The Decemberist’s are my all time favorite. Been to 2 of their shows and I’ll be going to a 3rd in June in NY =D. Definitely an acquired taste though – their album titled “The Crane Wife” is probably most likable by the mainstream.
MC Chris – Funny, odd, obscure, “Nerdcore” rap. Worth checking out if you’ve watched adult swim during your teenage years.
The Shins – Indie band, kind of soft/easy listening. Very relaxing.
Artic Monkeys – A UK band, pretty catchy stuff.
Andrew Bird – Another acquired taste. A lot of his music (including the instrumental back-rounds) is all created by him. Not a huge fan, but I must say he’s very creative and talented.