Artist The Loneliest Monk

Presumably a playful wink to jazz pianist Thelonious Monk, art-rock duo The Loneliest Monk has very little in common with that genre, aside from an obvious passion for just winging it. The band consists solely of a drummer and cellist who share vocal duties, and while that might not sound like a solid foundation for a band, Michelle Morales and Miles Benjamin manage to wring a lot of emotional heft out of their haunting orchestral rock. The pair also dons costumes for live performances, dressing up as though they're on their way to a posh masquerade ball—all scarves, masks, and elegantly tussled hairdos. Here, the duo celebrates the release of its self-titled debut LP. 

Updated 06/22/2010