Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals/Christopher Paul Stelling

Veteran singer-guitarist Ben Harper, a fan of the Delta blues legends (Elmore James and Muddy Waters) and the bands that derived their sound from the blues (think Led Zeppelin and the Allman Brothers), creates music rooted in the blues-based classic rock style. But from Day One, Harper and Co. caught on with young fans, many of whom identify with punk and underground rock. Harper's latest album, Call It What It Is, commences with the fiery "When Sex Was Dirty," a song that features noisy guitars and ample cowbell, and doesn't let up. (Niesel)