Nicole Atkins

Neptune City

(Columbia, 2007)

The 29-year-old New Jersey singer dubs her style "pop noir" – a fitting description for these dramatic, melancholy songs. Swedish producer Tore Johansson (Cardigans, Franz Ferdinand) sugarcoats some of the tunes but never buries Ms. Atkins' lovely voice, which recalls the singing of Rufus Wainwright and Eisley.

Thor Christensen

Leeland

Opposite Way

(Essential/Provident, 2008)

Behold the new face, not to mention sound, of contemporary Christian rock. The five guys from Baytown, Texas, follow their 2006 debut, Sound of Melodies, with a disc that amps up the musicianship, the lyrics and the singing. Stylistically, Opposite Way fits right into the current emo-rock craze. That's no coincidence, of course. Gotta appeal to the young masses. But Leeland eschews the quirky irreverence characteristic of emo and instead goes for passion-on-the-cuffs earnestness. Listen to the propulsive honesty of "Wake Up" or the anthemlike balladry of "Enter This Temple." These guys are serious as they walk the line dividing rhythmic relevance and spiritual sincerity.

Mario Tarradell