Klaxons
“Surfing The Void”
4 out of 5 stars

When London-based quartet Klaxons said they had to nix their second album and start completely from scratch again because it was deemed “too experimental for release” by their record label, that may have worried some fans. When they finally unveiled the album artwork for this year’s Surfing The Void, which depicts a cat wearing a spacesuit, fans were left laughing in amusement but also nervously scratching their heads in confusion.

But fear not. Their second shot at matching the success of their 2007 Mercury Prize winning debut Myths of the Near Future has proven to be beneficial. Their unique version of pop fused with rave, dance, punk, and progressive rock lend themselves to be in a genre all their own.

Right from the start, listeners plunge head first into “Echoes,” and resurface 40 minutes later, maybe even more confused than before but satisfied nonetheless. One has to ask what mindset the band members were in while making the record, with lyrics like “the chaos of oblivion,” “clouds of diamond dust,” and “myriads of silver disks,” but the falsettos, abrasiveness, chaotic energy, and intensity are still there, appeasing fans of their big hits, “Golden Skans” and “Gravity’s Rainbow.”

Key tracks: “Echoes” and “Venusia”
- Caitlyn Preciado

M.I.A.
“/\/\ /\ Y /\”
1 out of 5 stars

From the strange, horrible sounds M.I.A. presents as music to the annoying stylization of the album’s title, this album disappoints.

Her sophomore release, Kala, was poppy and very well done. I’m sure that many will remember her breakout single, “Paper Planes.”

However, in the three years between Kala and Maya, M.I.A. seems to have forgotten how to make good music.

This time around she has injected too much of her political activism and opinions into her lyrics. And if songs inveighing against the CIA is not enough to turn listeners off, her “instrumentation” sounds like a lawnmower being hacked apart by a chainsaw. The only listenable song on the album is “XXXO,” which is the only thing slightly resembling a pop song on this release, but even that falls short of what anyone would really consider good.

M.I.A.’s previous success and quality of music makes this album even more painful.

Key track: “XXXO”
- Matt Jannetti

Crocodiles
“Sleep Forever”
4 out of 5 stars

It has only been a little over a year since Crocodiles’ debut album “Summer of Hate,” but the San Diego duo, comprised of Brandon Welchez and Charles Rowell, has already released its sophomore effort.

“Sleep Forever” is more melodic, which probably has much to do with its choice to have James Ford of Simian Mobile Disco take the production reins, since he has done the same with albums by Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys and Florence + The Machine.

Besides containing the heavy aggressive guitar riffs reminiscent of Arctic Monkeys, the songs combine the experimentation and psychedelia of Neon Indian with the lo-fi rawness of Dum Dum Girls to create a sound that is much their own.

From the album title to the cover seemingly depicting four children standing around an empty grave, the recurrent theme of death is hard to miss, but Crocodiles balances the lyrical darkness with lively musicianship. This is most evident in standout track “Hearts of Love,” which utilizes bells, chimes and an anthemic chorus so that you probably won’t even notice that you’re shouting, “When I die, when I disappear, leave my bones behind.”

Key tracks: “Hearts Of Love” and “Mirrors”
- Caitlyn Preciado

Jukebox The Ghost
“Everything Under The Sun”
3 out of 5 stars

Jukebox the Ghost’s first album, “Let Live and Let Ghosts,” lacked maturity and depth but made up for it in lyrical clarity.

The band’s first success gave its members confidence and experience, priming them to return with an album that has significantly more substance than the debut.

Most of the songs on “Everything Under The Sun” are insanely catchy. The lead-off track, “Schizophrenia,” kicks off the album with a fast-paced song with an interesting refrain and features catchy drums and keyboards. Poppy tracks like “Empire” and “The Popular Thing” keep the rest of the album interesting and enjoyable.

Jukebox the Ghost plays to its strength by peppering songs with great hooks and even better choruses, making the album entertaining and accessible, but the album drags at points and depth is a lingering problem.

Key tracks: “Schizophrenia” and “The Popular Thing”
-Matt Jannetti
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Jenny and Johnny
“I’m Having Fun Now”
4 out of 5 stars

Fans of Rilo Kiley will be pleased to know that lead singer Jenny Lewis has released yet another record, but instead of forging ahead on her own to release a third solo album, on her latest effort she is accompanied by her boyfriend Johnathan Rice, whom she met in 2005 through Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst.

Due to this indie boy-girl match-up, the comparisons to She & Him are inevitable. It is hard to ignore the fact of how much Lewis tends to overshadow Rice, much in the same vein as Zooey Deschanel overshadowing M. Ward. However, “I’m Having Fun Now” has more of a rock edge than the latter’s “Volume One” and “Volume Two.”

Another difference is the mere fact that Lewis and Rice have been romantically involved for almost half a decade. Deceptively juxtaposed against sugary, upbeat music, it would be expected that the lyrics would be love letters written in song form, but that is not the case. There is much tongue-in-cheek banter between the couple, such as in the song “Committed,” which is about being committed to a mental hospital rather than to a significant other.

Key tracks: “Big Wave” and “My Pet Snakes”
-Caitlyn Preciado

Ra Ra Riot
“The Orchard”
3.5 out of 5 stars

Since its meteoric rise in 2006, there has been plenty of pressure on Ra Ra Riot. The band’s debut album, “The Rhumb Line,” released in 2008, was critically praised and drew attention from the new wave and indie-pop scene. Its sophomore effort, “The Orchard,” produced by Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla, doesn’t quite live up to the legacy of the debut, but is still an excellent album.

Fans can still enjoy the band’s Vampire Weekend-like style. At heart, Ra Ra Riot is still the same band they were two years ago. However, this album is a bit more somber. This album is made up of slower songs like the title track and “Keep It Quiet” and peppered with more poppy and upbeat songs such as “Boy” and “Too Dramatic.”

The highlight of the album, “Shadowcasting,” is full of upbeat guitars and drums that are complemented by a smooth violin and Wes Miles’ high vocals. Ra Ra Riot is also not afraid to experiment this time around, like letting Alexandra Lawn sing lead vocals on the solemn “You and I Know.”

Key Tracks: “Boy” and “Shadowcasting”
-Matt Jannetti
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The Thermals
“Personal Life”
3 out of 5 stars

The Thermals have teamed up again with Death Cab For Cutie’s Chris Walla (Tegan and Sara, Ra Ra Riot) to produce its fifth album. As was the case with its previous releases, “Personal Life” revolvesaround a certain subject to create the semblance of a concept album, and in this case it is love and relationships.

Titles such as “Not Like Any Other Feeling,” “Only For You” and “Your Love Is So Strong” are affectionate phrases meant for a significant other. However, the tracks focus more on lies, losses and relationship breakdowns than on lovey-dovey sappiness.

While the subjects of the songs are downers, the delivery of them could not be more different. The band has moved to a more straight-forward alternative sound than the punk influence heard on prior albums, but The Thermals have not toned down its enthusiasm or passion for music.

Key Tracks: “Never Listen to Me” and “Not Like Any Other Feeling”
-Caitlyn Preciado