The National — Alligator

This is The National's third album, but it's probably the first time you'll hear them due to a new distribution deal with Beggars Banquet. They'll make an immediate impression on their newfound audience — "I wouldn't go out alone into America," Matt Berninger sings on "Karen." It's Berninger's dry, baritone vulnerability that makes Alligator so endearing. Track by track, the record just gets stronger. Alligator is so packed with quality, you might find yourself listening to the first half of the album non-stop with standouts such as "Looking For Astronauts" and "Friend Of Mine," only to discover "Val Jester" and "Abel" when you finally get around to spinning the rest.

Get it from