In Rotation: The National, My Morning Jacket, and Elvis Costello

I have began to fill in gaps of the discography of some of my favorite bands. So that means acquiring The National's 2005 release Alligator, which is more brooding angst from Matt Beringer and company. My favorite tracks are "The Secret Meaning," "Karen," "All The Wine," and "The Geese if Beverly Road."

Another album that I missed was Kentucky-based My Morning Jacket's 2003 album It Still Moves. Jim James and company have made another rootsy, country-influenced rock record that precedes great albums that have become favorites like Evil Urges, Z, and Orbital. The standouts for me are "Mahgeetah," "Dancefloors," and "One Big Holiday."

I also missed out on Elvis Costello's second collaboration with producer T-Bone Burnett on 2009's Sacred, Profane, and Sugarcane. Their first collaboration, 1986's King of America, is one of my favorite Costello albums of all-time.This time, the outing is more hit and miss for me. My top tracks are: the new arrangement on "Complicated Shadows," "Sulphur to Sugarcane," and "Changing Partners."