You’ve got to check out Minneapolis indie rockers Cloud Cult. Not only is their back story amazing — someone told it to me at a party last night — but their music is amazing. To think they’ve been around for 14 years and this is the first I’m hearing of them!

Since 1995, Cloud Cult have crafted sprawling, cathartic albums that have won them the attention of the New York Times, MTV, Spin, Billboard, and a devoted following of fans.

During that time, the band has grown from the solo project of singer/songwriter Craig Minowa to include cellist Sarah Young, violinist Shannon Frid, painters Connie Minowa and Scott West (who create paintings live at the band’s performances), and recent addition bassist Shawn Neary (formerly of Tapes ‘n’ Tapes), and Arlen Peiffer.

Last year saw the band headline the KEXP BBQ. Past headliners have included Devotchka and Ghostland Observatory. The band also headlined the second stage at the Monolith Festival at Red Rocks Amphitheater between Spoon and The Flaming Lips on the Main stage.

Despite offers from major labels, Cloud Cult has chosen to remain independent, recording and releasing their albums through Earthology Records, a not-for-profit environmental record label established by Minowa in 1998. On a self-funded shoe-string budget they have achieved top 20 CMJ radio charting for all of their last three albums, a domain usually reserved for the SubPops and Merges of the world.

Their latest record — Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes) — was recorded in 2008 and is rumored to be their last, although they’ve continued to tour and perform, playing at Coachella this past year, where they announced that Connie wouldn’t be performing as she was pregnant. The band is currently on hiatus focusing on their new baby, but we hope they haven’t stopped making music. In the interim, there’s lots of Cloud Cult for us to listen to while we wait for their return.

Read more of their Wiki and make sure to check out their official site. As always, check out the band on MySpace, where you can test drive tracks, look at pics, and watch videos.