“There’s something animal in all of us,” croons Animal Kingdom's lead vocalist Richard Sauberlich in “Two By Two,” a re-imagining of the story of Noah’s Ark, and a standout track on Signs & Wonders, the recently released debut album from the London-based quartet. By meshing a pop sensibility with underlying despondency and experimental edge, the fledgling band has invited comparisons to Coldplay, Snow Patrol, and Oasis, and is attracting increasing numbers of fans on both sides of the Atlantic. Most recently, they've been recording in a Seattle studio with producer Phil Ek, the man behind the acclaimed Fleet Foxes and Band of Horses LPs. But despite the Coldplay references, lead vocalist Richard Sauberlich is no Chris Martin wannabe, and Animal Kingdom’s impressive debut is a far cry from that band's radio-friendly fare. We caught up with Sauberlich from the group’s North London church-turned-studio to chat about their new-found success, their secret acoustic shows, and the "rite of passage" that is a U.S. tour.

London-based indie outfit The Temper Trap are ensaring an international fan base with their fresh, accessible sound -- a layering of catchy melodies with sensitive vocals and stratospheric guitar. With the pop sensibility and universal appeal of U2 and Coldplay (two big names with whom the Australian foursome have frequently been aligned), The Temper Trap’s star is on the rise. Not only were they named one of the BBC’s Top 15 Sounds of 2009 and but they have been teetering on brink of fame on this side of the Atlantic as well ever since their punchy single “Sweet Disposition” was featured in the teaser trailer and soundtrack of indie romantic comedy (500) Days of Summer. The jet-setting quartet is swiftly venturing from down under to front and center in the musical world, with the US release of their new album Conditions. Over lunch at Café Mogador, Dougy Mandagi (vocals), Johnny Aherne (bass), Lorenzo Sillito (guitar), and Toby Dundas (drums) charmed us with their Aussie accents and talk of travels abroad.

The debut album from Oregon’s Hockey delivers a hat trick of electro-infused dance, pop and disco.

The Brooklyn eight-piece, going note-for-note with the best.

'SNL' alum goes meta

When Anna Chlumsky starred as Macaulay Culkin’s automatic crush Vada Sultenfuss in the 1991 classic My Girl, a child star was born. But then came a string of mild films that led Chlumsky away from Hollywood and into college life as an international studies major at the University of Chicago. But now that she's all growed up, Chlumsky is making what seems like an inevitable bid for a serious career as an actress, and she's launching it with In the Loop. In the political satire, Chlumsky plays the sexy and ambitious Liza Weld -- aide to the US Assistant Secretary for Diplomacy (Mimi Kennedy) -- whose anti-war briefing paper causes a cross-Atlantic stir. We caught up to the actress to talk about her return to the big screen and what she likes about living in Brooklyn.

Rock, Darwinism, and the Bowery Ballroom.

On bombs and short fuses

In the Williamsburg apartment/recording studio of Nick Millhiser and Alex Frankel -- childhood best friends turned electro heroes Holy Ghost!, I’m drinking from a mug with a picture of a young Millhiser and Frankel on one side and the words “I love my auntie” on the other. It’s a testament to the longevity of their friendship and creative partnership. The duo has been working together for almost 15 years, from their elementary school breakdance crew West Side Boyz, to high school rap group Automato, to their current incarnation as Holy Ghost!. With the wildly successful release of their debut disco-tronic dance single “Hold On” and a slew of subsequent remixes under their belt -- most recently for Parisian pop rockers Phoenix's new single “Lisztomania” -- the two DJs have garnered a burgeoning wave of hype and numerous remix requests. On the 24th of June, their new single "I Will Come Back" is released and available exclusively at Green Label Sound. It's their first original piece of music in two years since the release of "Hold On." Eating takeout sushi and smoking American Spirits, Millhiser and Frankel discuss experiences on tour in Europe, where to find good dance music in New York, and the demise of radio hip hop.