas touting one of the most unique singing voices in recent history. His high, warbling vocal tone set him apart from fellow southern folkers, and made catchy songs like "Time" from his debut album, Age Old Hunger, that much more intriguing. As Denny travels the country with his touring band The Old Soles, he continues to surprise and enamor listeners with his soulful and beautiful music. —LW

MUTE MATH
Mute Math (formerly MATH) was originally a long-distance affair between Paul Meany in Louisiana and Darren King in Missouri. Meany would send demos to King, who was impressed enough to remix and collaborate with him from across state lines. After Meany's old band, Earthsuit, dissolved, Mute Math went into action, first releasing an EP and then 2006's self-titled full-length (Teleprompt), infusing alternative rock with fresh jolts of electronic noise. They recently received a Grammy nomination for their video for "Typical." —ET

ANNUALS
Annuals' mastermind Adam Baker, though seemingly the frontman, is actually part of a communal whole. This very large band is populated by multiinstrumentalists who often switch musical roles onstage, increasing the energy of their unique art-pop performances. After releasing a number of EPs, the North Carolina-based Annuals released their full-length Be He Me (Ace Fu) in 2006. Their success is partly attributed to their blog-heavy MySpace page, and glowing notices from Pitchfork, Spin and other tastemaking outlets. —ET