In a summer that's already seen the Intonation Music Festival and MOVE!, it's shocking that the major influx of international artists Chicago-bound are only arriving now. In the next week, three major music festivals-- Lollapalooza, Pitchfork and Warped--bring a total artist list, as of press time, of 223 acts. With a whole `nother day added to Lollapalooza, an indie-rock dream at Pitchfork and a Warped lineup that ranges from Joan Jett to Rise Against, it's safe to say there's something for everybody. And if that's not enough, there's always the after-parties.
Tom Lynch, Seth Mayer and Kate Puhala offer an artist-by-artist guide to a deafening week of audible summertime bliss.

Lollapalooza
Grant Park, 300 S. Columbus
(August 4-6, 11:15am)
Tickets: $65 one-day pass, $150 three-day pass at (888)512-7469
www.lollapalooza.com

Pitchfork Music Festival
(July 29-30, Noon)
Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph
Tickets: $20 one-day pass at
www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com
(two-day passes are sold out)

Warped Tour
(July 30, Noon)
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, 19100 S. Ridgeland, Tinley Park
Tickets: $30-$32 at (312)559-1212
www.warpedtour.com


The Academy Is...
Let's officially retire the "Fall Out Boy's little brother" nickname. Very much its own band, The Academy Is... finds the right notes between emo and pop and makes Chicago proud. (Warped)

Ada
Electro mixed with rock and hip-hop elements--largely unknown but worth experiencing. (Pitchfork)

Adair
High-pitched, nasal vocals reminiscent of your little brother's after-school band backed by those weird older kids who still think its cool to play hard emo-rock and have a young'un sing about relationships and other things he doesn't understand yet. They pull it off. (Warped)

Aesop Rock & Mr. Lif
Two formerly underground staples of the hip-hop scene--one of the few hip-hop acts you'll see all week. (Pitchfork)

Against Me!
Scruffy, slightly off-key, shouted vocals seem so contrived that they take away from any originality this rock band actually possesses. (Warped)

Aiden
Driving teenage poppy punk rock with wimpy vocals, but does it matter when the lead singer's look is dead-on Edward Scissorhands? (Warped)

Alexisonfire
In cases such as this, MySpace.com can speak for itself: "sounds like a guy with a pretty voice getting into an argument with a guy who is kind of upset about things, while a guy who really likes punk is laughing with a guy who likes to rhyme while there is a guy who looks like a rat keeping time." (Warped)

Anathallo
This music happens when Sufjan Stevens' van stops hurtling across the America's open countryside and crosses the border into Animal Collective's hedonistic enchanted forest of noise. (Lollapalooza)

Andrew Bird
An eclectic local hero mixes folk with indie rock, some country and some blues. (Lollapalooza)

Anti-Flag
Still fighting against corporate America and war blah blah blah using the only weapon they know: punk rock. (Warped)

Aqualung
Does this guy really think we believe he's telling the truth when he says he had never heard of Jethro Tull before settling on this moniker? It's Top-40 fare from the UK, destined for soundtracks for bad movies. (Lollapalooza)

Armor For Sleep
A natural blend of melodic choruses and screeching emo make a perfect fit for newcomers looking to travel to the dark side. (Warped)

Art Brut
Smart-ass UK pop--if you can get past the overabundant sarcasm, it's pretty damn good. (Pitchfork)

Assassins
Electronic dance-rock, rich with goth-like shadows and a stranger's intimidating glare. (Lollapalooza)

A-Trak
DJ and turntablist who won the World DJ Championship in 1997 at the age of 15. Now DJs for Kanye. (Pitchfork)

The Audition
Dance-rock band with energetic, pop-punk stylings--from Chicago and on Victory. (Warped)

Band of Horses
Sub Pop stars are heavy on the guitars and lyrical despondency. (Pitchfork)

Be Your Own Pet
Thurston Moore loves `em, and Sleater and Yeah Yeah Yeahs comparisons aside, Be Your Own Pet slaughters through its self-titled debut with gorgeous, adolescent fervor. (Lollapalooza)

Ben Kweller
At its core, it's simply boyhood wonder pop aimed to swoon girls, but Kweller pulls it off with undeniable charisma. (Lollapalooza)

The Benevento-Russo Duo
Two-man jazz duo that blends electric jazz with rock `n' roll, acid jazz and punk influences. (Lollapalooza)

