Talking of conventionality (we were, weren't we?), how about a rock band from Bedford, England that values things like melody and musical competence? A band like Joseph Swidenbank - that's the name of the band and not just that of the singer - for example. After listening to one too many indie rock young bucks lately, I'd begun to wonder if anyone used a guitar to make anything other than three chords of very loud noise.
Certainly there's no shortage of riffs here and there's plenty of weight behind them too. Songs like "Back Home" are straight down the line from eighties' radio and none the worse for that while "Coming Up For Air" is more like what today's indie rockers should aim to sound like should they (ever) grow up. That musical competence allows the band to kick back and enjoy the ride they are taking us on with slick instrumentals like "The End" passing the time nicely with stylistic changes like the folk meets prog-rock "Silver Lining" making sure your ears won't get bored. In case you are looking for something you will recognise, there's also a respectful, if superfluous, cover of Joe Jackson's "It's Different For Girls"
Melody and musical competency are not much prized by today's music business but, if they were, Joseph Swidenbank (the band) might do very well indeed.