In 2007, these Florida punks hooked up with producer Butch Vig for New Wave, infusing their lefty anthems with a new clarity and power. On the follow-up (also produced by Vig), some cynicism crept into Tom Gabel's lyrics: "I Was a Teenage Anarchist" is blazing Springsteen emo, as Gabel decries the misguided revolutionary politics of his youth, and on the pretty acoustic shuffle "Ache With Me," Gabel cops to a "sense of defeat." The arena-huge tunes can get a little overbearing, but cuts like the title track — where Gabel yearns to smash white crosses displayed by anti-abortion activists — are righteous, churning gut-rollers.

“Ambling Alp”

The "Ambling Alp" was the nickname of the six-and-a-half-foot-tall Primo Carnera. Though the song is named after the Italian-born 1930s heavyweight champion, Yeasayer are actually paying tribute to boxing legend Joe Louis with this first-person psychedelic dance-rock tune. “I was always interested in writing a song that had boxing mythology in it,” Yeasayer’s Chris Keating said. “It’s pretty fascinating: There were so many amazing characters, and it was so closely entwined with 20th century history.” Yeaseyer also invokes German champ Max Schmeling and hints at the historical significance placed on the historic bouts between the Nazi-era boxer and the African-American Louis.