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Final Fantasy is the solo project of multi-instrumentalist Owen Pallett, who first achieved notoriety as a member of The Arcade Fire. Pallett makes music that marries the serious and the silly, informed by everything from Dungeons & Dragons to the songs on Top 40 radio.

The Black Eyed Peas are on a roll. They are out on tour supporting a CD that is near the top of the Billboard Album Charts. Monkey Business is the group's second release to win them fans nationwide.

Sharon Van Etten shares music from new artists that both moves her to tears and fills her with joy.

M. Ward has always followed his own path. Propelled by both his agile acoustic guitar work and his considerable wit and charisma, Ward's folk-blues take on classic Americana has won him countless fans and a place among the nation's top contemporary singer-songwriters.

Having recently moved from basement performances to the top of the U.K. singles charts, Sandi Thom continues to win fans, thanks to a whimsically appealing brand of folk-pop. Characterized by powerful vocals, her songs find Thom lusting for the era of vinyl at the record store and letters through the mail.

One of the best hip-hop acts to surface in recent years, Spank Rock lays fun, over-the-top raps atop a mix of '80s-influenced electronic beats. Street-smart but beach-friendly, "Sweet Talk" is one of the catchiest, most exhilarating songs released this year, hip-hop or otherwise.

Green Gartside is the driving force behind the various incarnations of Scritti Politti, which has been making music on and off for 35 years. Driven by Gartside's childlike voice and uplifting melodies, Scritti Politti's smooth pop sound surfaced on the Top 40 in 1985, but has mostly been heard on pop culture's margins.

"We Are The Pipettes" has enough zip, drive and sass to be the theme song to a cartoon about the band's adventures, so much so that it's not surprising that The Pipettes' members throw out a roll call at the top.

All Songs Considered asked you to share your favorite new artist of the first half of 2016. Here's your top 10.

Earle's "Look the Other Way" is a funky evocation of misery — blues for driving with the top down.