Aaron Lee Tasjan/Lilly Hiatt/Taylor Lamborn

It's easy to like Lilly Hiatt’s sophomore record, Royal Blue, which was produced by Adam Landry (Deer Tick, T. Hardy Morris, Diamond Rugs). Her music recalls feisty female singers such as Lydia Loveless, Sharon Van Etten and Jenny Lewis, and the moody songs have plenty of twang to them as many of them feature pedal steel guitar. The 12-track collection also reveals Hiatt’s love for acts such as the Breeders and Pixies. “I’ve liked those bands for a long time,” says Hiatt, the daughter of singer-songwriter John Hiatt. “When I was a kid, my brother was at the right age for all that stuff. I was a little young for it. He got me into all that cool indie rock. The Breeders were one of my first favorites. They’re just girlie and cool. Everyone who made [Royal Blue] was a product of the ’90s heyday whether we gravitated toward the music or not. When we were making the music, our ears dug some of that back up. Not even intentionally. I think it’s an inspiration.” (Niesel)