5. Tablo, Fever’s End:

Korean rapper Tablo’s epic two-part solo album Fever’s End includes brooding, brainy tracks like “Home” among more upbeat R&B influenced numbers. His English-language kiss-off to the fame game, “Dear TV” is a spare, envelope-pushing standout, but the whole album consists of that kind of reflective, solid material. There’s a post-hip hop/singer-songwriter vibe throughout, but it’s the sprinkling of K-pop dust that gives this debut just the right amount of kick. Listen to the wistful single “Tomorrow” by way of introduction.

 

 

 

 

 

4. The Koxx, Access OK:

Demonstrating that there’s more to Korean music than the K-pop machine, The Koxx made a strong argument for Seoul’s indie scene this when the quintet issued Access OK. Their pulsing, danceable electro rock evokes a young, urban sensibility and a little bit of danger. We’re already jumping up and down and yelling for an encore.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Cameras, In Your Room:

We’ve dubbed the lush, nocturnal tunes on Camera’s In Your Room “doom pop” and the trio isn’t mad at us. The Sydney, Australia group brings together chamber pop keys, scratchy guitar, a touch of heartfelt folk, and then switches off all the lights for a sophisticated mix that just begs for a subgenre term of its own. We were only too happy to oblige. Check out their buzzy debut if darkness lights up your life.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Hollie Cook, S/T:

Hollie Cook is super cool. And not ‘cus her dad played drums in the Sex Pistols and her mom was a 2 Tone ska goddess. Okay, that might have helped. But the UK chanteuse just is cool. She shows up, nonchalantly drops an album of smooth lovers rock-inspired “tropical pop” and then looks at you like “What?” Then she’s all like, “Oh, upcycled vintage reggae grooves weren’t a hot trend this year? Whoops!” And then you listen to her album and go “Holy crap! They weren’t but they really should have been.” And then you spend the rest of the year laying awake at night, praying she comes back with more music soon.

 

 

 

 

 

1. Kvelertak, S/T:

If there’s one debut from 2011 that left a lasting fist-shaped impression on us, it’s Kvelertak’s self-titled opening salvo. This Norwegian wolf pack reps black metal yet thinks of their outfit as a punk band. They care not for your puny metal purism! They care only for booty shaking riffs and melting your face. This you can hear in every uncompromising note. Please see: “Mjød.”