High Violet

I owe this album for two things. First, my introduction to The National. I was slow onto the band, my discovery coming with High Violet. Second, they headlined Latitude in 2011, the year I returned to music festivals. This is a beautiful collection of songs, driven by the drums and bass of the Devendorf brothers, the guitars of the Dessner brothers, and Matt Berninger's baritone. And is there a better pop song than Bloodbuzz Ohio? Five stars for an album which is arguably not even their best.

AH-mazing. I love this band so much it hurts. I listened to the expanded edition and the alternate version of Terrible Love is insanely good. I immediately went online to order a vinyl copy for myself.

Good God I love this band. I love this album. I love every song on this album so much. This album has been with me since I was a teenager and it’s beautiful and haunting and relevant and revelatory every time I listen to it. Love this shit. So happy it’s here and that I got to listen to it again.

FAVS (top 3): terrible love, sorrow, conversation 16 mençoes honrosas: anyone's ghost, little faith, bloodbuzz ohio, runaway, england, vanderlyle crybaby geeks um OOOOOOOOOOOOOOTIMO lindo muito bom de ouvir quando vc precisa ouvir nao sei oq a letra diz mas toda a composiçao é maravilhosa e ouvi em um momento muito bom tambem, eu AMEI ouvir esse album e as primeiras tracks e umas do final KKKKKKKKKK meio q o album inteiro deu pra ouvir como se a musica tivesse saindo do meu coraçao eu amei de mais gente amei mesmo! otimo projeto pra se ouvir por inteiro! nota final: 5/5

I listened to this one a bunch when it was new. It pairs perfectly with a grey and rainy Pacific Northwest winter. One of my favorites.

One of the best albums of the 2010s. 5 stars

Stunning album from start to finish.

Sad Dads forever

A personal favorite of mine!

Man I forgot how great this band was.

Really like the assortment of instruments, I think they work very well with the singer's voice. Great album.

I love this band. I'm a millennial, so of course I love this band. I recognize that this is the album that solidified them as a god-tier indie band for my generation, but honestly, its not my favorite of their work. That being said, this is incorrectly the only album by The National on the whole damn list. So I suppose, I'll just write about my relationship with The National through the lens of this record. I know specifically the first time that I heard The National. I was on a bus going to St. George for SBO camp. Brett McCarty introduced me to Alligator. The song he showed me was Abel and pretty much from that moment on, I was in. I love the doldrum style of Matt Berninger's vocals, with the progressive dreariness of the Dessner bros. Every album and every song draws you into a world whether you're hanging on the lyrics or not, its captivating you and taking you in. Personally, I think the albums on either side of this record are better. But this band is fantastic. We're lucky to have them.

I didn’t know sadness and anxiety could be so beautiful. 5 stars!

Probs my fave band, audibly cheered when I saw this popped up this morning. I adore this album, Matt's lyricism is as close to poetry as you can get in music for me, and its coupled with this gorgeously rich baritone. He's so evocative especially on England and Conversation 16. The Dessner's back him up with both incredible production and guitars, whole Bryan thumps the tracks on with drums when needed. It's indie, it's hipster, its peak Pitchfork wankfest. It's fucking great.

Love it! I like the music a lot.

i liiiiiiked this

как я жила до прослушивания этого не могу понять... буквально каждый трек от и до от корки до корки идеален и гладок как бокал ничего лишнего.. все так просто но так значимо и так красиво, слова жизненные до слез и голос такой приземеленный как будто он у тебя в голове.. потрясно

Such an important record in my life. The b-sides are so fucking good. Sorrow! Like a great film, every listen I find something else I love.

incredible. takes me somewhere

I'd heard of The National before this, but had never heard any of their songs before. Honestly, while listening to the first song, I was anticipating not to like this album. I thought that the instrumentation was fine, but I didn't really like the singers voice. After hearing the rest of the album I decided that it wasn't that I didn't like his voice, it was just how his voice sounded on the first song that I didn't like. I loved the rest of the album.

Uz boxer najbolji the national

2010s indie rock, long time favorite.

loved it!

