Hometown Hedspin crowned king at Red Bull Thre3Style final in Vancouver

Deejay's fast fingers and seizure-inducing sounds whipped the wobbly crowd into a patriotic frenzy.

Funk is more than skin deep for Chromeo

Chromeo never pretends to be thought-provoking, but the Montreal duo’s nods to the ”˜80s are sincere.

Cars and music go hand in hand, according to Funkmaster Flex

The reigning king of hip-hop car culture is legendary New York DJ-producer-radio personality Funkmaster Flex.

Breakage has no time for exclusionary electronica

While his latest album, Foundation, is technically dubstep, there’s more to James Boyle’s sophomore full-length release than his trademark bottom-feeder bass lines and complex high-hat arrangements.

Shout Out Louds dial down

For Swedish indie-rock act Shout Out Louds, work means recording, touring, and forgoing footwear in interesting places.

With a major buzz building, Burns is on fire

Emerging as the remixer of the moment in the U.K., Burns is the one-name wonder who’s rolling off the tongues of respected industry veterans and insatiable music bloggers alike.

Flight of the Conchords go balls to the wall in Vancouver

When two men take to a stage dressed like robots with glittering disco balls dangling from their, well, balls, while dancing to homemade electro-pop, there are a couple of possible explanations.

Pendulum captures the attention of Generation Xbox

Perth-cum-London rock ’n’ bass act Pendulum put together a live-instrument, rock-electronic fusion record and arena-style stage show designed to hold the limited attention span of their key demographic.

The standout sounds of '08: Deena Cox

Here are the ten albums I was loathed to delete from my 1GB iPod this year.

Dengue Fever takes a trip

At a time when young Americans were tripping out over the Vietnam War and bands like Jefferson Airplane and the Doors were rearranging radio with epic, acid-laced tunes, another '60s musical movement was happening amidst the chaos in Southeast Asia.

Sky-high ambitions fuel Angels & Airwaves

With two albums, a documentary, and a forthcoming feature film from his new love-and-life themed band, ex-Blink-182 member Tom DeLonge is now focusing on the Internet.

Backstreet Boys back, for good

The best-selling boy band has dusted off the cobwebs and re-emerged as a fully fledged man band, bearing the battle scars of climbing the charts and then fending for themselves when suddenly no one gave a shit.

Stone Temple Pilots comeback proves an arena-sized failure

One of the grunge-eras most loved and hated acts played the part of rock stars at Saturday night’s performance at GM Place but failed to get more than cued claps and whistles out of a sparse crowd.

Anti-Flag shines light on hot-button social issues

The punk rockers' latest release, The Bright Lights of America, is a hodgepodge of steel-toed moshers, arena-ready scorchers, and unpunky pop diversions. Musical eccentricities aside, the band’s focus on political and social activism hasn’t changed.

A Swedish connection pays off for Carolina Liar

Monte Negro shrugs off its forerunner status

Hard Candy and hard body keeps Madonna flying high

The celebrity titan and pussy powerhouse has seamlessly transitioned from pop provocateur to bridging the gap between the PTA and the trend of the day.

Dean & Britta look backward

Stars singer Torquil Campbell embraces pop-music anarchy

According to Campbell, there is also less and less to be excited about when it comes to indie rock music in general. The singer, who formed Stars in Toronto but is now based in Vancouver, says today's hipsters are being shortchanged by a scene where sticky angst and sweaty exuberance are being replaced by cautious moves and calculated career paths.

Big ass, small tip

"Meg" instantly immortalized

Bjí¶rk

Batty Bjí¶rk keeps it surreal

Björk

Apostle of Hustle shares his maniacal obsession

Emily Haines lives in the moment

Stefani is queen of MILFdom

Dance-punkers the Rapture revel in enigmatic myth-making

Oakenfold targets newbies

With so many newfound fans, Paul Oakenfold has taken steps to ensure mass confusion doesn't break out in the record shops.

Sussing Stefani's star power

More than just another girl from the O.C., the singer is a cultural touchstone.

Stellastarr*

Stockholm's Shout Out Louds like to party

t.A.T.u.

Girls with Guns

Three gets serious about his deejaying

Evolving not a major priority for Front 242

Gear to go

Jogging is a year-round obsession in Vancouver.

And the winner is…

Metric

Business is good for globetrotting DJ Behrouz

Idol"'s Aiken more than proud to be a mama's boy

And the awards go to...

Retro rap rears its head on Time Machine's "Radio"

Day of the Dead haunts train

Britain's bold Baebes get mediaeval

Audioslave

Art fans invited to Drift along Main Street

Dice a good bet to alienate the unadventurous

New Buffalo's Seltmann embraces her inner child

Green Day