It's hard to overstate just how good The National's albums Alligator and Boxer are. I don't think I've been so impressed since a friend of a friend recommended The Walkmen's debut album Everyone Who Pretended To Like Me Is Gone. As he said, "They blew me top off."
Why music like this never seems to penetrate the air waves is beyond me. Mainstream radio sucks. Thank goodness for the long tail.
