This weekend, the Final Four of Indie Ear Madness will take the stage. After some fierce tournament competition, The Raconteurs, Vampire Weekend, The Black Keys, and Band of Horses are the only indie/indie-minded bands in the country left standing.

To help prepare you for this weekend's Final Four, we have brought in some top-notch music analyts to breakdown each band's playbook:

Michael Azerrad
Renowned author, journalist, and musician (and blogger). Wrote critically acclaimed Come As You Are and Our Band Could Be Your Life. Also co-produced Kurt Cobain documentary, About a Son, and recently penned the R.E.M. cover story for the latest issue of SPIN.

Dave Powers
Former producer of MTV Networks' 120 Minutes and Subterranean. Editor and senior writer for New Music Nation. Supervising Producer of Sprint Exclusive Entertainment Music on Sprint TV.

Steven Smith
On-air host of Steven's Untitled Rock Show (Fuse) and co-host of The Sauce (Fuse). Contributing columnist for Alternative Press Magazine.

2 THE RACONTEURS VS. 1 VAMPIRE WEEKEND

Michael Azerrad
I'm going to pick Vampire Weekend cause they went to my college--they're my hometown favorite, I've got to root for them. If this is like NCAA, you've got to root for your team, right? So I'm going to root for Columbia. Vampire Weekend

Dave Powers
The Raconteurs have the veteran experience and they just put out an impressive sophomore album that was better than their debut, Broken Boy Soldiers. Plus, they put out the album immediately after they recorded it, so they're hungry and playing with a great sense of urgency. But Vampire Weekend are the hottest new band with the best album of the year so far. This is one hell of a fight, but the younger, inexperienced newcomers will prevail. Vampire Weekend

Steven Smith
The Raconteurs will dominate the college-global-rock-prowess of Vampire Weekend. Super groups always win, much like super heroes always win. When you've got a White Stripe, two Green Hornes, and Brendan Benson, there is no defense. The Raconteurs

2 BAND OF HORSES VS. 7 THE BLACK KEYS

Michael Azerrad
Band of Horses appears in About a Son, so I'm going to root for the hometown team again and go with Band of Horses. Band of Horses

Dave Powers
The Black Keys have expanded their sound by working with Danger Mouse on their latest album and if this was a comedy competition, there would be no contest. But I say this competition ultimately comes down to the music, and Band of Horses are still riding the momentum from having the #1 Album of 2007 (according to my blog New Music Nation). Band of Horses can't be stopped. Band of Horses

Steven Smith
The Black Keys have no choice but to face defeat in their battle against Band of Horses. Despite sharing similar letters in their names, Band of Horses' beards will scare the pee out of the Black Keys. Beards=tough. Band of Horses

FINALS

Michael Azerrad
Band of Horses vs. Vampire Weekend--I think the Ivy League, old-boy network wins and Vampire Weekend triumphs, cause I'm pulling for my boys. A college education's gotta get you something. All Columbia graduates belong to a secret club, I don't know if you know that? This is not for publication, but we all have a meeting in the Houston Astrodome once a year--it's totally secret. We help each other out. Hitmen are going to come and get me for this, but the story's got to be told. Vampire Weekend

Dave Powers
A Vampire Weekend/Band of Horses final pits my #1 Album of 2007 against my #1 Album of 2008 so far. Very tight match-up, but I have to give it to Band of Horses. The song "No One's Gonna Love You" pushes them over the top. Band of Horses

Steven Smith
This means it will be The Raconteurs vs. Band of Horses, and this is a tale as aged as the oldest western pulp novel. Without their horses the Raconteurs cannot ride, which makes Band of Horses wild stallions. But as Jack White has proven, he's a fearless matador. There is no doubt in my mind of the Raconteurs victory. The Raconteurs