What began as a fun little collaboration between the L.A.-stationed actress Zooey Deschanel and Portland, OR–based songbird M. Ward has evolved into a lush and layered musical marriage of talents that is as subtle and classy as an old leather couch.

It's been three years since Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, Spoon's most triumphant release since 2002's Kill the Moonlight, the album that contained, for better or worse, The O.C.-baiting "The Way We Get By."

The Black Keys sixth full-length, Brothers, is a platter heaped with slogging, swampy, sweltering takes on blues tradition.

White Denim’s name may reference the acid-washed ’80s, but on Fits, the Austin, TX, trio’s third full-length, their sound mines the acid-testing ’60s, hard-rock ’70s, alt-rock ’90s, indie-rock ’00s, and everything in between.

The self-titled debut from the xx, marked with a very mysterious giant X on the cover, is full of classic R&B soul-tinged girl/guy vocals over throbbing bass, and/or dreamy synths, with tribal drums tossed in for good measure.