The Datsuns - emperor's new clothes

House of Broken Promises - hurt

If we were to compile a list of all that's useless in modern rock music, we'd be here for days. In fact, it'd probably be easier - and quicker - to rattle off the few undeniably great things roaring up from the underground. Take Indio, California's HOUSE OF BROKEN PROMISES. With their Small Stone debut "Using the Useless" this trio is leading the charge against mediocrity and watered down tepidness.

Night Horse - rollin' on

Night Horse exploded on to the Los Angeles rock scene in 2008, playing their first live show ever while mixing their debut EP The Dark Wont Hide You for Tee Pee Records. Since then, Night Horse has caught the ears and eyes of critics and fans alike with their unique ability to blend the classic sounds of hard rock and blues music with a much needed breath of contemporary fresh air. "If Sonic Youth had been immersed in an ocean of Allman Brothers inspiration, or Soundgarden had been steeped in late 60s Fleetwood Mac, then they might have turned out something like this. Night Horse take traditional blues-rock, spark it up with riotously noisy flashes and drag the rhythms through an early-90s grunge experience. Moreover, they're cohesive, charismatic and compelling."