Maya Kroth

Despite hopes to the contrary, the public's still not tired of bands doing the whole Joy Division thing. If you can stomach another round of Ian-Curtis-via-Interpol, the U.K.'s Editors are among the best of the derivative bunch. Led by singer Tom Smith's affected monotone vocals, Editors have already gone platinum...

How can an Elliott Smith tribute album go wrong? The guy was practically deified before his apparent suicide in 2003, and the exaltation has only continued since. But such an homage presents a dilemma: Adding too much of a new twist to Smith's songs might seem arrogant or inappropriate, while...

Nada Surf

Last Chrismukkah, an entire generation did a double take when The O.C. 's resident indie geek, Seth Cohen, uttered the words "Death Cab for Cutie" on network television during prime time. A year later, it's clear a new era has arrived when the biggest name on the soundtrack to TV's...