Los Lobos

Just another band from East LA? It really doesn't get any more "LA" than Los Lobos.

Sade

Sade? I probably made jokes about her music in my youth. That was just naivete, though. Silky smooth.

Dengue Fever

Faithfully recreating Cambodian rock music from the 1960s while adding their own slightly psychedelic indie groove, Dengue Fever are a blast. Singer Chhom Nimol has one of the most amazing voices you'll ever hear. What's the saying... everything old is new again?

Niyaz

Iranian-Canadian group, led by siren Azam Ali, with songs in Urdu, Persian, Turkish, and Arabic.  She's actually produced more music on her own than with Niyaz. It's all great stuff, from the minimalist ambience of Green Memories to the dark rock of Roseland.

Nona Hendryx

Often overlooked in favor of Grace Jones, Nona Hendryx deserves wider recognition. Granted, her first 3 albums could be cut from the same clothe as Jones, but give her 1989 album Skindiver a listen. It's a truly original-sounding gem.