A founding member of prolific San Francisco garage rockers the Fresh & Onlys, Tim Cohen has always found time for various collaborations and solo projects. After putting out several albums and EPs under his own name and his nom de guerre Feller Quentin, Cohen is set to release the second record under his latest alias, Magic Trick. The upcoming Ruler Of The Night was recorded quickly during bouts of inspiration, and we think its carefree, ramshackle sound suits its songs perfectly.

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Pepper Rabbit is the rare sort of band that you can’t help but like. Even though they don’t call Louisiana home, it’s no secret that the Los Angeles duo takes most of its inspiration from New Orleans, the city where they recorded their strikingly fun debut LP, Beauregard. And while multi-instrumentalist frontman Xander Singh and drummer Luc Laurent don’t play anything resembling zydeco or hot jazz, the Big Easy’s unmistakable vibe also permeated the sessions for Beauregard’s excellent follow-up, 2011’s Red Velvet Snow Ball. Whether Singh is playing ukelele, clarinet, or whatever else he can get his hands on, he and Laurent manage to conjure and capture New Orleans’ joyous musical mojo every time out.

Although he considered quitting music outright after his ouster from the Shins a few years back, Marty Crandall decided to keep at it by forming a new band with his brother Maury and a few old friends from their hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Naming the outfit Sad Baby Wolf, the Crandall brothers and their cohorts have been quietly releasing singles and covers – our favorite so far is their terrific take on Neutral Milk Hotel’s “Everything Is” – before their debut album hits the ground running later this spring!

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If you’re a fan of M83, you’ll almost certainly recognize Morgan Kibby’s heavenly voice from the French band’s albums, particularly the 2008 breakthrough Saturdays = Youth. Even though she’s still a member of M83, Kibby has started to make her solo mark under the White Sea moniker as not only a recording artist, but also an in-demand remix producer for, among others, Britney Spears and the Naked and Famous. Her debut EP, This Frontier, possesses a lush, grand sound we can’t get enough of – perfect for when you’re getting yourself ready for a big night!

One moment he’s channeling the loose spirit of Paul McCartney’s tuneful early 1970s albums; the next, he’s shredding his vocal cords while bashing through riff-stomping rock. Indeed, it’s tough to pigeonhole Young Hines…and yes, that’s his given name. The Georgia native began playing music as a pre-teen; many years later, a chance encounter with singer-songwriter Brendan Benson through a mutual friend resulted in not only a new musical compatriot, but a deal with Benson’s Readymade Records imprint. Benson himself produced Hines’ fine new album, Give Me My Change, and we’ll hardly be surprised if it turns out to be one of our favorite records of 2012.

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Their rootsy music conjuring images of sun-bleached barns and beach barbecues, the Black are one of the most Americana-laced bands we’ve heard in quite some time – perfect for the summer to come. The Austin, Texas foursome weaves classic vocal harmonies over barroom-ready melodies in a rich tradition that stretches from Bob Dylan circa The Basement Tapes to Wilco’s Being There / Mermaid Avenue period. You can bet the farm that the Black’s latest album, Sun In The Day Moon At Night, will be the first thing we cue up on our next drive down a lonesome highway.

When he’s not manning the keyboards for UK dancefloor favorites La Roux, Mikey Norris busies himself with his own recording project, Fort Romeau. Listening to his solo material – which is definitely rougher and more club-ready than anything by La Roux – we get a strong sense of mysteriousness, and it’s something that makes these songs so versatile. Indeed, whether in the car, at the gym, out for a run, or even at a party, Fort Romeau tracks seem right at home as they worm their way into the foreground of your life. Check the new single “SW9” to hear what all the fuss is about!

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Spending her childhood on a Hawaiian farm but long since relocated to the US mainland, Los Angeles singer-songwriter Jess Penner continues to carve out her own niche. On the heels of her 2010 solo debut, Love Love Love, we’re now super-excited for her follow-up LP, Growing In The Cold, which Penner self-produced at home. Trading in Love Love Love’s summery vibe for a crisp and confident – but still catchy – blend of folk and easygoing electro-pop, Growing In The Cold is destined to become one of our listening mainstays…and perhaps one of yours as well!

Lansing, Michigan’s finest punk-damaged power trio, Cheap Girls, wear their influences all over their songs’ sleeves – a little Sugar here, some Alkaline Trio there, a smattering of the Hold Steady everywhere. Having worked with Tom Gabel of Against Me! on their third and latest album, the newly released Giant Orange, the group sounds as tight as ever. The instantly catchy “Ruby” is our early favorite on the album, although several others give it a run for its super-melodic money.

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It’s so refreshing when a new singer comes around, especially when she keeps releasing great singles. That’s how we felt when we first heard Jessie Ware, who’s last two songs keep getting stuck in our head (in a good way!). Earlier this year she released “Running,” which is a hypnotic, pulsing pop song highlighting her classic diva vocals. Now this week she came out with a new single, “110%,” which features a sample from Big Pun which sits in sharp contrast to her quiet, emotional whispered vocal. It’s beautiful, and we’re totally fans now. We’re definitely going to keep track to see what she comes out with next!