The styles among the various artists we cover here have become so divergent that it’s even difficult for us to keep track. On one hand you have Tobias reviewing the latest U2 release, and on the other, Fred’s lost noise rock weekend, while Patrick quenches his wanderlust with MP3 downloads. All of it is sort of mashed together in a stew. Isn’t there a way to like … not … do … this to our readers … anymore?

We may have found a way. Here is what we propose: four classifications (there might five actually, but more on that only as the need arises), each representing a different quadrant in the tMiM real estate. They go something like this:

The tMiM Hatchery features up-and-coming artists who lean more towards traditional indie fare. Examples of Hatchery artists are A Palace in Persia, There Will Be Fireworks, and Fire in the Sun. In short, this is where you’re looking for the next Arcade Fire, Coldplay, or Decemberists.

tMiM Upstarts are up-and-coming artists who tend toward more experimentation: Darlings’ Cabinet of Sundry Horror, Birds of Delay and Pigeons and Crazy Porridgemakers. This is the front line of music’s Next March Forward. Not all of them will see air time, but then again not all of them want it.

tMiM Exiles are well-established artists who nevertheless still like to forge new boundaries and disregard the old ones. Examples are Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Carla Bozulich, and Sonic Youth. If you’re looking for that rare blend of innovation and polish, this is your thing.

The tMiM Leviathan features established artists who take us back towards more traditional indie fare again. Examples of Leviathan artists are Regina Spektor, IAMX and Bat For Lashes. If you’re coming here for some familiar faces, blue is your color.

You see? Easy! We hope this helps you navigate our site with more mountaingoatlike surefootedness.