Pop/Folk - Winner of a Swedish Grammy as Best New Artist in 2003 and then another for Best Female Artist this past year, Anna Ternheim has built a substantial fan base in Europe for her quietly intense, melancholic songs. Utilizing some spacious, atmospheric production, Ternheim turns her stark folk basics inside out with a matter-of-fact vocal delivery that seems to skate on the surface of something foreboding. Unafraid to explore the darker shadows of human emotions and relationships, Ternheim's bleak lyrical landscapes may be chilly, but they're also thoughtfully therapeutic, in a way, and refreshingly direct. "Halfway to Fivepoints" gathers songs from her two studio albums as well as a bracing, contemplative take on Fleetwood Mac's "Little Lies". Key tracks "Lovers Dream," "No Subtle Men" and the finely textured, quietly stunning title track focus on Ternheim's plaintive voice and left-of-center melodies that seem lifted from a noir Scandinavian film score.

Pop/Rock - Calling it "as close as I've gotten to making the record I've always wanted to make," acclaimed singer/songwriter Thompson returns with his fourth album. Following up last year's critically praised collection of traditional country covers "Upfront and Down Low," the Brit-born, New York-based son of Richard and Linda Thompson says that his new project "feels more like a complete package to me." Working with producer Marius de Vries (Bjork, Madonna, Rufus Wainwright), Thompson has found what he sees as the right mix of planning and spontaneity. "We put a lot of time and effort into it, but we made it pretty quickly, because we had a plan and did a lot of preparation and pre-production." With "Piece", Thompson delves into everything from uptempo, horn-driven workouts to dark, heavily orchestrated mood pieces.

Listen here.

Pop/Rock - Young South Londoner won the coveted Brit Awards Critics' Choice prize for 2007 without actually having actually released any actual music. But with a smokey, innately soulful voice and a bag of exceptional songs, Adele has already been dubbed "the new Amy Winehouse" and pegged to lay claim as the "next big thing" in the U.K for 2008. Says one Brit DJ: "Her voice is a direct conduit between who she is and what we hear; there's nothing that gets in the way." This exceptional debut is steeped in the retro/classic soul production championed by Winehouse producer Mark Ronson: confident, brash, emotional, tortured and reflecting the angst and unfiltered bluntness of someone who is, as the title indicates, just 19. "Everybody hears it as soon as they hear her - there's something special about her voice," says her label chief. "Most of her songs are about being hurt, and she talks about it in a way that's incredibly honest."

Pop/Adult - Six years after the release of his stunning debut album "Maplewood," London singer/songwriter remains one of the U.K.'s most interesting, accomplished and best-kept secrets. Sophisticated but never cloying, epicly melodic without a touch of saccharine, imaginative and dramatic but still grounded, "Beautiful Lie" is an expansive, meditative and audacious exploration into the far reaches of contemporary pop music. "Ed Harcourt's songs are as close to cabaret tunes and 1960s pop as they are to current rock" - The New York Times.

Pop/Rock - New York singer/songwriter uses the words "intimate", "autobiographical", "natural" and "simple" when describing the songs from his engaging and accomplished debut album. Recently tapped by Entertainment Weekly as one of the mag's eight Most Promising Male Singer/Songwriters, this New England native dives into the deep end of rich, thoughtful songcraft that seems equally balanced between the classic piano-based songwriting of the 70's and 80's and the fresh, unpretentious lyricism and contemporary sound of the present. Working with noted producer Mikal Blue (Colbie Caillat's "Coco", Augustana), James has delivered an elegant collection of eleven compelling songs that ring true with an understated lyrical grace and gorgeous, memorable melodies. Whether describing the horrors of the daily duties of an American soldier in Iraq in "Hero's Song" or the quietly majestic and poignant "Green", Brendan James' songs are grounded with a knowing and assured hand. Listen here.

Rock/Pop - Sprawling, confident debut from promising Nashville rockers is a potent potion of soaring, mainstream melodies and crunching hard rock. "It's not rocket science," says singer and guitarist Greg Brown. "Quintessential good melody and good lyrics, that's what makes a song." Produced by Greg Archilla (Matchbox 20, Collective Soul), "Life" kicks hard and true with a punchy rhythms and impressive wall-of-sound guitar onslaught. But at the fundamental core is the power of a memorable song. First focus track "Someone Like You" at rock radio formats now.

Pop/Soul - Taking a cue from Amy Winehouse's success, this 23-year-old Welsh singer serves up a slyly funky and appealing slice of retro R+B and 60's pop that has dominated the U.K. and European sales charts. You can practically hear the sound of a needle dropping on vinyl at the beginning of tracks such as the U.K. chart-topping "Mercy" and title track "Rockferry" as Duffy brings a vocal style that combines both classic Motown and Dusty Springfield. Critics have been nearly universal in their praise with The Observer in a 5 out of 5 review describing it as "a fantastic album of burning blue soul" while MOJO has named it as a finalist in their Album of the Year contest. The BBC described "Rockferry" as "a delicious confection of elegant, bluesy soul."