Billy Talent
These Canadians should accept their fate as hockey players instead of trying to create arrogant and edgy eyeliner-rock that many bands on this list surely do better. (Warped)

Blackalicious
The West Coast hip-hop duo still shines after possibly peaking with 2002's "Blazing Arrow." (Lollapalooza)

The Blackout Pact
The Denver post-hardcore band sounds like its influences--Alkaline Trio, The Lawrence Arms--but falls way short of its obvious aspirations. (Warped)

The Bled
Metalcore from the desert on Vagrant. Yes, these guys are mad. (Warped)

Blue October
Houston rock band delivers radio-friendly pop fare with a sprinkle of self-reflective misery. (Lollapalooza)

Blues Traveler
The harmonica solos must stop! Just when you thought a bad jam band couldn't get worse, they added a harmonica! (Lollapalooza)

The Bon Mots
A dead-on, mature trip through a psychedelic forest best heard in a head shop, this could be Chicago's next big band. (Lollapalooza)

Bonde Do Role
Diplo's first live-band baile funk import features atonal shouting in Portuguese over illegally sampled pop songs and remixed American guitar rock, all in the name of sexy fun. (Pitchfork)

Bouncing Souls
A more mature, old-time feel-good poppy punk outlet, if only because the band has been pumping its fists for more than fifteen years. (Warped)

Boy Kill Boy
The England dance-pop crew does what it does well, but a little too well--there isn't anything new or inventive about it. (Lollapalooza)

Britt Black
Tame sweet-sounding female vocals fronting rock with an edge a little sharper than the Donnas, if the Donnas liked black lipstick. (Warped)

Broken Social Scene
The Canada indie rock outfit--with more than a dozen members--leads the influx of favorable pop that's recently emerged from our neighbors up north. (Lollapalooza)

Built to Spill
Despite the phoned-in record that is "You in Reverse," Built to Spill is an incredible live act--Doug Martsch's guitar-playing will not, cannot, be equaled. (Lollapalooza)

Bullet for My Valentine
U.K. metal band creeps into your skull with hardcore screaming and dead-on drum bullets. (Warped)

The Burden Brothers
Sounds like it came from the eighties or the early nineties. And not in the zealous, Sonic Youth kind of way either. (Lollapalooza)

Cage
Cage's recent "Hell's Winter" defines underground hip-hop--it's angry, it's personal and it's in your fucking face. And everyone else's. (Pitchfork)

Calexico
Alt-country with a Spanish tweak, Calexico's recent "Garden Ruin" is a summertime, have-a-glass-of-wine on the porch sort of record. (Lollapalooza)

Cameron McGill & What Army
Some say he could be the next Jeff Buckley--acoustic indie-folk for the weak-hearted. (Lollapalooza)

Cansei de Ser Sexy (CSS)
Kind of like a Brazilian LCD Soundsystem; the electro-punk pulses with sex and pop culture references. (Pitchfork)

Cartel
Catchy pop-rock with earnest, puppy-dog vocals sure to get a swoon or two out of the girls who wear striped arm warmers. (Warped)

The Casualties
Psycho street punk right out of the early-nineties--in fact, the early stuff is the only thing worth hearing. (Warped)

Catfish Haven
Southern-tinged, acoustic blues-rock for the trailer-park crowd. (Lollapalooza)

Chicago Underground Duo
Experimental, afro-rooted jazz that juxtaposes sparse chimes and drum taps with heavy, wailing horns. A jumble of piano keys and other sounds sneak up into the mix at unpredictable moments, but fall perfectly into place. (Pitchfork)

Chin Up Chin Up
One of Chicago's most talented bands--with a new album later this year, CUCU will bring back inventive, math-inspired rock. (Pitchfork)

Classic Crime
Dark emo-rock pounds behind definite melodies blended perfectly with scratchy shrieks in between unusually attractive vocal harmonies. (Warped)

Closedown
Canadian screamo with spastic vocals. Promises to come with convulsing stage moves. (Warped)

Coheed and Cambria
Hard rock that sometimes stumbles into light metal, New York's C and C creates self-important concept albums that keep us asking, "Who cares?" (Lollapalooza)

Cold War Kids
With plodding rhythms, tinkling keys and plaintive vocals, CWK sounds like the West Coast's answer to The Walkmen. (Lollapalooza)

Common
More Chi-town pride--his work with Kanye (big surprise!) is some of the best hip-hop in the country right now. (Lollapalooza)

