I really like **Grizzly Bear **and **Band of Horses **lately. I’m terrible at describing music though (I like what I like…) so I’m not able to expound much. Both fit the mold of what you’re talking about with the bands you mentioned liking though. I especially like Grizzly Bear’s latest album, Veckatimest and the song “Two Weeks.”
I absolutely love this band at the minute. I think your man’s voice really carries the songs beyond the banal. Fantastic stuff and that tune is one of my most played.
Have you heard The Hold Steady? I think they sound a lot like what some of Bruce Springsteen’s music would sound like if he was in his 30s right now.
Really? I can’t believe some people like them enough to recommend them 
A couple of interesting things I came across today:
Emusic has a free Contemporary Folk sampler on offer here. You need to down load the songs individually if you don’t have an account - click on the green arrows next to each song.
And second, they had a free song called “What I Wouldn’t Do” by a band called She Swings, She Sways that was pretty good. According to thisblog, if you sign up for the band’s mailing list you can get seven of their songs for free.
I almost mentioned them in the OP. They’re one of those bands like Arcade Fire, whose acclaim I don’t really get yet, but I’m trying. I find them a little boring.
A lot of these bands (including both of the above-mentioned) suffer for the fact that I discovered them by looking for bands “like” Sufjan Stevens, before realizing that no one is going to live up to that in my book. At least not for a long time. MGMT is getting close.
I really enjoy The Eels. They’re an older band, but have recently released three new albums that are all awesome. Their music just makes me happy. While the new stuff is really good, I really love the Live with Strings album. The strings add a lot of depth and feeling to the music. The entire album is moving and beautiful.
As for newer bands, I really dig Stars and Rogue Wave. Both make my mind wander - musical escapism at its best. I highly recommend both.
I second the love for KEXP. Their song of the day podcast rocks my socks off and the station gets me through workdays.
And if you like reading about indie music, there are a lot of really great blogs out there. I adore Sean DeTore’s Mixtape Blog. He’s most popular as Japan’s #1 Mixer (special love for anyone that gets that) and his passion and love for music makes his blog one of my favorites. Plus, he’s a nice guy.
Based on the bands you mentioned that I know:
Japandroids
My Bloody Valentine (older band from the 90s although I saw them at some festival last year)
Sonic Youth (been around forever but still put out new stuff)
Tegan and Sera
The Kills
The Black Keys
Arctic Monkeys
Iron and Wine
The Decemberists
Arcade Fire
Fleet Foxes
The New Pornographers
The Temper Trap
The National
Modest Mouse
Band of Horses
Badly Drawn Boy
The Shins
Wilco
MGMT
Phoenix
Bloc Party
Gorillaz
Vampire Weekend
The Heavy
The Bravery
MGMT has been being pushed pretty hard in NY, I remember when they were launched in the US. But no, you hear nothing from them on the radio. Strange.
I’ll second The New Pornographers, although their sound seems more pop-ish than folk. If you ever get to see them, they put on a great show. I also like Phoenix, Black Keys, Andrew Bird, and the Decemberists.
One that hasn’t been mentioned yet is Jenny Lewis. Her sound is very folksy, and I think you could actually qualify it as country. I actually like her just a little more than Neko Case.
The Bird and the Bees’ latest album, Ray Guns Are Not the Future, has a bit of a Japanese flair and their songs tend to be fun.
She and Him’s Volume I was decent, but I haven’t rushed out to buy Volume II yet.
I don’t know if this is what you’re looking for, but XX is a British indie band with a very sexy sound. Not quite rock or folk, and it took me a few listens to really get into it, but now it’s my most played album at the moment.
Josh Ritter…
Ah, these are my jamz!! Here’s some more recs, even though I imagine by now you’re pretty overwhelmed.
Bright Eyes
For me, it all started with Bright Eyes. Very similar to Sufjan, but more confessional, less mature. Lots of focus on lyrics, which leads some to term this emo. It may well be, but who cares? His album “I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning” is a gem of folkish indie rock, for example the song Train Underwater.
My personal favorite song by him is probably June on the West Coast, which features some great lyrics overtop a simple but interestingly strummed chord progression.
Margot and the Nuclear So & So’s
This lines up more with Sufjan’s chamber pop aspect - relatively simple songs at the core which are embellished with unusual or ornamental instrumentation. They’ve released two and a half albums, but the first one is where the good’s are. Check out the song Skeleton Key. Once I heard the first line, I was hooked.
