Although tours and festivals tend to dominate summer music news, this summer also brought several great albums, specifically in the indie genre. Death Cab For Cutie's seventh studio album and Bon Iver's and Fleet Foxes' sophomore releases are just two of the records that will remain staples throughout the year.

Fleet Foxes released Helplessness Blues on May 3. Over 2 years in the making, the band's follow-up to 2008's Fleet Foxes showcases lush, rich harmonies and intricate instrumentation. The sunny, folkie arrangement on opener "Grown Ocean" supports colorful lyrics about a utopian landscape. The track closes with the dropping of those beautiful descriptions and full instrumentation, ending up with a vocal harmony outlining a fear of waking up from such a dream-like state.

The rest of the album vacillates between the sunshiny, rich style that Pitchfork.com compared to Crosby, Stills & Nash and a darker undertone, touching on themes of aging and loss of innocence. Simple but stunning "Blue Spotted Tail" showcases vocalist Robin Pecknold's impeccable but unassuming voice backed by only an acoustic guitar, moving from a bright Eden to a night skyline.

Overall, the album expands on Fleet Foxes, continuing a style of folk-pop full of complex harmonies and instrumentation coming together to create a simple feel.

Bon Iver released its eponymous sophomore album June 21. Singer Justin Vernon and company expanded upon the sparse, low-key sound of debut album For Emma, Forever Ago, famously recorded after a breakup in a lonely Wisconsin cabin. Bon Iver, while still emotive, feels more hopeful than the last album. Furthermore, where For Emma sounded like a solo record with a backing band, Bon Iver truly sounds like a full-band album.

Every song but the final track is named for a place, fictional or real, that inspired or influenced the song's lyrical content. The fictional place and song "Minnesota, WI" begins with a winding acoustic guitar before horns and an array of instrumentation join Vernon's vocals, autotuned and deep, not the sweet and lonely tones previously associated with the singer.

The album's single, "Calgary," begins with Vernon's voice in lush harmony, while slowly adding the sound of other instruments, building to a crescendo before coming back down again.

Bon Iver itself has evolved tremendously since For Emma's 2008 release. Vernon has collaborated with Kanye West, been featured in countless magazine profiles and become a darling of the indie music world. Still, Bon Iver reflects this growth in a positive direction, creating a more expansive and diverse sound without losing its roots.

Another band that has progressed over the years while remaining tied to the musical principles upon which it was founded is Death Cab for Cutie. The Washington-based quartet released Codes and Keys on May 31. Known for its emotional lyrics and moody tones, their music has been labeled by many as mopey or even whiny in the past.

While their lyrics and melodies are certainly still full of emotion and sentimentality, the band members are now in their mid-30s and have been well-known musicians since 1997.

This maturity is reflected on Codes and Keys, which has moved more toward the pop rather than emo end of the indie spectrum. Opener "Home is a Fire" touches upon the heavy topic of losing touch with one's home and roots, but the song's tone is more ethereal and atmospheric than heavy or dark.

The album's single, "You Are a Tourist," is even more pop sounding and is actually quite upbeat. Jason McGerr's drums drive singer Ben Gibbard's lilting vocals, warning those who find themselves a tourist in their own mind: "Don't be alarmed."

This summer brought quite a few fantastic indie releases. Stay tuned to hear what lies ahead for the fall!