Kenna

Used as a case study by Malcolm Gladwell, Kenna has become something of a touch stone for the state of the music business in 2007. Blending British new wave and pop-rock electronica, he sounds like a cross between Jesus Jones and the Cars, with shades of contemporary hip-hop thrown in to keep things fresh (the album was produced by the Neptunes, after all). His powerful voice, part Andy Bell, part Simon Le Bon, stays front and centre in the mix, particularly with the excellent opening track "Daylight," the introduction of which also references his affection for U2.