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At once spare and elegant, with an equal flair for whisper-quiet simplicity and orchestral bombast, Rice's music conveys emotional intensity and straightforward beauty at the same time. His latest album, the lovely 9, was released in November.

Lily Allen's ska-infused pop music has officially achieved ubiquity: She's gone from a buzzed-about underground sensation to a mainstream darling in the span of only a few months. Her sly lyrics and joyful energy have helped make her a star.

John Butler grew up in a small Australian town, where he learned to play guitar and absorbed musical styles. A subsequent obsession with the acoustic guitar and world music led to his development of an eclectic sound, which he honed as a busking guitarist.

Vega's pop-music career spans more than two decades. Her first album in six years, Beauty & Crime, showcases an acoustic sound that's nicely matched to personal lyrics and stories about her native New York. Hear an interview and in-studio performance.

The Hold Steady might just be the best bar band in America. With its riff-heavy mixture of classic rock and Craig Finn's lyrically dense storytelling, the group crafts intricately detailed musical universes that have already made it a critical darling and fan favorite.

Lindsey Buckingham is best known for his work as a guitarist and songwriter with Fleetwood Mac, but his solo output has also earned him a place in the rock canon.

Drawing from '60s pop, hard rock and punk, the arena-rock legends in Cheap Trick have enjoyed influential and decades-spanning careers. Their first new album in six years, Rockford, finds the group returning to its roots, with catchy and powerful new songs that sound equally suited to old and new fans.

Robert Plant has helped establish the iconic image of the "rock god," while Alison Krauss is one of the most accomplished bluegrass musicians of the last few decades. Together, they've recorded Raising Sand, which interprets blues, folk and country songs. Hear an interview.

With its eclectic range of dance music, M.I.A.'s recent Kala is similar in sound to her breakout debut, yet uses a wider variety of beats and samples. It features collaborations with Diplo, Timbaland and Blaqstarr. Hear an interview and performance from WXPN.

Hearing the first skipping notes of Minus the Bear's "Knights," it's clear that the band has changed: The sophisticated constructions of new keyboardist Alex Rose allow "Knights" to capitalize on the group's newfound maturity, while retaining its signature style.