Crane
Mediocre emo-rock with fast-paced guitar strokes and all-too-familiar scream-sing melodies. (Warped)

Cursive
Omaha and Saddle Creek's wonderboys of straightforward, mid-nineties indie rock. (Lollapalooza)

Damone
True story: the bassist of this band had a brain hemorrhage and came out of his two-day coma still willing to pound out hardcore tracks behind mischievous female vocals. Rock and fucking roll. (Warped)

Danielson
As Daniel Smith continues to sail further into the sea of elaborate, God-fearin' oddity, we follow him, hoping the boat won't sink. (Pitchfork)

Deadboy & The Elephantmen
A gruesome twosome of blues rock, sometimes fuzzy and thick, sometimes hauntingly acoustic. The White Stripes wish they could do this. (Lollapalooza)

Death Cab for Cutie
A helluva year for the Pacific Northwest's lovelorn indie-popsters--"Plans" is its biggest hit yet, and Gibbard and crew are only going up. (Lollapalooza)

Destroyer
Dan Bejar's other band--Dylan-influenced mock folk filled with alarming cynicism and self-reflective doubt. (Pitchfork)

Devendra Banhart
Fly your freak-folk flag into the night. (Pitchfork)

Diplo
Philly's tastemaker DJ, who toured with M.I. A. and then became the US ambassador for baile funk from Brazil. (Pitchfork)

The Disco Biscuits
Philadelphia jam band that fuses electronics with guitar jams. If you can't think of anything worse, you're not alone. (Lollapalooza)

Dominik Eulberg
Quiet, understated German techno that dances in psychedelia and ambience. (Pitchfork)

Down to Earth Approach
Soft, sappy rock from sensitive boys who are ripe with emotion and are confident they have discovered the secrets to the abstract theories of love. (Warped)

The Dresden Dolls
Two-piece punk-goth from Boston. Think of that weird play in "Interview with a Vampire." (Lollapalooza)

The Early November
Jersey-shore emo that's as derivative as it is shameless. (Warped)

Editors
The UK's new injection of Interpol-like rock--a dead ringer for Ian Curtis, singer and chief songwriter Tom Smith has his inspirations in order. (Lollapalooza)

Eels
Mark Oliver Everett's neverending project continues to evolve with elements of alt-rock, blues and dream-pop. His cover of Daniel Johnston's "Livin' Life" is gorgeous, as well. (Lollapalooza)

8 Bold Souls
Take a breather with this jazzy eight-piece who've been jumping from melodic trumpet solos to blaring tuba blasts since 1985. (Pitchfork)

Eight Fingers Down
SoCal punk band that strings words together in true Tom DeLonge slur-sing fashion. But no potty humor Blink 182-style found here. (Warped)

18 Visions
Headbangable, yet danceable goth-metal with emotionally loaded lyrics that not surprisingly jump from an everything's-gonna-be-OK pat on the back to a flipped middle finger. (Warped)

Elvis Perkins
His soft, meandering vocals and minimalist acoustic compositions sound like Will Oldham without that creepy, "Deliverance"-esque hillbilly feel. (Lollapalooza)

Emanuel
Typical screamo. Definitely not the second coming. (Warped)

Emery
Introspective, emotional lyrics that linger in front of ordinary rock-pop. A very safe sound, allowing them to run at the front of the scene. (Warped)

Every Time I Die
Charismatic vocals supply this hardcore band with strength in their transitions from migraine-inducing drumbeats to glass shattering screams. (Warped)

Feature Presentation
Fast-tempo screamo verses, melodic and passionate breakdowns, scream scream scream. Repeat. (Warped)

Feist
Moody, atmospheric indie-folk from Canada, Feist's eloquent and haunting voice will stay with you for ages. (Lollapalooza)

Ferus
As a punk/ hardcore/emo band, you have three fashion options: wear black, plaid or white. Ferus chooses to dress in the latter, showing that their fashion is as playful and innocent as its flirty female vocals. (Warped)

The Flaming Lips
The Oklahoma space-rock three-piece always impresses live given its ambitious overreaching on recorded material--"The Soft Bulletin" is still the best, though. (Lollapalooza)

Flash Bathory
Crazy metal riffs fly from the fingers of the 17-year-old female guitarist. The Lady Sov of metal: you don't expect such a big noise to come out of such a little thing. (Warped)

Flosstradamus
Notorious for spinning eclectic hip-hop to crowds of dancing hipsters, perfect for any shaker who is confident enough to cut in. (Pitchfork)

