The Rosebuds

Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp sounded a little down on 2005's Birds Make Good Neighbors — as if they were in a quiet, contemplative place, wondering whether to stay put and wait for the sun to start peeking through those cloudy skies or make a willful trip into spookier territory. On Night of the Furies, the Rosebuds do both. It's telling that one of the brightest spots on the album is titled "Cemetery Lawn," its upbeat synth line pushing Howard to find some inspiration in an unlikely spot while electronics lend the indie pop a sinister tone. It'll be interesting to hear where the Rosebuds go once morning breaks.