There's something innately charming about Charles Watson and Rebecca Taylor--the Sheffield, England-based pair that comprise Slow Club--in the course of their live performances.

Caught by Y! Music during their appearance at the recent South By Southwest conference in Austin this year, the pair come off as a low-key boy/girl duo in the classic  rock 'n' roll sense--singing together both in harmony and in unison, stylistically seeming to borrow from rural American music forms and, at times, oddly recalling the unique '60s pairing of Lee Hazelwood and  Nancy Sinatra.

Officially formed in 2006 after the demise of Sheffield band the Lonely Hearts, Slow Club have been heard in the usual run of seemingly random commercials (Ritz crackers, Lay's potato chips, Vodafone) and TV shows (Chuck, United States Of Tara), but can be heard to much greater effect on Yeah So, their debut album just released Stateside recently.

That Slow Club is attracting an interesting fan base is difficult to argue--as

Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore are responsible for one of the year's finest albums--and, however unappetizing it may sound, much of it is about coal mining.

More specifically, the pair, along with fellow Kentuckian Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket as producer, have produced Dear Companion, a heartfelt, wonderfully performed album of songs in part aimed to draw people's attention to the issue of Mountaintop Removal coalmining (MTR). What's that? Per Wikipedia, it's a process that "involves blasting with explosives to remove up to 400 vertical feet (120 m) of mountain to expose underlying coal seams. Excess rock and soil laden with toxic mining byproducts are often dumped into nearby valleys, in what are called 'holler fills' or 'valley fills.'"

Both directly and indirectly, Dear Companion explores the impact of the that process on both the environment and working lives of the people of central Appalachia; a portion of the album's sales, in fact, will benefit Appalachian Voices, a group

Ever have one of those "oh, so that's who does that song" moments?

It happened over here a few weeks before this year's South By Southwest Conference in Austin, Texas--where a shifting, international cast of popular and rising artists appear annually, impress the heck out of everyone, then often go right back home.

In this instance, the moment came upon giving a listen to Dancing The Whole Way Home, a new release on Minty Fresh Records by Miss Li.

Miss Li--born Linda Carlsson in Borlänge, Sweden, 20-something years ago--had already released three album back home and amassed a significantly large following, but here in the States she'd been inserting herself into our culture the way it's done in 2010: via songs featured in TV shows like Weeds and Grey's Anatomy or commercials for Desperate Housewives.

But then there was this iPod Nano commercial.

Afer that--and one listen to Dancing All The Way Home--we were hooked. And you may be, too.

Take a look at this informal performance and

Hall & Oates have always been cool, really, but Philly's blue-eyed soul duo is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance as of late, with the Gym Class Heroes naming one of their treks the "Daryl Hall For President Tour"; Daryl Hall getting artists like KT Tunstall, Chromeo, Diane Birch, and the Gym Class Heroes' Travis McCoy to guest on his online music/talk show, Live From Daryl's House; and Koot Hoomi and Robert Lurie paying homage to the duo on their tribute disc, The Dark Side Of Hall & Oates.

Another act that worships at the pop altar of H&O is the Bird & The Bee (the indie-pop duo of singer-songstress Inara George and Ke$ha/Lily Allen/Flaming Lips/Kylie/Peaches producer Greg Kurstin), who in fact love the '70s/'80s yacht-rockers so much, they've recorded their own full album of H&O covers, Interpreting The Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall & John Oates.

B&B recently brought their H&O tribute to Los Angeles's sold-out El Rey Theater, and they made fans' dreams come true for

Cookie cutter artists find a style that works and stick withit. But newcomer Jason Derulo is not afraid to take a risk.

The 20 year-old singer-songwriter from Miami, Floridascored a No. 1 hit with his debut release, "Whatcha Say," a synthesized,mid-tempo track about cheating. But for his follow up single, "In My Head," heopted for something a bit brasher, with rock guitars.

"I continue to reinvent myself with every song," Derulo saidwhen he visited the Yahoo! Music studios to perform the songs for hisself-titled album. "Prince, Michael Jackson, and Madonna, they continued toreinvent themselves time and time again. That's what makes a legend. That'swhat I aspire to do."

Derulo has worked hard to prepare himself for his pursuit oflegendary status in the music business. He began as a child, attendingperforming arts schools where he studied classical music and various forms ofdance, including tap, ballet, and jazz.

But it was the creative freedoms pop music afforded him thatcaught his

Though not quite a new band--their debut album first emerged in 2003--Rogue Wave is has been reaching a newer and larger audience with each successive album.

Permalight, the band's fourth and latest effort, is likely to expand that audience considerably.

Their second album for Brushfire Records, the label owned by eco-friendly recording artist Jack Johnson, it's a step up both musically and production-wise for the band--an intriguing combination of accessible melodies and surprisingly sharp, mature lyrics. Largely performed by singer/songwriter Zach Rogue and drummer/multi-instrumentalist Pat Spurgeon, with a host of guest musicians, Permalight is perhaps the strongest item in the band's catalog and a good indication that even better material may be on its way.

And aside from the album? The band's music is everywhere. Commercials, TV shows (One Tree Hill, Nip/Tuck, Heroes, Friday Night Lights, Scrubs and more) and anywhere else music can ostensibly be attached. Anyone who saw last

Australia's Daniel Merriweather is best known in America as the blue-eyed soul crooner heard on Mark Ronson's cover of the Smiths' "Stop Me If You Think That You've Heard This One Before," but he's already a chart-topping sensation Down Under and in Britain. And now he's set to become a Grammy-sweeping, Adele-esque success in the States, once his Ronson-produced U.S. debut album, Love & War, finally comes out February 23.

While the feminine likes of Adele, Amy Winehouse, Duffy, and Sharon Jones have ushered in a new era of throwback soul in the last couple of years, few retro-R&B males have made inroads in the old-is-new-again genre. Daniel, with his honeyed vocals and matinee idol looks, may very well change all that. And his critically acclaimed Love & War even features a duet with the aforementioned Adele that is a real stunner.

In January 2010, tastemaking Los Angeles radio station KCRW sponsored an intimate Daniel show on the rooftop of the Paley Center For Media museum in

A new face? Could be. Kate Voegele has been stirring up the music world lately with her recent release A Fine Mess--an excellent collection of material that sometimes dwells in the surprisingly personal--and gathering increased momentum among fans and critics alike.

New? Those who watch TV may also recognize Kate from her role as Mia Catalano on One Tree Hill. And those present at Farm Aid in 2005 and 2005 would have seen the young, Ohio-born singer performing onstage with the likes of Neil Young and John Mellencamp.

But all these levels of exposure have only helped Kate break through to the masses; songs from A Fine Mess popped up regularly on One Tree Hill during its week of release, and the singer's active schedule is reaping significant dividends. In fact, this Saturday afternoon, Feb. 20, Kate will be singing the national anthem before NASCAR'S NNS Stater Bros. 300.

Here's a chance to check out two live performances by Kate in a considerably more intimate environment. Recorded at