The Fold
Harmonious emo-pop from Chicago's West Side, The Fold's hooks are equally catchy and mind-numbing. (Warped)

The Frames
The Irish rock band has gotten slicker over the years, but the songwriting's gotten more solid and stable as well. (Lollapalooza)

From Autumn to Ashes
If someone feels a sore throat coming on, nine out of ten doctors would probably not recommend straining your voice by screaming/ singing to hardcore metal. That tenth doctor is probably a fan of From Autumn to Ashes. (Warped)

The Fully Down
Canadian rock band on Fearless, The Fully Down fully surpasses many contemporaries with thicker guitar workings and memorable hooks. (Warped)

The Futureheads
Indie pop without boundaries--the Heads transition from genre to genre with ease. (Pitchfork)

Gatsby's American Dream
Prog rock that's a bit reminiscent of Dismemberment Plan, catchy and spastic. (Warped)

Ghislain Poirier
Electronica artist from Montreal likes his beats dirty and his hip-hop torn to super sexy shreds. Testing out his solo skills after collaborating with DJs and MCs, and it sounds like he's spinning gold. (Lollapalooza)

Glenn Kotche
The drummer of Wilco chases the solo dream with experiments in rhythms and keyboards that seemingly strive to sound like nothing at all. It's great. (Pitchfork)

Gnarls Barkley
Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo have some hit on their hands--folks are still crazy over "Crazy," and they've only been a group for a few months. (Lollapalooza)

The Go! Team
One of the top live acts you'll see all year--the dancing, pulsing and heart-throbbing never stops tugging at your desire to lose your shit and fucking move. (Lollapalooza)

Greeley Estates
Screamy and angst-filled, its music is alternately harsh and mournful. (Warped)

Gym Class Heroes
Hip-hop for people who appreciate songs about instant messaging and recreational prescription drug use. It's actually pretty good and reminds you why you don't call your friends from high school. (Warped)

Hard-Fi
Massive overseas in its native England, Hard-Fi's indie rock has reached a mainstream as the band sells out every one of its shows. (Lollapalooza)

He Is Legend
Named after a story about vampires and it sure does suck. (Warped)

Hellogoodbye
Bouncy and synthesizer-infused, just like if Dashboard Confessional were robots who wanted to make you dance instead of cry because you're still terrified to talk to girls. (Warped)

Helmet
Lo-fi recording, drop D-tuned heavy metal--there's a reason why Helmet is still around. (Warped)

The Hold Steady
Brooklyn's The Hold Steady has had an impressive one-two punch with rock records "Almost Killed Me" and "Separation Sunday." Can they keep it up? (Lollapalooza)

Hot Chip
British electro-pop that's more dance than rock, Hot Chip shines on both "Coming on Strong" and "The Warning." (Lollapalooza)

Hot Machines
Bluesy, guitar-driven rock that's as moody as it is sloppy. (Pitchfork)

Husky Rescue
If Superman's fortress of solitude was a European discotheque that served expensive, clear, ice-cold drinks for clubgoers to sip, Husky Rescue would be the only record spinning. (Lollapalooza)

Iron & Wine
Sam Beam's whispery acoustic balladry--always with a bluesy, Southern-gothic haunt--has been some of the best music of the decade. "Naked As We Came," his song off of 2004's "Our Endless Numbered Days," still resonates. (Lollapalooza)

I Voted for Kodos
Used to be pretty straight ska, but lately it's gotten some more synth in its step. (Warped)

Jeff Parker/Nels Cline Quartet
Jeff Parker of Tortoise teams with Wilco's current guitarist Nels Cline, two backbones behind two of Chicago's most respected outfits. (Pitchfork)

Jens Lekman
Straight outta Sweden--like Stephen Merritt, the singer-songwriter can pull a phrase off with stunning honesty. (Pitchfork)

Jeremy Enigk
Former leader of Sunny Day Real Estate goes the solo route. (Lollapalooza)

Jim Noir
Reppin' Manchester, Noir embodies the spirit of all those catchy sixties British bands critics love to compare every pop-musician ever to. Infectious as hell. (Lollapalooza)

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
One of the senior crew on this year's Warped bill--Jett's influence and credibility can never be questioned. (Warped)

Jon McLaughlin
Quite elegant piano-driven rock a la Ben Folds, though the only thing in common with Folds might be the piano: McLaughlin's airy voice makes him more of a crooner, and his songs are much less quirky and much more about love.

