The National
albums
band. Usually when a band is set up like this people think "uh oh! Here comes inner turmoil and all that jazz!" What
makes this band different though, is that they all seem to gel quite nicely like a family would. The National have a
very unified sound, and usually a kind of sobering one. They recall Leonard Cohen at his most subdued, Warren
Zevon at his most emotional, Afghan Whigs at their most heartbreaking, and most of all themselves when rocking
out (with kind of U2 guitar work at times). Matt Berninger sits atop of the band, reciting poetry like one who is at
peace and war with himself and the world at the same time, but still a wise tone is always present in his low bass
voice. Like any great band, they are constantly evolving while remaining fundamentally the same. Every album
makes a unique statement and its easy to see through the laid-back, moody debut The National to the futuristic Sad
Songs for Dirty Lovers, the rocking and touching Alligator to the masterwork The Boxer, these guys are here to stay.
Band Members: Matt Berninger - Vocals
Scott Devendorf - Guitar
Bryan Devendorf - Drums
Aaron Dessner - Bass
Bryce Dessner - Guitar
Best Album: Boxer
Biggest Influences: Leonard Cohen, U2, American Music Club
2001
The National - 6/8
The first album of The National establishes and original sound at least, with hints of country and lazy tempos
abound. It is not a solid album as some debuts, though there is plenty to like: the driving "Cold Girl Fever", the
twang of "Pay for Me", and the best of them all, the languid "Theory of the Crows". Other highlights are scattered
though out, but I must stress an emphasis on scattered, as it is sometimes hard to care about a record that has as
many dips as jumps in quality. I have heard through various reliable sources that the band had not even played a
show when they recorded this, which may account for some of the uneasiness. The band has a mastery of mood
already present though, and whatever that mood may prevail to be in the future (dark rock, subtle poetry, country
ballads, emotional bombast) the debut is full of hope. - Trevor e.y.
1.beautiful head- 3
2.cold girl fever- 4
3.the perfect song- 4
4.american mary- 2
5.son- 3
6.pay for me- 4
7.bitters & absolut- 3
8.john's star- 2
9.watching you well- 2
10.theory of the crows- 4
11.29 years- 2
12.anna frued- 2
2003
Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers - 7/8
The band's second album is an improvement in every way. The album mixes emotional rock with cool, relaxed
vibes, even more so than last time. What is great is everything feels natural, and influences are the same but
seamlessly intertwined, from the U2ish "Available" to the Zevon tarnished "Murder Me Rachael". As the album
floats on there are number of great touches applied: the non-repetitive style of "Sugar Wife", songs that combine 2
into one such as "Cardinal Song" and "It Never Happened", the balladry of "Lucky You", the apparent break-up
theme of the record. Even with all this and the amazing consistency, the best songs are the ones that either stay in
control ("Fashion Coat", "Thirsty") or threaten to go out of control ("Slipping Husband", with a lyrical Afghan Whigs
sample). Extremes make good bedfellows here. There are minor flaws with a couple of songs that go nowhere,
"Available" and "Patterns of Fairytales", but it is a great album by any standards, destined to be underrated
because of its subtlety but actually comparable to the great rock break-up albums - Shoot Out the Lights,
Gentlemen, Blood on the Tracks, etc. - Trevor e.y.
1.cardinal song- 4
2.slipping husband- 4
3.90 mile water wall- 3
4.it never happened- 4
5.murder me rachael- 4
6.thirsty- 4
7.available- 2
8.sugar wife- 4
9.trophy wife- 4
10.fashion coat- 4
11.patterns of fairytales- 2
12.lucky you- 4
2005
Alligator - 7/8
The third record by the band is still great, and even more unified. This is definitely a stronger sense of emotion
and it's the band's hardest rocking yet. This record lands somewhere in between National and Sad Songs in terms
of consistency but there is so much to like here I give it benifit of the doubt. I'm not a fan of "Looking for
Astronauts", "Val Jester", or "City Middle", but every other song has something to love. I enjoy the excursions into
out of control emtional rock such as "Abel", "Lit Up", and "Mr. November", which sound like U2 if they totally lost
control. Also, the more somber songs work such as "Secret Meeting", "Karen", "All the Wine", and the best of all,
"The Geese of Beverly Road". The band is evolving, seemingly towards a more rocking sound and it works as well
as anything they have tried. All of the band's records are similar, yet they are all different, which is what makes The
National one of the greatest bands of the 00's. - Trevor e.y.
1.secret meeting- 4
2.karen- 4
3.lit up- 4
4.looking for astronauts- 2
5.daughters of the soho riots- 3
6.baby, we'll be fine- 3
7.friend of mine- 4
8.val jester- 2
9.all the wine- 4
10.abel- 4
11.the geese of beverly road- 4
12.city middle- 2
13.mr. november- 4
2007
Boxer - 8/8
Trying every kind of style they can muster on previous albums, Boxer comes across as a very special National
effort. It is unexpectedly laid back, seeing how Alligator was such a biting, rock record at parts. Another thing,
which is true about a lot of their music, is it takes a while to absorb but patient listeners will be rewarded (it took me
about 3 months to warm to it). It still varies wildly among rockers ("Squalor Vicotria", "Apartment Story", "Mistaken
for Strangers"), ballads ("Slow Show", "Gospel", "Ada"), and others that mix the two. The rhythmic element is not
really stronger, but more "brought to attention". Songs like "Brainy", "Fake Empire", and "Start a War" glide on
drumlines in a very peculiar way, recalling zillions of band's from the 70's and 80's; it's the most "punk" the band is
likely to get. Boxer is the most consistent album the band has done yet, the most unified effort overall, and though
a few songs stand out it flows and remains an album that is greater then the sum of its parts. The album also starts
with a beautiful opener and closer, and Berninger's poetry has never been more effective. It is rare that a band's
most popular album is also their best, but it seems with Boxer that is the case. - Trevor e.y.
1.fake empire- 4
2.mistaken for strangers- 4
3.brainy- 3
4.squalor victoria- 4
5.green gloves- 4
6.slow show- 4
7.apartment story- 4
8.start a war- 4
9.guest room- 2
10.racing like a pro- 3
11.ada- 4
12.gospel- 4
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