Bobby Donnie Plays the Bobby Donny Songs
Bobby Donnie (Ehse Records)

If you’ve ever hoped that Yeah Yeah Yeahs front woman Karen O and indie singer-harpist Joanna Newsom would collaborate, Bobby Donnie might be the group for you. Like the aforementioned songstresses, this female rock-and-roll duo exudes a pride in their weirdness. Their songs are raw and sparse, but they play around with vocals and rock out with intermittent drum and guitar. They walk the line between rock, pop, and something artsy-experimental, but they don’t settle. Embrace the enigma and sway (or head bang) along.

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Batu Malablab
M.C. Schmidt (Megaphone/Knock ‘Em Dead Records)

As half of Baltimore’s electronic duo Matmos, M.C. Schmidt is no stranger to breaking conventions. Schmidt isn’t exactly a musician; he’s a sort of non-musician. Instead of making pretty melodies, he experiments with sound, melding dissonant tones into something minimal, ambient, and surprisingly meditative, which he calls “imaginary global music.” It’s like the soundtrack to some mythical samurai tale: full of ancient bells, chimes, and woodwind—riddled with drama and suspense. In the end, you’ll find yourself in a state of zen.