Are you bored of the same old rap and indie songs? Give Toadies a try. A grunge band that’s not as over reliant on sheer aggression as say Nirvana, this group provides a unique sound that hasn’t been heard in the last decade.

The men who made the Ramblin’ Wreck tune a nationally, if not internationally, recognizable fight song are seeking fresh vocals to strike their chords.

Bionic is Christina Aguilera’s fourth full-length English language album and her first in four years since 2006’s blast from the past, Back to Basics. At the time of its release, Back to Basics was completely different than anything Aguilera had done. Similarly, Bionic is just as reinventing. Running either 59 minutes or over 80 (depending on the different versions), Aguilera neither waffles nor wavers in her commitment to bringing a new side of herself to the world.

It seems like the season of the indie bands. Teen Dream, the latest album from indie pop duo Beach House, released on Jan. 26 is a collection of all around feel good indie songs.

Harsh, bare sounds and non-professional vocals define the sound of indie band Spoon. Their latest album, Transference, is another example of their indie garage-brand of music.

What a quirky band. Vampire Weekend does it again with their latest album, Contra, the follow-up to their very college-oriented debut in 2008. They are a band that features chaotic and seemingly random juxtapositions at all times, from the musical content to the album cover featuring an unknown blonde girl, to the titular reference of a Nicaraguan guerilla movement.

Rated R is the fourth album by Rihanna and the follow-up to the international super hit, Good Girl Gone Bad. Rated R, like Good Girl Gone Bad, rebrands Rihanna. On this album, she expresses herself as a darker, meaner, and generally more angry woman. The album art reflects this. Previous albums show her as coy yet approachable. Rated R is the antithesis, almost defying you.

It seems like every few years we wind up with a brand new hit song that scorches the Top Billboard listings and brings some once no-name newcomer to super stardom. After only a short while this star fails to achieve his previous success and collapses into mediocrity.

Badfish, a Sublime tribute band, opened up their musical doors to the Atlanta public on Nov. 7 at Variety Playhouse. The night started out with band Scotty Don’t playing music reminiscent of Bob Marley’s feel-good tunes featuring their rendition of “One Love.” Although the mediocre performance gathered a lullaby of listeners, the band finished up with a more modern version of The Beatles’ “Hey Jude.” The easy going melodies soon sublimated to the blend of punk, rock and reggae.

This past Sunday popular Atlanta music venue The Tabernacle was once again transformed into a pop punk jam fest with the OP Presents Boys Like Girls Tour, along with fellow acts Cobra Starship, The Maine, A Rocket to the Moon and VersaEmerge Tour. While Boys Like Girls were the headlining group, many left feeling that Cobra Starship deserved that spot.