Noah & The Whale's heart-swelling indie folk oscillates between earthy, rousing anthems and twee tunes. With finger-plucked acoustic guitar and playful percussion, the English group created an intimate vibe on their 2008 debut, Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down. This established them as a major force in folk music, while their sophomore effort, The First Days of Spring, mined deeper emotional territory with its string-swept meditations on failed romance. Singer Charlie Fink's expressive baritone guided them through it all—including the occasional foray into synth-heavy, Springsteen-esque rock.