SALEM

It's hard to know whether to take Illinois' Salem seriously. Their mixture of goth atmospheres and chopped 'n' screwed crunk smacks of a stoned gag dreamed up in a dorm room. Then again, it also feels a little like a genre that was just waiting to be invented. Not to be confused with the Israeli death metal act of the same name -- nor the Danish roots rockers, nor the Denver jam-circuit solo act, nor any of a slew of acts named in tribute to America's most famous coven -- the trio got its start with a handful of limited 7-inch records in 2008 and 2009. Fronted by a former speedballing prostitute, and with song titles like "Yes I Smoke Crack" and "Frost & Legend," they back up the shtick with doomy synths and codeine-drip vocals.