Deerhunter

We’re not quite sure whom to thank for the success of Halycon Digest, the long-awaited, much-anticipated fourth album from Georgia’s Deerhunter. But whether you want to point the finger at producer Ben Allen (aka the man behind Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavilion), or frontman Bradley Cox (who spent most of 2009 experimenting under his Atlas Sound moniker), the result is the same: a fresh, career-reinventing record for a band that’s consistently exceeded our expectations. For Digest, the foursome continues to push the limits of their ambient pop-meets-shoegazey-rock specifications. Bookends “Earthquake!” and “He Would Have Laughed” play off the My Bloody Valentine comparisons to a T, yes, but hidden gems like “Helicopter” mix in delightfully trippy samples, reverby synths, and sustained distortion chords, making for a musical meal that’s equal parts comfort food and surprisingly palatable experimentation.