Laura Veirs

The 2005 album Year of Meteors finally brought a wider audience to this wonderful indie pop singer-songwriter. Laura Veirs deserves the kind of fan base the Shins now enjoy: she's smart, sensitive and funny -- all of which shines out in her incredibly catchy pop tunes. "Wandering Kind" is a travel song you can skip to, "To the Country" beats Feist at her own game and "Don't Lose Yourself" should be on the personal hit parade of every teenager and office worker who is quietly dreaming of better things.