M. Ward, a.k.a. Matthew Stephen Ward, is often overshadowed by his more famous She & Him partner, Zooey Deschanel. However, M. Ward was making good music long before Zooey Deschanel became the apple of the indie world’s eye.

Brooklyn’s only wedding band specializing in elopements has come a long way since their debut. Since then, Dinosaur Feathers signed with a small label and changed up their style a bit. However, there are plenty of times on this album when the change is not exactly welcome.

Oberhofer makes really catchy indie pop, which forms the core of “Time Capsules II.” Sure, Oberhofer has a bit of a surfy-feel to it and they are actually more complicated than they first seem, but above all, their album is full of pop tunes that will be stuck in your heads for days.

The indie alternative band Yellow Ostrich’s 2011 debut “The Mistress” was easily one of my favorite albums of the past year. Their sophomore effort makes a significant departure from their debut and arrives only about six months later.

Nick Thorburn, frontman of the indie rock band Islands, has had a very prolific career. He started his career with the Unicorns, and since then his music has gone through plenty of twists and turns, from the Islands debut “Return to the Sea” to his new doo-wop-influenced side project, Mister Heavenly.

Sharon van Etten may not be a household name, but she’s been leaving her mark on music over her short career. Since the release of her debut album “Because I Was In Love,” she has made guest appearances on songs by indie powerhouses the Antlers and The National.

Hospitality’s self-titled debut album is full of happy, jangly indie pop that mixes catchiness with
a muted and downplayed sound to great effect. However, they often play with the genre, showcasing their diverse talents.

of Montreal got their start making sugary indie pop. Over the years, they went through many evolutions, from the experimental pop on the seminal “Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?” to the R&B-influenced “False Priest of Montreal.”

Nada Surf has been around since the the early ’90s, releasing their debut album, “High/Low,” in 1996. The group’s early albums had some critical success and Nada Surf became one of the bigger indie bands.

The Black Keys’ last album, “Brothers,” was very successful. Most people will probably remember the band’s hit single “Tighten Up.” However, the Black Keys have been around since 2001, and their seventh album, “El Camino,” brings back a little more of a blues influence.
On this album, the Black Keys turned back to legendary indie producer [...]

Back in 1967, the Beach Boys tabled the recording of “SMiLE,” the follow-up to their seminal album, “Pet Sounds.” The recordings from this session were never released — until now.

Mikkel Hess has a fairly expansive musical history, but unfortunately he mostly dwells in obscurity, even in indie circles. His brand of sometimes poppy, sometimes experimental slower electronic music deserves plenty of recognition, and “Creation Keeps the Devil Away” may just be the album that gives it to him.

It’s been four years since Leslie Feist released “The Reminder.” Now, she’s making a triumphant return with her fourth album, “Metals.”

WTSR Music Director Matt Jannetti reviews Kevin Devine’s new album, “Between the Concrete and the Clouds.”