Looking to cram this weekend for the upcoming Coachella festival? The below records by artists playing at the annual festival, which begins April 11, are worthy of pre-festival focus:

The Knife, Shaking the Habitual (Rabid Records)

Swedish avant-pop duo the Knife have been releasing records for 15 years, confounding expectations, drawing followers, crafting a strange, visually impressive project of which music is the most prominent of many disciplines. Their videos are a trip, and their performances are legendary. Their most recent album, Shaking the Habitual, came out in 2013 and landed on many best-of-the-year lists. If you missed it, catch up quick.

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A strange, oddly affecting record with skewed rhythms, extended ambient meditations and epic workouts, and the curious singing of lead vocalist Karin Dreijer Andersson and brother-producer-backing vocalist Olof Dreijer, Shaking is a tough first (and second, and third) listen. But after adjusting to their musical dialect, the work blossoms.

Future Islands, Singles (4AD)

Last year I had dinner with an operative at 4AD Records who enthusiastically said that the tastemaking indie had just signed Baltimore synthpop trio Future Islands. Before then, the band had teetered on the brink. Charismatic vocalist Samuel T. Herring had other creative opportunities but resolved to fully commit to Future Islands. Id long been a fan of the bands thrilling live shows, so the 4AD signing was a good portent, one that has paid off with their breakout album sparked by a great performance of Seasons (Waiting for You) on Late Show With David Letterman.

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Despite its name, Singles isnt a greatest hits collection at least yet. But among its 10 tracks are a few that pack as much potential as Seasons. The best, Back in the Tall Grass and closer A Dream of You and Me, contain a similar channeling of emotion, one whose lyrics are as confident and borderline cheesy as the glorious Ive been waiting on you! refrain of Seasons.

Motrhead, Aftershock (UDR)

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Coachella 2014: Essential tracks from Motorhead, Knife, Future Islands