Kanye West
Mad props to Perry Farrell for booking Jesus Christ as Lollapalooza's headliner. (Lollapalooza)

Katie Todd Band
Local pop quartet seems destined for radio play--the delicate, sweeping vocal delivery sets it all apart from the rest. (Lollapalooza)

Kelley Stoltz
Stoltz's piano-driven pop is a bit funkier than you'd expect--there's no bellyaching here, just incessant staccato key punching. (Lollapalooza)

Kill Hannah
Chicago's goth-rock crew mixes in pop and electonics--they've been around for a while, haven't they? (Lollapalooza)

Lady Sovereign
The queen of hard-nosed hip-hop will, indeed, punch your lights out. (Lollapalooza)

Lanz
Right outta NYC's underground hip-hop scene, Lanz is a 16-year-old (16!) female powerhouse. (Lollapalooza)

Less Than Jake
The ska-punk staples never grow tired, never grow old. (Warped)

Liars
Liars' have gone the way of melancholy in the last year--they drop the beats and pick up the guitar to create a spacious, dreamlike sound. (Pitchfork)

The Lifeline
Chicago emo-punk incorporates a daring violin for an interesting, if off-putting, sound. (Warped)

The Living End
Melbourne-based pop-punk that has that overseas edge and solid, growing intros to all of its songs. (Warped)

Living Things
Politcally charged rock from St. Louis--overall forgettable, but that "Bom Bom Bom" song finds solace in its garage rock roots. (Lollapalooza)

Lorene Drive
With emotive singing, angular guitar and powerful drums, this is arena rock for the mall punk crowd. (Warped)

Lyrics Born
The Japanese-Italian-American MC mixes hip-hop with funk and rock, unafraid of throwing in the pop hook every now and again. (Lollapalooza)

The M's
Beatles-esque pop rock from Chicago--one of our best bands--and "Future Women," its most recent, proves it. (Lollapalooza)

Makeshifte
Fun pop-rock that sounds like Yellowcard, but much less exciting since Makeshifte has no back-flipping violinist. (Lollapalooza)

Man Man
Weird indie dance-pop that giggles its way into an oblivion of stupidity. (Pitchfork)

Manic Sewing Circle
Reppin' Chicagoland, this five-piece's horn-infused, energetic music will have you skankin' in no time, whether that's a good thing or not. (Warped)

Manishevitz
Adam Busch's hasn't quite achieved what he did with 2000's "Rollover," but he's come close enough--the acoustic pop serves him, his voice and his temperament, well. (Lollapalooza)

Manu Chao
French-Latin folk with Spanish ties and a punk, Clash-influenced background. (Lollapalooza)

Mates of State
Married keyboard-pop--the harmonies will seduce you, and then suffocate you with their strange cuteness. (Lollapalooza)

Matisyahu
Hasidic Jewish reggae? It's safe to say the New Yorker's cornered the market. The beard helps. (Lollapalooza)

Matmos
The inventive sparkle of odd electronic meandering that playfully uses absurd noise samples and idiosyncratic instruments. (Pitchfork)

Matt Costa
Sha la la la la...This guy definitely started playing guitar just to pick up girls. (Lollapalooza)

Matthew Dear
Dear channels the influential beats of Detroit techno and fuses them with electro-pop. (Pitchfork)

Midlake
Sprawling indie rock has the eerie power to engulf its listeners with its precise use of grungy guitars and haunting harmonies. (Lollapalooza)

Misery Signals
As heavy and dark as its name would suggest, this music is angry and melodic. (Warped)

Mission of Burma
Boston post-punk that never fails to come through--each record is at least as solid as the last. (Pitchfork)

The Modern Day Saints
New England indie-emo that tries to pass for garage rock--unsuccessfully, mind you. (Warped)

Moneen
Very reminiscent of the Get Up Kids' style of catchy, expressive tunes. (Warped)

Moses Mayfield
Deep and soulful pop-rock paired with scruffy yet melodic vocals keep this band edgy and on top of their game.

