A writer recently asked me to help him define "indie rock." I couldn't, not in his language of words. It's a sensibility for the connoisseur, and who else cares? But if during the holiday season one of your relatives, trying to meaningfully connect with you, quickly says, "So what does this 'indie rock' that you like so much sound like?" — just hand them Deerhunter's Halcyon Digest.

First of all, it's out on 4AD (ironic that record labels still matter, huh?) But bands like Deerhunter were weaned on the art of labels like this and aspired to one day be on one... now they are, and deservedly so. The sensibility is reverent, using sonic textures from previous musical styles that they've loved and making something new. They've even been credited with coming up with one of the only new musical genre labels that I like: "ambient punk." But this band is so steeped in the canon they could be called Classic Indie Rock!

They also play with hints of other much-lionized musical heroes. The sax sounds on the track called "Coronado,' which I thought hinted at Springsteen, were actually, according to lead singer/songwriter Bradford Cox "inspired by the Rolling Stones' album Exile On Main Street. Saxophones are becoming this thing. That's why we did it early. Next year everyone's gonna have a saxophone on their record because saxophones are just cool." We'll see about that, but it's a perfect example of how their sound can veer off at any moment so that you're never sure what's coming next.

Deerhunter still love the concept of the album format, too. Eleven tracks at 46 minutes is a perfect length, the only problem being the last track, which is one of my faves, is literally cut off cold as if the meter ran out on how much time they had allowed themselves. Perhaps this is because it's dedicated to their friend Jay Reatard (Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr.), who died suddenly earlier this year. There are also some lovely segues between tracks, especially "Fountain Stairs" into "Coronado," so try to sit with the album as a piece, and check out the art work with lyrics, as it will give you a better understanding of songs like "Helicopter."

These days, having a side project also seems de rigueur for indie rockers and two songs on this album are written by multi-instrumentalist Lockett Pundt who's solo project is Lotus Plaza. The last album from Atlas Sound, Bradford Cox's other project, has also spent many hours in my CD player this year. He was recently voted #71 coolest person of 2010 by the NME in the UK, and they said, "He's been so good for so long now, we're in danger of taking him for granted." This could be considered hyperbole as Deerhunter was only formed in '01 in Atlanta GA, but also (typically for indie rock heroes) the mainstream don't know his name yet. Maybe they still won't, even though Halcyon Digest is so good it got a 9.2 from Pitchfork. Quintessential indie rock, you see, will never jump the shark!