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Underneath names like The Cure, Mumford and Sons, and The Killers, it can be hard to give attention to the well-deserving bands near the bottom of the Lollapalooza lineup. These lesser known bands do, however, make up the bulk of the lineup and have a lot to offer to the festival. Since it’s nearly impossible for one person to look through 100+ bands, we’ve done it for you. Continuing with the series, The DePaulia rounded up the best of the bottom for you to check out.

Alt-J: As singer Joe Newman proclaims on the song Tessellate, “triangles are my favorite shape.” This quartet from the UK gets mind-blowingly creative with their name – when one presses the keys Alt + J on a Mac computer, the result is a triangle. Alt-J’s sound has been described as psychedelic-folk – two genres that just don’t seem to match up, yet these guys make it work. With a tantalizingly infectious sound and an addictive, almost creepy voice that could be in a folk band, Alt-J brings something to the music scene that hasn’t been done before.

Songs to note on their 2012 album “An Awesome Wave” are “Breezeblocks,” “Tessellate” and “Hand-Made.” “Breezeblocks” is so catchy and upbeat with quick drums, a great mixture of chimes and heavy guitars and, of course, Newman’s unique voice. “Tessellate” is a darker track opening with a tolling piano that moves into beautiful slow strums and hypnotic crooning. What’s even more impressive is the music video for the song, a commentary on modern society through the incorporation of the painting “The School of Athens” by Raphael.  Then the group changes everything about their sound with “Hand-Made,” a slow, heart-wrenching compilation with a muted, dream-like guitar played by taping a roll of electrical tape on the neck of the guitar, and Newman’s hypnotizing voice. If this track doesn’t completely blow the listener away, I’m not sure what will.

Whether you think the name is simply stupid, or mind-numbingly genius, Alt-J is the definition of innovative and definitely tops my Lollapalooza must-see list.

MS MR: New Yorkers Lizzy Palpinger and Max Hershenow band together, literally, to bring something a little different to the Lollapalooza mix. With a strong yet sweet female vocalist (imagine a softer Florence Welch) and a dark, slow sound, MS MR’s sound is almost contradictory. On their EP titled “Candy Bar Creep Show,” MS MR gives off a haunted sound full of airy vocal filters, strings and sweetly mesmerizing harmonies. The theme is definitely dark, but never too heavy.

The opening track, Bones, sets the mood of the EP flawlessly. The song is suspenseful yet powerful with a heavily beating drum and a luring voice. The song flows perfectly into “Hurricane” – one full of echos, strings and rattling snare drum. “Dark Doo Wop” is the epitome of the duo’s sounds, opening with beautiful soft doo-wops and keeping somber with a touch of lightness.  The EP closes with “Ash Tree Lane,” a track feeling a little more upbeat with “oohs” and “ahs” and a tapping drumbeat, yet still sticks with a dark theme through spurts of deep brass. The EP altogether is well-composed and a nice change from the typical indie bands you normally find at Lolla.

MS MR is set to release its debut album “Secondhand Rapture” May 14. 

Pacific Air: As their name may imply, the first word that comes to mind when listening to this two-piece band is “breezy.”  Pacific Air, recently formed in January 2012, possesses a mellow, effortless sound reminiscent of Local Natives.

The band’s only EP titled “Long Live Ko Ko,” a shoutout to the duo’s former band name, offers the perfect range of moods and sounds, ranging from lighthearted to somber. Not one song on the EP sounds the same – a great preview of the band’s versatility. The band’s most well-known single “Float” maintains a carefree, upbeat vibe, while “Intermission” presents a slower, darker tone. Then when the four-song EP couldn’t possibly get any more diverse, the record ends with “So Strange,” filled with organs, breezy electronic beats and falsetto vocals.

Pacific Air is definitely one to watch out for at Lollapalooza 2013. Their versatility is refreshing and they are sure to play a great show.