Marianas Trench/Skylar Stecker

Formed 15 long years ago in Vancouver, pop-rockers Marianas Trench adopt an '80s sound on last year’s Astoria, an album that’s “one part 1980s fantasy adventure film and one part classic Marianas Trench.” A press release announcing the album claims it’s “about completely falling to pieces, and picking yourself back up again.” Singer-guitarist Josh Ramsay, who received a Grammy nomination in 2013 for co-writing and producing Carly Rae Jepsen’s breakthrough hit “Call Me Maybe,” wrote the catchy, Jackson 5-inspired songs that chronicle both the break-up of a relationship and his mother’s struggles with a terminal disease. Good to see the guys dig deep for the material. (Niesel)