Armed With Legs, Armed With Legs (June 11, self-released, armedwithlegs.com): You’ll hear Pinback, Radiohead, Gotye, Peter Bjorn and John, and Mark Kozelek in the brew here—all haunting vocals and murky pop tones—but this Seattle duo crafts the mix with subdued synths and quirky beats that could only be made here in the Pacific Northwest. The opening single, “Hey Hey,” is absolutely mesmerizing. (Fri., June 7, Sunset) GWENDOLYN ELLIOTT

Goat, Dreambuilding 7” (out now, Sub Pop, subpop.com): On their first North American release, this Swedish collective, fronted by Christian Johansson, balances psychedelic grooves with maracas, claves, and other hand percussion, plus a good helping of Afrobeat. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself in a dance-trance of sorts while listening; the band’s tiny hometown is said to have a long history with voodoo. AZARIA PODPLESKY

Iji, Soft Approach (out now, Lost Sound Tapes, lostsoundtapes.com): Zach Burba’s whimsy-filled vocals sound flippant, but this 11-track album’s bossa nova rhythms and breezy instrumentation borrow more from the songbook of off-kilter bards like Bill Callahan or Cass McCombs, resulting in an album as studious as it is cheeky. (Sat., June 8, Heartland) GE

The Onlies,

Setting Out to Sea (out now, self-released, theonlies.com): Original and traditional Irish fiddle and string-based music from a highly talented trio of Garfield High freshmen. Samantha Braman, Riley Calcagno, and Leo Shannon keep you hanging on every note as they put their banjos, fiddles, guitars, mandolins, and even piano to toe-tapping good use, combining elements of Cajun zydeco, Celtic country dance, and other American folk traditions. If you’ve ever felt as though you know your way around a handful of guitar chords, reflect upon the fact that the Onlies are only 14, put your instrument away, and listen to this instead. PADMA NOLT

Scribes, SeaCal Drive EP (out now, self-released, scribesmusic.com): Seattle (now Los Angeles)-based MC Scribes finds his voice on this EP between verses when he sings, which he does beautifully. In these moments, he complements the album’s smooth beats more naturally than do most of his rapped lyrics, which often fail to convey a unique point of view. “Backseat (New Ride)” is a solid example. TODD HAMM

Shannon & the Clams,

Dreams in the Rat House (out now, Hardly Art, shannonandtheclams.com): Though this Oakland group makes use of many doo-wop instrumental techniques and a purposely lo-fi sound that could be easily pegged as “vintage,” the creative songwriting within those parameters makes it more than a faded Polaroid of the past. As close as they come to previously laid tracks, though, the occasional slip into simple old-school homage is inevitable. (Fri., June 7, Tractor) TH

Spy Device,

Miniaturized (out now, self-released, spydevice.biz): Spy Device makes you want to nod your head with fast guitar riffs, short, staccato lyrics, and scruffy vocals that hearken back to punk days of yore. (Sat., June 15, Peking House) PN

Tigers in the Tank,

Nature and Science (out now, self-released, tigersinthetank.bandcamp.com): This contemplative yet spunky indie-folk album is filled with twanging guitars, mandolin, and steady beats, nicely tied together by Naomi Botkin’s quirky vocals. Think Karen Dalton meets Cave Singers. PN

Various artists,

Horfes Turn’d Jockies (out now, The China Sea Recordings Concern, chinasearecordings.bandcamp.com): This compilation showcases the diverse talent of the independent label. From Casey Ruff’s violin-heavy rendition of “Splendid Isolation” to David Guilbault & Jason Goessl’s minimalist take on “It Never Entered My Mind,” 10 artists cover songs by iconic songwriters like Warren Zevon and Alex Chilton with their own personal flair. MARTHA TESEMA