Caribou
Less like the others listed, but you said you like LCD Soundsystem, so what the hell? Very modern sounding upbeat music from a man who recieved his PhD from Imperial College, London. Defintiely does some very interesting things sonically, while still maintaining some soul. I like Jamelia.
And, a few specific recs for some of the bands already mentioned:
xx - Islands
Modest Mouse - 3rd Planet
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
Andrew Bird - Fake Palindromes
Wilco - Pot Kettle Black
Happy huntin’.
For a little CanCon, you might try Chad VanGaalen or Hayden.
I’ll third this suggestion. If you’re a big fan of artsy power pop a la Robyn Hitchcock, Sloan, XTC, etc., these guys are definitely worth a listen. Plus they feature Neko Case, who is a great artist in her own right (although, I must admit, I slightly prefer her in the context of the New Pornographers. It’s a tough call.)
Here’s what I think of as their signature tune, “Letter From an Occupant.”
And here’s Neko Case’s “Hold On, Hold On” for some more straight-up folk/country.
I loathe his voice. I first heard the Decemberists when I was heavily into Neutral Milk Hotel, led by Jeff Mangum who also has a distinct singing style that makes him sound a little mental. The difference is that Mangum sounds genuinely and unselfconsciously mental, and Colin Meloy sounds like he’s a normal dude deliberately trying to sound weird. I don’t know if that’s the case or not, but I can’t shake that impression, and I can’t listen to him.
I don’t know if Neutral Milk Hotel would appeal to you, Cisco, but here is a sample.
Fourthing Neko Case. She’s phenomenal.
Yes, I have. I don’t understand the appeal of this music at all.
Sleigh Bells are a lot of fun, probably the most original sound to come out in a while. Kind of a mix between Ministry and M.I.A. Basically it fucking rocks so turn it up to 11 or don’t even bother.
Jónsi, solo album by lead singer of Sigur Rós. It’s a mix of Sufjan Stevens and The Postal Service. It has a very upbeat, almost magical sound to it. I’d imagine his voice might be a deal breaker for some but it works for me.
As mentioned, Frightened Rabbit are great. When I first heard “The Twist” I think I listened to it about 30 times in a row, which is something I’ve never done with any song. I don’t know why but it just hit me like a ton of bricks and I couldn’t turn it off.
I orginally came into this thread earlier today to mention some bands, but I decided turnabout was fairplay and thought I would listen to some of the bands suggested by the OP before I made my suggestions.
Japandroids and Iron and Wine didn’t do much for me and I am familiar with (and enjoy) LCD Soundsystem.
Titus Andronicus? Well, I know the Shakespeare play so I downloaded The Monitor.
YIKES!
Listened to it from beginning to end.
Amazing.
I’ve now finished the entire album for the second time. Thank you Cisco for turning me onto something so amazing.
A previous poster mentioned Neutral Milk Hotel and their album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. If you don’t know it I think it safe to say it would be up your alley.
I would also suggest:
The Tallest Man On Earth - Swedish guy with a serious Woody Guthrie/Bob Dylan thing going on. The Wild Hunt is the newest and best.
The Soft Pack - power pop but in a good way
Waaves - Surf punk filtered through a Pet Sounds/Brian Wilson sorta vibe.
Already mentioned bands I love:
The Hold Steady
Wilco
Arctic Monkeys
I’ll second (or third) Titus Andronicus, LCD Soundsystem, and Sleigh Bells.
Especially enjoy LCD’s lyrics.
I have discovered Deer Tick and they are enjoyable now and seem like a band to watch–they lean country but can do just about anything, they certainly are not countrified in the David Letterman clip–and I like their sense of humor.
I’m still enjoying Freelance Whales, though their studio stuff seems to come off better than the live stuff that ends up Youtube. Hannah
Free Energy’s Hope Child gives me hope. I like their energy, they remind me of the Strokes.
I just found this thread and will be checking out many of the suggestions. Also thought I’d share my favorite place to listen to and discover this type of music, the ‘Indie Pop Rocks’ station at SomaFM.
A couple local acts, if I may promote some incredibly talented friends! Sorry for no links but I have one arm in a sling and typing is laborious.
The Low Anthem–they’ve gotten some widespread recognition via NPR and a Letterman appearance. Very unique sound, kind of haunting folkish hard to classify stuff.
Brown Bird–awesome folk/Appalachia, of the foot stompin’ and also the haunting dreamy type. Amazing use of lap steel/dobro, it brings the sex in one verse and gives you chills the next.
Props also to troub’s mention of The Acorn, one of my favorite Canadians plays guitar, and Caprese for hometown heroes Deer Tick.