Motion City Soundtrack
One of Warped's more intriguing acts--MCS combines traditional pop-punk with keyboards and enough catchy hooks to kill somebody. (Warped)

Mountain Goats
With each passing record of acoustic pop, charmed with his piercing voice and narrative lyrical ability, John Darnielle continues to prove he's one of our most important songwriters. (Pitchfork)

Musical Outfits
Fun indie rock with breathy vocals that bounces from shoulder to shoulder and has potential to break your feet from its stationary place on the floor. (Lollapalooza)

Mute Math
Pounding, sweeping Radiohead-lite rock with Christian rock underwear on. (Lollapalooza)

My American Heart
Wandering lead guitar solos and triumphant choruses. And they cover "Hit Me With Your Best Shot." (Warped)

My Morning Jacket
Beloved Louisville rock band sounds great while entrenched in its signature reverb-swamped and Southern-influenced jams on its records, but live, it's surprisingly dull. (Lollapalooza)

Nada Surf
"Popular" is funny. "Let Go" is genius. "The Weight is a Gift" takes time, but proves to be a potential bridge to the perfect record this band has always threatened to make. (Lollapalooza)

The National
Chamber pop mixed with straightforward indie-indifference, The National needs to make up its mind instead of trying to do everything. (Pitchfork)

The New Amsterdams
Kansas City indie rock from Matthew Pryor, former leader of The Get Up Kids--much, much more meaningful than The Get Up Kids. (Lollapalooza)

The New Pornographers
A.C. Newman and team returned last year with the stellar "Twin Cinema," the indie-pop songwriter's best work to date. (Lollapalooza)

Nickel Creek
An acoustic trio with foundations in bluegrass and country, Nickel Creek has recently gone contemporary, covering songs by Pavement and Radiohead. (Lollapalooza)

NOFX
Skater-punk legends from Berkeley--political, funny and having never lost a step (the band's been together for twenty years), NOFX leads this bill as trendsetters. (Warped)

Of Montreal
Athens, Georgia's other famous pop outfit--while straying of course in recent years, Of Montreal's psychedelic chamber pop during its Kindercore years still resonates. (Lollapalooza)

Ohmega Watts
Laid back, relaxed jazzy hip-hop with a funky edge, not unlike the drug-laden Tribe records of yore. (Lollapalooza)

Os Mutantes
Brazilian psychadelic rock from the Tropicalia movement in the sixties and seventies--legends that are getting together to play a couple shows, something even Kurt Cobain couldn't persuade them to do. (Pitchfork)

Panic! At the Disco¬¬
Chime in with one of the best at the game of emo-scene. Teenagers singing about not-so-teenage things with a bout of confidence will surely produce cocky fans out of the young and impressionable, as well as those snagged by the catchy and dramatic pop. (Lollapalooza)

Particle
Another jam band--this time from the West Coast--to fuse guitar rock with electronica, jazz and funk. (Lollapalooza)

Patent Pending
Fun and lively--the kind of music that used to be on the soundtrack of a Tony Hawk videogame that would stay stuck in your head for days afterwards. (Warped)

Pepper
Hawaii-founded reggae-ska for the weak-willed. (Lollapalooza)

Poi Dog Pondering
The eclectic Chicago jam band has been around for more than two decades now--and, while often long-winded, have gotten unfair comparisons over the years to bullshit flip-flop bands like, you guessed it, DMB--and continue to combine elements of folk, world music and advanced Tropicalia. (Lollapalooza)

The Pink Spiders
Charming, self-effacing alt-punk from Nashville, The Pink Spiders are gonna be huge. (Warped)

Pistolita
Interesting vocals, charismatic melodies and the off-kilter piano that drives its songs sets Pistolita apart as a band embracing singularity. (Warped)

Protest the Hero
Lots of rapid-fire riffs are in store for you if you check out this speedy metal assault. (Warped)

Queens of the Stone Age
Hard-hitting fuck-rock wins the kids over in droves--for us it's a little too simplistic, but what the hell. (Lollapalooza)

The Raconteurs
The endlessly overrated Jack White tries a band with a decent drummer, but the results are still forgettable. (Lollapalooza)

Rainer Maria
The Wisconsin-formed, Brooklyn-based emo trio has gone poppier with "Catastrophe Keeps Up Together," Rainer Maria's highest achievement since "A Better Version of Me." (Lollapalooza)

Red Hot Chili Peppers
Doesn't that "Dani California" song sound like Tom Petty's "Mary Jane's Last Dance"? Does anybody really need to see the Chili Peppers anymore? Give it away, now. (Lollapalooza)

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Anthemic, driving rock that has the kind of choruses crowds love to shout along with. (Warped)

The Redwalls
The swarmy Brit rockers--oh wait, they're from here! Why does he sing like that? (Lollapalooza)

