Other Lives/Indians

Yet another indie rock act that puts an emphasis on delicate vocals, Stillwater, Oklahoma’s Other Lives often comes off as too precious on its most recent album, last year’s Tamer Animals. “Dark Horse,” the album’s atmospheric opener, features humming strings and cooing vocals that are so understated, they don’t really resonate. The song’s not indicative of the album as a whole, however, and things pick up on tunes such as “As I Lay My Head Down.” The band’s new EP, Mind the Gap, effectively ups the volume on the vocals a bit, too. The album’s rich sonic textures and occasional forays into electronica make it clear why Radiohead picked the guys as the opener on the first leg of its recent U.S. tour. And thanks to a nice push courtesy of the influential L.A. radio station KCRW, which has put the band into its rotation, the group’s profile has risen on the West Coast, where it’s been filling mid-sized venues. (Jeff Niesel)