Rickie Lee Jones
The May Street Project's final monologue owes everything to this former pop star and full-time cult heroine. Whether singing her own songs like the 1979 hit "Chuck E.'s in Love" or dipping into the 20th century songbook, she can make the most innocuous tune sound as dizzy as the Sissy Spacek character in Badlands.

Kelis
"I hate you SO MUCH RIGHT NOW!" No lovey-dovey spirituality for the leading light of neo-soul. Instead, with backing provided by the Neptunes - whose Pharrell Williams raps on Seger's album - Kelis told it like was on last year's hit "Caught Out There." A voice to watch (out) for.

Neko Case
The former punk drummer found the twang with 1997's The Virginian, roping in Scott Walker's Notre Dame Gothic balladeering for good measure. On last year's Furnace Room Lullaby, Case showed her pen could make a healthy contribution to the alt.Canuck.country canon.

Ron Sexsmith
Hard to believe Sexsmith used to hustle as a courier to fund his songwriting art. Sexsmith drawls like he's too naive to comprehend the darkness around him, but writes with a sophistication that's won praise from masters like McCartney and Costello.