While they may not be playing on the American Top 40, Deerhunter has been one of the most consistent acts in indie rock in the last five years.

With three critically-applauded album releases so far, it makes sense to see more and more fans falling in love with the band.

Its 2008 album ‘Microcastle’ saw Deerhunter’s emergence into indie stardom, gaining the notion of being one of the strongest bands in the circuit. It’s no surprise that its latest album ‘Halcyon Digest’ is a strong follow-up that may be its best yet.

With each release, Deerhunter has found a way to steadily improve on a good album, finding a way to become great. The band pushes its sound forward, expanding everything to the fullest degree. Bradford Cox’s songwriting finds new ways to impress, as his backing party plays their instruments tighter.

They’ve got the formula for success down to pact on ‘Halcyon Digest.’

It starts with ‘Earthquake,’ a lush opener that sounds nothing like its title. It’s smooth and calming, hitting you gently with waves of sound that will comfort your soul. It evokes feelings of melancholy, longing for that one place in your mind that you miss dearly.

Right away you notice something has changed about Deerhunter’s sound. While it still maintains a steady focus on the more experimental side of rock, its sound is more refined and focused on clean melodies and steady songwriting.

The second track ‘Don’t Cry’ is built upon a lazy melody that is smart and refined. The production shares the spotlight here with Bradford’s songwriting.

‘Revival’ breaks through with a gorgeous harmony that is as addictive as it is technically impressive.

‘Helicopter’ is a lush delight that hits home on an emotional level. It’s a psych-pop gem that builds and builds upon its grand melody. It’s one of the most tender moments from the band to date and it may just be Bradford’s finest moment as a singer.

Two tracks that were clearly worth multiple listens were ‘Desire Lines’ and ‘He Would Have Laughed,’ Cox’s tribute to the late Jay Reatard.

‘Desire Lines’ breaks through with a feel-good chorus that you could even call inspired by the 60s. By the end, its crisp guitar riffs merge effortlessly with the band’s rhythm section to create a moment of sonic bliss that you wish would never end. It’s simply stunning.

‘He Would Have Laughed’ is one of the band’s more reflective moments. Spanning nearly seven-and-a-half minutes, it’s something that Jay Reatard would surely be proud of.

It’s a clich√É© term, but this is Deerhunter’s most accessible album to date. The experimental psych elements are still prevalent, but they now co-exist with the band’s pop-rock side. As you spend more time with the record, you’re hit with plenty of feelings. These are songs of longing, regret and hope.

Deerhunter is becoming masters of its own craft. It’s too early to tell, but at this rate, it’s hard to argue against them being one of the best bands around.