Reverend Horton Heat
Texas-bred psychobilly whose energetic, nearly spastic live performances never grow tiresome. (Lollapalooza)

Rise Against
Chicago's outstanding, melodic hardcore outfit bests its previous records with "The Sufferer & Witness," its surefire gateway to the masses. (Warped)

Ryan Adams
Gross I-want-to-get-in-your-pants rock from the world's youngest on-stage drunk--if you like this, you lack parts that are essential in being human. (Lollapalooza)

Sa-Ra
Let's thank the thugs on the East Coast and West Coast for staying out of this trio's innovative hip-hop collaborations. Producers turn into funky, prowling beasts but stay trendy fashion whores. (Lollapalooza)

Saves the Day
Fuzzy riffs, catchy hooks and infectious melodies to spare--think Weezer with a more pop-punk feel and an engaging live show. (Warped)

Secret Lives of the Freemasons
Secret Lives' guitar solos, which spiral around like one of those hypnotic iMac screensavers, set them apart from the rest of the emocore scene. (Warped)

The Secret Machines
The slickest band to ever open a record with a ten-minute song, New York's The Secret Machines match space-rock elements with a hipster-slide, a sort of less-shy My Bloody Valentine. (Lollapalooza)

Senses Fail
From sunny Bergen County, NJ, Senses Fail is a darker, more moody version of bands like Saves the Day, sans the irony and biting lyrics. (Warped)

She Wants Revenge
Fuck-me electro-rock from a couple of the dirtiest-looking motherfuckers to ever surface. (Lollapalooza)

Shiragirl
Imagine if the Slits and Bikini Kill had a retarded cousin who'd been raised listening to nothing but the Donnas. (Warped)

The Shins
Will they change your life, like that insipid movie "Garden State" suggests? Doubt it, but the lo-fi, slow-burning indie group has made the most out its two releases. When's the next one coming? (Lollapalooza)

Silver Jews
The highlight of the Pitchfork fest, David Berman's exercise in Americana is both poetic and incredibly smart. (Pitchfork)

Silverstein
Emo-charged post-hardcore. (Warped)

Sleater-Kinney
Absolutely can't miss this--the country's best rock band has decided to call it quits and chose this show as its last. Goodnight, good luck and thank you for everything. (Lollapalooza)

The Smashup
Post-hardcore that comes dangerously close to that dreaded "screamo" term--these guys need to take it easy and learn to let things go. (Warped)

The Smoking Popes
The pop-punk band that ended far too early thankfully reunited last fall--a new album's reportedly on the way. (Lollapalooza)

So They Say
Listen up for echoey vocals in songs that alternate between softer, sadness-tinged electric guitar and big, expressive waves of sound. (Warped)

Sonic Youth
"Rather Ripped" is poppier and more structured than Sonic Youth has ever been, but in impressive ways that both look to the historic band's past and ahead to a brighter future. (Lollapalooza)

Sound Team
Austin-based weirdo crew with six members, fusing traditional indie rock with electronics and off-the-wall structuring. (Lollapalooza)

The Sounds
One of the best acts on the Warped Tour this year, Sweden's The Sounds mixes illustrious dance pop with bubblegum rock--a dangerous combination. (Warped)

Spank Rock
Dance music reminiscent of LCD Soundsystem, only a little more annoying, ambitious and goofy. (Pitchfork)

Sparta
The post-hardcore, ex-At the Drive-In band looked surefire to be gold in the early goings--maybe this October's "Threes" will do the trick. (Lollapalooza)

Split Fifty
The theatrical sound of Split Fifty's call and response vocals is only increased by the occasional appearance of twinkling piano in their otherwise hard-edged music. (Warped)

Spoon
More straightforward in recent years, the rock outfit reached a pinnacle of guitar and piano anthem-rousing with last year's "Gimme Fiction." (Pitchfork)

St. James
A fusion of classic folk elements with contemporary rock mentality births a beautifully conservative sound for those who like to take it easy. (Lollapalooza)

The Standard
From hushed acoustic pieces to rock with pianos to a sound like Wolf Parade, this band maintains a consistent haunting tone throughout its stylistically varying music. (Lollapalooza)

Stars
Canada's dance-inducing indie-pop darlings had one of 2005's best records in "Set Yourself on Fire," by far the band's top effort and a promising look towards the days ahead. (Lollapalooza)

