Pangea Organics seems to be one of the biggest players (while still keeping their integrity) in the quickly growing organic bath-product game. They have a sustainable manufacturing processes, never using petroleum, synthetic preservatives, sulfates or detergents. I had a chance to take a tour of their factory recently and learned about their soap making process: It’s laced with honesty and ingenuity– needless to say I was impressed with what they’re up to. Their line of body care includes soaps, creams, shower gels, lotions and more. The Boulder based company also deserves a special nod for having some of the best body-care packaging I’ve seen in a long, long time. Pangea is a great example of a company where good design, good product, and good intentions collide.

Plug in your nicest set of headphones for this one—you will need them to fully appreciate the deep, layered audio of the newest from TV on the Radio, a group of five Brooklynites who have so far impressed the toughest of critics with their newest album Return to Cookie Mountain. Hot off the press (Sept. 12), Return to Cookie Mountain may be the most original and interesting rock album you’ll hear all year. The music sounds like a mixture of Bowie (who guest-sings on the soulful pop track “Province”), the Talking Heads, and Prince—but those influences are all uniquely wrapped up in the weaving vocals of lead singer Tunde Adebimpe (who has one of the most striking voices in indie rock) and deep-voiced back-up Kyp Malone. After their 2004 debut Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes was criticized by some for being more of an audio art project than a rock album, Return to Cookie Mountain is destined to hoist the group to indie rock notoriety. The first track on the album “I Was a Lover” lets you know right away that Return to Cookie Mountain is an album unlike any other—chaotic, yet syncopated. “Hours” utilizes a wide-open beat and vocals to transition smoothly from “I Was a Lover.” The rock and roll swagger that every listener craves appears fiercely in “Wolf Like Me,” which is the true center of gravity of the album. Oh, did I mention that TV on the Radio is leading a Renaissance of black musicians in the traditionally white world of indie rock? They appear eclectic—their music is eclectic—and they are adding something exciting to the indie rock genre. TV On The Radio will also be appearing at ACL this weekend, stay tuned for special coverage!

Chance is that even though you've never heard of Explosions in the Sky, you've probably heard their music whether it be on the masterfully done soundtrack to Friday Night Lights or most recently in a Cadillac advertisement. In reality though, the Austin, TX quartet of Mark Smith (Guitar), Michael James (Bass), Munaf Rayani (Guitar), and Christopher Hrasky (Drums) have done their best to avoid the commercial spotlight, despite numerous requests to feature their music. It is this sole dedication to creating rock symphonies that has most likely led them to be so successful since they formed in 1999 despite mass media exposure. Their performances don't consist of separate tracks, but melodic transitions that provide a never-ending, completely unique performance at every venue. Described as passionate, romantic, loud, melodic, powerful, tragic, and beautiful, Explosions in the Sky is one of the “greatest instrumental rock bands in modern history”. Of their five albums and one soundtrack I dare not name favorites due to the perfection of each and every track!

New Hampshire born, Ray La Montagne's acclaimed 2004 debut, “Trouble”, quietly sold over 250,000 copies, thanks to word of mouth praises from grassroots fans. Ray, who was working at a shoe-factory was inspired to pursue music by a 4am epiphany set to the soundtrack of Stephen Stills, “Tree Top Flyer”. He quit his job and immersed himself in the sounds of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, Otis Redding, and Joni Mitchell and got himself a coffee house gig in Maine. His follow up album, set to be released in late summer, is sure to be full of emotional vocals, and intriguing words and melodies, but will be a totally new album. “It's definitely not ‘Trouble Part 2',” Ray promises. Being compared to the likes of Elliot Smith, David Gray, and Van Morrison, who will also be performing at this years festival, LaMontagne's “quietly devastating”, soulful tunes should provide for an amazing show!