Hey Rosetta! Essentials

If you play in a seven-piece indie-rock band in Canada that includes piano, violin, and cello, you better be ready to read the name Arcade Fire in almost every review of your work. While not entirely unfair (especially when you listen to their debut album, Plan Your Escape), these comparisons detract from Hey Rosetta!'s true strengths. While they often favour long, slow-burning songs that end on noisy climaxes, they are at their most effective when they go for stripped-down, acoustic numbers that showcase Tim Baker's slightly raspy voice. Seeds, their second Polaris-shortlisted album, was an ambitious outing, with 2014's Second Sight probably their poppiest and sunniest release to date, moving the band further away from their famous Montréal cousins.