If Matt Ward tends to be overlooked among indie rock's greatest talents, it's because dude hangs back – behind Zooey Deschanel in She and Him, behind Conor Oberst and Jim James in Monsters of Folk, behind the scenes as collaborator with Jenny Lewis, Neko Case and others. But his own LPs show why everyone wants to be his friend. His seventh is his most vivid and varied yet, full of exquisite guitar work ("Clean Slate"), gem-like songcraft ("Primitive Girl") and inspired covers ("I Get Ideas," famously sung by Desi Arnaz on I Love Lucy). Sure, Zooey's here – on "Sweetheart" – but she lets her bro shine.

Listen to "Primitive Girl":

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“The A Team”

This debut track from the then-20-year-old British singer-songwriter has a dark story behind it. Sheeran says he culls songwriting inspiration from "viewing other people's situations," which, for the heroine in "The A Team," involves drug addiction and prostitution that began as a teen. Sheeran paints the woman's trials with haunting imagery such as "But lately her face seems/Slowly sinking, wasting/Crumbling like pastries." "I did a gig at a homeless shelter, [and the song] is about one of the women there. It's her story," he said.