I love the stories of the people in loud bands who give up a career in volume for an acoustic guitar and careful arrangements. It usually takes a little time for them to make the transition, but the comfort of the quiet usually comes. It seems to be a relatively recent trend and it's a welcome one: It's a rejection of the rock ideal that once you stop wanting to rock really hard, you need to hang up the guitars. But the spirit of punk wasn't volume: it was doing just what you want and what you feel is right.

Vetiver, "More Of This" (2009)

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Vetiver's first record was pleasant enough, but it made so little of an impression on me that I didn't even bother checking out their second. My close friend and longtime musical guide Christian encouraged me to check out their new one, and I followed the recommendation to a lovely reward. "More Of This" is a particular joy: the backing vocals folding over on the lead vocals with a thick stew of guitars and a little no-frills pepper of drums. It's breezy but never weak; just a perfect little song that immediately cheers and makes the wait for those beautiful spring days seem even longer.