Ambulance Ltd.

Brooklyn, New York's Ambulance LTD resurrect the British shoegazing movement of the late '80s and early '90s, employing swirling, dreamy guitars in an indie rock landscape cluttered by emo purists and punk opportunists. Formed by Marcus Congleton (vocals/guitar), Benji Lysaght (guitar), Matt Dublin (bass), Andrew Haskell (keyboards), and Darren Beckett (drums), Ambulance LTD were greeted with positive reviews for their live performances before signing with TVT Records. The band's reverb-drenched riffs gave critics My Bloody Valentine and Ride flashbacks while the boyish harmonies recalled Teenage Fanclub. However, instead of being labeled derivative, Ambulance LTD were seen as a refreshing change of pace in an underground rock & roll scene that had turned dull and predictable. In 2003, they recorded their self-titled debut EP; it was quickly met with praise from the alternative press. LP followed in spring 2004. After much touring (including a slot on the bill at 2005's Lollapalooza) and the defection of keyboardist Andrew Haskell, the group released the New English EP in the winter of 2006. With four new songs, the record featured a stripped-down sonic approach and the same high-quality songcraft the album displayed. ~ Michael Sutton, All Music Guide

Aly & AJ

Sister acting/singing duo Aly & AJ -- whose full names are Alyson and Amanda Joy Michalka -- showed a passion for both kinds of performing at a very young age: they started playing piano at age six and began acting classes soon after. Born in L.A., the Michalkas moved to Seattle in the early '90s, where their parents exposed them to a wide variety of music and supported their excitement about both acting and making music. As the girls learned piano and guitar, they also landed acting and modeling gigs, which prepared them to pursue both careers more seriously once the family returned to southern California.

AJ Michalka won roles and appearances on shows as diverse as Birds of Prey, Oliver Beene, General Hospital, and Six Feet Under; Alyson earned the part of Keely Teslow on the Disney Channel series Phil of the Future, which allowed her to show off her musical skills as well as acting chops, performing songs such as "Protecting Me." As Aly & AJ, the Michalka sisters recorded a cover of the Lovin' Spoonful's "Do You Believe in Magic," which appeared in the Disney Channel movie Now You See It and became a number one most-requested song on Radio Disney. Their follow-up single, "No One," appeared on the soundtrack to 2005's Ice Princess, and their Hollywood Records-issued debut album -- which featured songs penned entirely by the Michalkas -- dropped that same year. The holiday album Acoustic Hearts of Winter followed in 2006. In 2007 the sisters released their sophomore record, Insomniatic, accompanied by starring roles in the MTV movie version of the hit television show My Super Sweet 16. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide

French-born pop singer Amanda started getting involved in music after her family settled in Taby, Sweden. While taking dance classes, the artist joined the musical The Sound of Music, and was soon singing "Little Stars" at Gottenburg's World Athletic Games. Amanda became the first young female pop act to sign with Madonna's Maverick Records, making her professional debut with "You Don't Stand a Chance," from Rugrats in Paris' movie soundtrack. In the year 2000 the singer recorded her debut album, called Everybody Doesn't. ~ Drago Bonacich, All Music Guide

A fortuitous 2000 meeting with a talent scout in her native Fort Wayne, IN, led to Amanda Perez being signed by California-based indie Powerhouse. A versatile performer who wrote, sang, and produced her own material, it wasn't much of a step for Perez to find herself in a studio helming the creation of her debut record. Where You At? dropped in 2001. Buoyed by success in minor markets like San Antonio, TX, and her hometown, the album soon caught the attention of Virgin, which released it in wider distribution and issued the smooth urban soul single "Angel." The track was a crossover hit, and Perez was a star. She released the more upbeat follow-up "I Like It" soon after, and finished out 2003 with a round of club dates in select cities. The albums Angel and I Pray followed in quick succession. Both releases peaked within the Top 100 of the Billboard 200 album chart. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide