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American Analog Set frontman Andrew Kenny brings much of that band's modus operandi -- mellow grooves, hypnotic whispers—to the Wooden Birds, but strips away the synth wash and motorik beat in favor of a folksier foundation. He wasn't hiding anything in those layers: Magnolia inspires the same pleasurable hypnosis (particularly on the spooky-sweet "Quit You Once").

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Conor Oberst's Dylan-inspired transformation from unsteady teenage folkie to classic rocker continues with his second Mystic Valley Band set, boasting a celebratory, straightforward snarl that might startle his younger self.

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There's intriguing mystery in Fol Chen's debut, and not just because the Los Angeles group isn't keen on press photos. It could turn out they're janitors -- art students is more likely -- but that won't change how enticing and vexing these songs are.

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You can't throw a rock without hitting a band of ambitious young Warped Tour–weaned pop-punks these days, but there's something immediately likable about this Colorado bunch, led by cheeky frontman Sloan Anderson. It's probably the mix of credible influences -- Jimmy Eat World, the Get Up Kids -- and unabashedly big, sticky choruses about love.

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These Brits' last record came out back in 2005, but the time off hasn't inspired any tectonic changes. And that's a blessing: On their fourth album, Doves consistently deliver outsize rock drama, with slight diversions into New Order–ish electro ("Jetstream") and hints of garage psych ("House of Mirrors").

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Bill Callahan spent his first post-Smog disc -- 2007's Woke on a Whaleheart -- kicking too gaily against his downcast past, exploring looser sounds that didn't take.