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New indie releases feature Morrissey, M. Ward & more

It's a very busy release week for indie-rock fans - the most packed week of 2009 so far. Former Smiths head honcho Morrissey leads off this week's releases with "Years of Refusal," his most rocking record since "Your Arsenal" from way back in 1992. Morrissey is one of the rare artists who crosses over credibly from the indie crowd to the adult contemporary market to the classic rock heads.

It's a very busy release week for indie-rock fans - the most packed week of 2009 so far.

Former Smiths head honcho Morrissey leads off this week's releases with "Years of Refusal," his most rocking record since "Your Arsenal" from way back in 1992. Morrissey is one of the rare artists who crosses over credibly from the indie crowd to the adult contemporary market to the classic rock heads.

Indie kids and Starbucks latte aficionados have M. Ward's latest, "Hold Time" to look forward to this Tuesday. In 2008 he teamed up with Zooey Deschanel for the She & Him album "Volume One." Here, the singer-songwriter is back on his own with his usual eclectic and fine tunes.

"Dark Was the Night" is a new two-CD collection benefitting the Red Hot Organization, an AIDS and HIV awareness group. It features a who's who of independent music and has been receiving a lot of online buzz. Look for tracks by Spoon, the National, Bon Iver, the New Pornographers, Arcade Fire, Andrew Bird and many more.

Another hugely ambitious project is N.A.S.A.'s "Spirit of Apollo," helmed by Squeak E. Clean ad DJ Zegon and featuring 17 tracks of hip-hop/electronica with a set of eye-popping collaborations. You'll find David Byrne, Kanye West, M.I.A., Ghostface Killah, Tom Waits, Santogold and many more taking vocal turns.

Jason Isbell, late of the Drive-By Truckers, gives us "Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit," a middle-of-the-road affair not likely to make us forget the Truckers. Asobi Seksu offer a fine noise pop album in "Hush." William Elliott Whitmore goes heavily political on "Animals in the Dark." Indie favorite Vetiver returns with "Tight Night." *

Jonathan Takiff's new releases column returns next week.