Taking cues from the post-punk era, local quintet The Rope have planted their dark bass-driven sound in the Twin Cities music scene. Formed in 2010, The Rope could easily be mistaken for a band from the 1980s.

This release is a way to live vicariously through the music. If you haven't been able to experience the New Standards in concert, or seen their annual shows, or if you feel the need to reconnect with the songs from your own holiday tradition, The New Standards and Friends Holiday Show captures the essence of this festive and wistful time of year.

Brooklyn singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur has released "The Graduation Ceremony," his first solo album since 2006. While also working on new music, he's pursued an art career with gallery openings in Paris as well as an interests in politics -- particularly the Occupy Wall Street movement.

When indie music first started gaining ground in the early 2000s, one of the most successful bands in receiving mainstream attention was Mates of State, the married duo of Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel. Now they are back with their seventh album in a career that spans 14 years.