E-Mail This Article to a Friend BY ANY OTHER NAME Stop sub-categorizing, start listening BY CHRIS NELSON

Indie is indie, whether it’s hip-hop mixing, Neil Young nicking, or confessional piano bashing . . .

DIPLO

"HAITI ON BLAST"

After his infamous hour-plus Rio-raiding Favela on Blast mixtape, I expected something a little more substantial from The Artist Formerly Known As Diplodicus. But as free, Web-site-exclusive downloads go, you can’t really be mad at this bouncy little track featuring an anonymous helium-voiced Haitian MC.

KOUFAX

"Why Bother at All"

DOGHOUSE

Former Vagrant underachievers take a break from pondering the helplessness of drug addiction . . . to ponder the helplessness of trying to overcome their indifference to crooked politicians. An entire album of this stuff is too much, but taken a track at a time it’s some damn catchy piano-driven indie rawk.

MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC CO.

"The Dark Don’t Hide It"

SECRETLY CANADIAN

Say what you will about Jason Molina’s Neil Young biting, at least he does it with style. Here’s another gem in his crown, a taste of what his Magnolia Electric Co. have to offer on their new What Comes After the Blues.

SOFT

"You Make Me Wanna Die"

The two minutes it takes to put yourself on this unsigned NYC quintet’s mailing list is well worth it for the free pass it gives you to the four MP3s on their site, including this gorgeous swirl of atmospheric vocals, layered guitars, and pounding drums.