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With its 2004 debut, Hopes and Fears, Keane took a lot of knocks for its emotive pop style, often getting labeled “Coldplay lite.” But the British pop trio, led by singer Tom Chaplin and pianist Tim Rice-Oxley, is aiming for a tougher, darker and more diverse sound on it sophomore album. “Is It Any Wonder?” which questions Britain’s role in the Iraq war, is a forceful rocker, while “Leaving So Soon?” has shades of Rufus Wainwright and the organ-drenched “Hamburg Song” stands out as a gorgeous, plaintive ballad. June 20   

It’s well known that France has never been a bastion of decent pop and rock. One exception has been the electronica duo Air, which contributed a fine soundtrack to the Sofia Coppola film The Virgin Suicides. Phoenix, which once shared a label with Air and occasionally served as the duo’s backing band, is another. The group, led by singer Thomas Mars, revels in giddy power-pop and dreamy West Coast rock on songs like the hooky “Consolation Prizes” and the French saluting “Napoleon Says.” C’est tres cool. June 13

The members of Hamilton, Ont.’s The Marble Index wear their Clash influences proudly on their ripped sleeves. The mod-rock trio even recruited Scott Shields, who worked with Clash frontman Joe Strummer’s Mescaleros, for its sophomore release. And just as The Clash dabbled in dub, Brad Germain and the boys utilize reggae’s one-drop rhythm on the new album’s tracks like “Let Me Be the One.” While some songs like “Same Schools” sound suspiciously Stroke-ish, most of the album boasts a fresh, feisty edge. June 13