Duffy, born Aimee Anne Duffy, is a Welsh singer that has been topping the charts in Britain ever since the release of her debut album Rockferry. Once a student of Chester University in the United Kingdom, Duffy left the school to follow her musical aspirations, and has quickly reached the recognition that she deserves.

Her instant success and fame has brought her music to the United States.

Not so much "boy meets girl" as "boy orders girl over the Internet", Lars and the Real Girl is an adorably oddball "comedy" about how a community gathers around a young man who forms a full-fledged relationship with a sex doll.

I say "comedy" in quotes because, although the film does have many humorous touches and observations, it does deal with the much darker issue of mental illness. Lars (a sweet and innocent turn by Academy Award nominee Ryan Gosling) is a young man traumatized by family tragedy who lives alone in the garage of his late parents' home.

Including former members of “Ambulance LTD", The Red Romance was formed in 2006.  With a sound that is similar to Franz Ferdinand; and influences like The Smiths, and Duran Duran, The Red Romance bring an interesting take on alternative/rock to the streets of New York.

Straight from Australia, Shannon Noll turns up the music in his expressive album Turn it Up. Shannon worked with Grammy nominated producer Luke Ebbin. Ebbin is credited with the greats of Bon Jovi and Melissa Etheridge. Just having Ebbin back Shannon Noll is quite telling. Shannon has the chops and an incredible vocal range.

The intro track, "Loud", also the first single of the album, is an edgy new take on the pop-rock mainstream. Shannon loves the sentiment of the song, saying, "It's about rebellion. It's about turning the music up to the loudest. It made me think of the times when I would get in my dad's car on the farm and just pump up the volume."