Big fan of the national

When I saw this album pop up, I was at first surprised. I expected that The National would have at least one album on this list, but in my opinion Boxer and Trouble Will Find me were "better albums". I listened to this trying to find some criticisms that would reaffirm this idea but as the album went on I changed my mind and now maybe think High Violet is The National in their peak form. They have definitely found their style on this album, the dark, low, Leonard Cohen-esque vocals, airy, reverb heavy guitar and synth and the super tight and surprisingly technical drum bits that hold it all together. The only criticism I can really find is that they lean into this style so hard, there is not a ton of variation or experimentation on this album. For them though, it kinda works as one song carries into the next, before you know it the album is over and you are wishing for more.

Back in 2008, I bought tickets to see R.E.M., Modest Mouse, and the National. I was mainly interested in Modest Mouse, but I knew a couple R.E.M. and National songs, so I was fairly excited for all three. It turns out the National were by far the best band on stage that night, which ignited an obsession that lasted a few years. High Violet isn’t my favourite National album, but it is up near the top. Probably top 3 at least. And it has some of my favourite National songs on it like Lemonworld and Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks. I still think Alligator or Boxer would have been a better pick for this list.

This is when The National hit their peak. The band started out as a slightly country-tinged Indie act in the early-00's and finally brokethrough in the middle of the decade with their great and moody chamber pop records Alligator (2005) and Boxer (2007). Here, they take what made those albums work and add a good dose of stadium ready hooks, making their sound that much more accessible while also without losing their essence. The National make their intentions clear right from the get go with "Terrible Love", a slow-burning opener with an epic climax, which is even more epic when played live. Then come a couple o Post-Punk numbers and later we get what is possibly the band's best song "Bloodbuzz Ohio", o propulsive track that manages to get the listener pumped even despite its sad and yearning lyrics. The album never dips in quality or intensity, even in its slower moments such as "Runaway" or the closer "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks". After this album, The National continued in this more accessible direction on Trouble Will Find Me (2013) and introduced some light electronic elements on Sleep Well Beast (2017), which was also the conclusion their amazing five-album run. Since then, the band has somewhat settled into a late career style that isn't bad, but not very interesting either. That seems to happen to a lot of bands. But with all the great music they've done during those twelve years, I can't complain. Key tracks: Terrible Love Anyone's Ghost Afraid of Everyone Bloodbuzz Ohio Runaway Conversation 16 Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks

I go back and forth over whether I like this or the Boxer more? Either way it’s great Brooklyn Dad rock.

BLOOOOOOOD

Immaculate vibe, ill take this over bob Dylan any day

one of my favourite albums. really enjoyed listening to conversation 16 : "you'd never believe the shitty thoughts i think" "when i said what i said i didn't mean anything"

mola moltissim, molt millennial però en una bona manera

The National are a "winter band". Since I happened to be listening to this in the northeastern US, where it's currently freezing, this fits perfectly. I get a very introspective feeling when I listen to this. It definitely helps during what can become a dreary time of year.

A pleasantly surprising album that does a great job of blending relaxing indie with a surprising amount of melancholic depth. Highly enjoyable listen with a lot to love, no real weak spots

Godtgodtgodtgodt🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Masterpiece. I think this is The National’s best album, with their best song (“Bloodbuzz Ohio”). So good. I like every song. I think the production is pristine. It was a joy to revisit this and find that I feel the same way about it I always have. Must-listen #259.

95

some of the tracks blend together but it works. all bangers.

This is peak National, Alligator is my favorite, Boxer is almost perfect and this is their best, that's a hell of a three album run! This pretty much is the last great National album IMHO

Easy five-star performance for me. "Terrible Love," "Bloodbuzz Ohio," "Conversation 16," and "England" among the many highlights.

The National at their finest hour.

Seems excellent. I'm reviewing after only managing to listen through once which feels absurd in this case. Feels absurd because there's obviously some depth here and a general feel and arc through the album that I feel like I'm invited to get to know over time. Some simply beautiful sounding songs amongst some of the more atmospheric and intriguing ones. I will absolutely spend more time with this.

Enjoyed it, immensly.

