For art-damaged neo-post-punkers, Baltimore's trio Future Islands comes on disarmingly friendly-like at first, all bounceable blankwave beats and twinkly electro-pop melodies.

Actually, it's a bit stupefying to think that there could be any more than one (barely functioning) set of machines involved here.

Jón Þór Birgisson's surprisingly sprightly solo bow finds the angel-voiced Icelander on earthlier if no less fantastical footing than with Sigur Rós.

Brisbane's An Horse bash out classic-stripe indie as vibrant and crunchy as any boy/girl power duo you'd care to mention.

On stage it's a chamber orchestra of one — just Owen with his trusty violin, his sweet, supple choirboy tenor, and a masterfully deployed loop pedal.

Hot Chip's One Life Stand is full of unassumingly earnest, starry-eyed songs about the profundity of love and human connection; songs about commitment and contentment and taking care of stray cats. It's a total sudser, in the best possible way.

Arty L.A. upstarts Fol Chen seem to be attempting some kind of next-level mindfunk with their shadowy non-identities, fugly cover art and inscrutable dystopian liner-note letters.

The Feelies never enjoyed the early-aughts adulation accorded to plenty of their class-of-'80 post-punk peers but lately they've started getting their due.

The septet's A Sky Underground EP boasts a potent, passionate blend of old-timey mountain soul.

tUnE-yArDs, the one-woman deconstructionist pop project of Oakland's Merrill Garbus, has gotta be the oddest inclusion in this year's Roots Picnic lineup.