The National

It's probably premature to say this (Arcade Fire's Reflektor just released this week and I have yet to hear it), but my favorite album of 2013 so far is Trouble Will Find Me by The National.

I'm going to say it's Kelly's fault (again) that I even listened to this band in the first place.  A few years ago, she bought their album Alligator on CD (note: don't have it as of yet on vinyl, will be remedied soon).

It was the kind of thing that I put on iTunes, listened to every once in a blue moon, then mostly forgot about.  We saw them perform this summer at the Outside Lands Festival, and it was exciting that they played with Kronos Quartet and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead.  It was enough of an experience that, with very little to do in South Carolina, I picked up Trouble Will Find Me, with only modest expectations.  As I listened to their album during car trips, I was immediately blown away by the deep melancholy power and...well, there is no other way to say this except that Bryan Devendorf is probably the greatest drummer to come around in the past 30 years, and I mean that without any hyperbole.  I don't know how many times I listed to "Demons" before realizing the song was in 7:4, it was so subdued and unobtrusive.

It forced me to have another listen to Alligator.  Their lyrics are quite subversive and off the wall, in only the best possible way.  Lead singer Matt Berninger isn't the kind of person who tries to be a big rock star, and in interviews he is nerdy and reserved, just the kind of person who propels them into genius.

Hunting down from their back catalog, Boxer is a fan favorite and critically acclaimed.  If there is any question about Bryan Devendorf's talent (or if you are just a fan of drums in general), check out "Squalor Victoria."

Considered by fans on Amazon to be one of their best, High Violet is nothing short of a masterpiece (though I'm liking Trouble Will Find Me even more), opening up with the line "It's a terrible love..." and only getting all the more intense from there ("...'cause I'm evil...").

I can listen to these albums over and over again and not get bored, finding something new in every single layer--possibly to the dismay of my loved ones.