Street Drum Corps
The experimental, pounding rhythms of SDC sound like a hip-hop-spiked version of Stomp for the punk kids. Should be cool to see in person. (Warped)

Stretch Arm Strong
Unlike its flexible toy namesake, these folks are dark, heavy, fast and angry. They also don't have a nemesis named Vac-Man, but that can be arranged. Ah-Ha! (Warped)

The Subways
British indie rock whose debut, "Young for Eternity," has enough attitude and shows enough spryness and talent that this band should be around for long, long time. (Lollapalooza)

The Sunstreak
Power-pop five-piece from Rochester, New York that evokes a mid-nineties, radio-rock sound. (Warped)

Sybris
Local rockers charm with angular guitars, softly howling vocals and a breezy attitude. (Lollapalooza)

Tapes `n Tapes
The Pavement-esque indie foursome from Minnesota continues to garner massive critical support for "The Loon," the band's self-released debut, one of the most enjoyable releases of the year so far, despite its unoriginality. (Pitchfork)

Tarantula A.D.
Prog rock with cellos, Tarantula A.D. creates a sinister sound without the bare essentials. (Pitchfork)

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
One of music's most essential artists, Ted Leo's dance-punk always entertains live. (Pitchfork)

Thievery Corporation
D.C.-based DJ duo that fuses acid jazz, dub and melancholic electronics--another "Garden State" soundtrack alumnus. (Lollapalooza)

30 Seconds to Mars
Goth-rock from "My So Called Life"'s Jared Leto. With each passing record, both on Virgin, you miss that show even more. (Lollapalooza)

Thursday
Uber-popular emo from New Jersey--to its credit, Thursday does it better than most, the hooks don't seem cookie-cutter and contrived. (Warped)

Tip the Van
No, drive the van off of the cliff. (Warped)

The Towers of London
Throwback rock `n' roll outfit that just opened for Guns n' Roses this last weekend. Need we say more? (Lollapalooza)

Trevor Hall
Diverse, poetic lyrics are whispered past folky acoustic plunks and reggae-style percussion. Deep, grainy voice and eclectic sound definitely sets this 19-year-old apart. (Lollapalooza)

Tyondai Braxton
As the son of jazz-great Anthony Braxton, Tyondai stands his ground by creating his own moving orchestra out of guitar, pedals and found objects. (Pitchfork)

Umphrey's McGee
Local jam band that unforgivably suffers from self-obsessed pride--they post set lists on their Web site. And what the fuck is up with that name? (Lollapalooza)

Underoath
Florida screamo--possibly the worst one on this list. Even Cannibal Corpse knows about subtlety. (Warped)

Valient Thorr
Fairly straightforward rock `n' roll with non-traditional starts and stops--keeps you guessing, but in the end you're just pissed off. (Warped)

Vaux
Denver rock `n' roll, too cool for fucking school. The debut's out this Tuesday. (Warped)

The Vincent Black Shadow
Danceable cabaret-pop-punk from Vancouver. Not sure if that's ever been written before. (Warped)

Violent Femmes
Strut your stuff, then go away. This could turn into one of those nightmare eighties parties. (Lollapalooza)

The Walkmen
New York City hipster spunk--Dylanesque and immediate. (Pitchfork)

We Are the Fury
Midwestern glam rock that's as showy and glitzy as it is obnoxious and unabashed. (Warped)

Ween
New Hope, Pennsylvania's permanent stoners have always been able to pull a phrase--whether it be "Push the Lil' Daisies" or "Chocolate and Cheese." Welcome back. (Lollapalooza)

What Made Milwaukee Famous
Bouncy melodies and compositions that are hard to ignore. Imagine if the Wrens had a singer who sang like Jeff Buckley, but only some of the time. (Lollapalooza)

Wilco
Chicago's alt-country pride and joy doesn't get old--"Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" and "The Ghost is Born" still rank pretty damn high in the library of recent local releases. (Lollapalooza)

Wolfmother
Great name, big following already. These Australians reflect the likable parts of Black Sabbath onto a canvas that's become all their own. (Lollapalooza)

Yo La Tengo
The Godfather of indie rock returns this year with a brand new record that'll surely feature guitarist Ira Kaplan's vicious, noise-driven leads. (Pitchfork)

Youth Decay
Go ahead. Go insane. Smash everything in sight. (Warped)

Zebrahead
California pop-punk that injects elements of hip-hop--impressive and tremendously strong live, the band shoves its songs down your throat. (Warped)

(2006-07-25)

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