From My Philosophy:

Khingz, the Physics, Yirim Seck, DJ Daps1, Spaceman

(Chop Suey) Now let's chat about Khingz. Since he's been on the scene—and that's been a long time now—he's made his hallmark not just his fierce lyrics and lightning-struck delivery, but his individual vision, his refusal to be boxed in. From utterly decimating MC battles to grassroots activism to decrying colonialism and homophobia on his now eight-year-old debut album, Mi Vida Negra, the cat most know as Khalil has always forgone being hard in favor of being complicated. His last decent chunk of work, Abyssinian Creole's Sexy Beast, was a study in the contrasts between him and his brother Gabriel Teodros, with Khingz providing the brassy, boastful counterpoint to Gabe's righteous affirmations.

Also in Up & Coming:

ISIS, Thrones, Mamiffer

(Neumos) ISIS are stars in the burgeoning metalgaze movement, in which beauty and beastliness jostle for supremacy in your headspace, often resulting in a bloody draw—but, wow, look at the pretty spatters all that plasma makes. On ISIS's latest disc, the aptly titled Wavering Radiant, Aaron Turner and Michael Gallagher's alternately spangly and rumbling guitar tones swell above Turner's tormented and wistful vocals—all of which coalesce into grandiose arrangements that reveal some members may have enrolled in a serious composition course at university. It wouldn't be crazy to note Neurosis's artfully heavy influence here. Oregon's Thrones (Joe Preston) has been trafficking in artfully heavy metal and doomy dirge-ology for 15 years. He's got 'em down to a diabolical science. A local unit led by Faith Coloccia, Mamiffer create a brooding, droning strain of chamber rock that's heavy in a nonobvious manner. DAVE SEGAL

Papercuts, Port O'Brien

(Vera) Papercuts is the quietly commanding indie-pop project of prolific San Francisco—based musician Jason Robert Quever. Quever has recorded with Vetiver, Cass McCombs, and Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, and has toured with Grizzly Bear. These associations give some idea of Quever's style—gentle, pacifically paced, often acoustic, and inhabiting intimately small spaces overlooking wide-open fields of echo and reverb. His latest, You Can Have What You Want, is one of those undemanding albums that imperceptibly worm their way from pleasant background music to persistently haunting before you know it. Port O'Brien sing sad, lonely, sometimes satisfied songs about life on the sea, working a fishing boat, which is how singer Van Pierszalowski has spent many a summer. ERIC GRANDY

Naked Hearts, PWRFL Power, Cap Lori

(Healthy Times Fun Club) PWRFL Power's (aka Kaz Nomura) newest release, I Am a Confident Woman, is a mini-CD set in clear plastic with only a picture of Nomura and the words "Half Yogurt" printed on it. Previously an alias for Nomura's instrumental semi-improvisational performances, Half Yogurt is now the name of Nomura's new folk record label (scheduled releases include Cap Lori and Dennis Driscoll) and aspiring pornography concern ("pornography releases will take a bit as it is more complicated process," Nomura explains). The first song on the CD is a typically dexterous acoustic-guitar number about falling in love with a 16-year-old girl and how everything is possible when you're a teenager in love. The CD and the new label came with the announcement that Nomura and Cap Lori (aka Tennessee Rose) are engaged to be married, which by a weird twist will make him Spencer Moody's son-in-law. Congratulations, everyone. ERIC GRANDY

Johnny Vinyl's Half-Century Rock and Roll Circus: the Cripples, Blue Collar, the Missing Link, Aaiiee!!, and others

(Funhouse) This nine-band freak-out is in honor of Johnny Vinyl's 50th birthday. It seems to be a tribute and a celebration of old-skool Seattle garage punks. See, Johnny's been playing since, what, the 1970s? He started in garage band the Innocents and was then linked to the Missing Link, Radios, Cleavage (with Duff McKagan), and the Macs. I remember the Macs from that great '80s comp Seattle Syndrome Volume One (think the Fastbacks, the Fartz, and the Refuzors). Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, there'll be a lot of history in the house. I'm most excited to see synth-punks the Cripples reunite and play. They're a slice of more-recent Seattle history—2002-ish—when Fallout Records was still open and local Dirtnap Records still reigned supreme. KELLY O