It may just be music for sad dads but I facking love it! Unashamedly the best thing I saw at Glastonbury. Simpsons: No

I got introduced to The National about 15 years ago via Boxer, and I have been in love ever since. I was living abroad prior to music streaming, so I had to rely on downloaded music delivered via iPod. Boxer and others were instrumental in pushing me through that time. This album continues that excellent streak for The National. Terrible Love is an incredible opener, Bloodbuzz Ohio plays on repeat in my brain. Gosh, just so many of these songs are heavily enjoyable, balancing Berninger's easygoing vocals rocking instrumentals so perfectly. The songs vacillate between slow and peaceful to rocking to rocking subdued. For me, Boxer reigns supreme in their catalog, but followed closely by High Violet.

I'm a big fan of The National, but I understand they're not an easy band to get into - their hooks are subtle, lyrics often obscure, and their sound doesn't vary hugely between albums or even songs. This is the first of their albums that I really connected with, and after that I heard their previous albums differently too. Musically, lyrically and vocally this album is terrific. I know it's difficult when you're listening to a new album every day, but I encourage those who don't connect with it straight away to give it a couple more listens. It might just open up their entire back catalog to you.

Oooo this is great, it's indie lo-fi but great vocalist, this is a real sleeper hit

beautiful, folksy soundscape

Wow I love this album. Lyrics great. Drumming is great. Wow!!

There are many valid criticisms of The National, some of which I've made myself: their music can blend together and they often all feel like they have a formulaic slow build to an instrumental crescendo at the end. But that doesn't change my opinion that this album may end up being the apex of their discography, with Boxer and Trouble Will Find Me on either end of it. It's gloomy but beautiful, and I could listen to it on repeat, which to me is the mark of a truly great album.

4.5/5

I'm liking this so far. Maybe not as much as that editor from NME who rated all their albums 1-7 or whatever, but it's good. It's a different sound, but they are in that same indie vibe as Wilco. I am really liking this album, every song is good. I should have given them a chance before now. Consider me a fan of The National, this is a revelation. Indie Rock is going to hit my favorite genre list soon. And what's up first after the album ends...Wilco. I nailed it!

Muito muito bom

My initial thought was that these guys were chasing Nick Cave; somewhere around "Runaway" I realized they're actually chasing who Cave is chasing, which is Dylan. And as audacious a thing as that is to be doing in 2010, I'm happy to report that they've come as close as anybody in the 21st century to catching up to him. The production is simultaneously lush and unobtrusive - you can see how the Dessners ended up in such demand on that front - but the real story is, well, the stories. "The floors are fallin' down from everybody I know," Matt Berninger sings on "Bloodbuzz Ohio," and I didn't know until I heard it how much that line would haunt me. If I were ten years younger this album might have become my whole personality; as it stands it may still become some part of it.

Boxer is my favorite National album by far, but this is definitely a solid second place entry.

Finally! Another album I love enough to give five stars before listening, and not just out of nostalgia. I actually can't wait to listen now. Listened and still loved it. Not my favorite The National, but still love it.

Majestic melancholy. It came in such a good run of albums, too, with this and Trouble Will Find Me probably the peak. (Check out Ragnar Kjartansson's Endless Sorrow if you get the chance)

Znači tako jebački album da to nije normalno. Lemonworld je jedna od njihovih najboljih pjesama. O BO ŽA VAM. 100/100

A little bit for nostalgia, but still a masterpiece

So good

Zero skips!

Amazing Album

A perfect album and I'm so happy to see it here. Top 5 favorite albums of all time. All the songs are good but these are the standout ones: * Sorrow * Bloodbuzz Ohio * Conversation 16 * England

phenomenal

Reminds me of The Church

Never heard this before and really liked it. I planned to give it a 4, and then the day after I heard it, Brian Wilson died. I started thinking “is it as good as Pet Sounds?” Because I couldn’t figure out what to score it, I left it for another day. I then got “The Beach Boys Today!” which is definitely not as good as Pet Sounds. I then got “Smile” by Brian Wilson, and I couldn’t figure out whether that was as good as Pet Sounds. At some point I’m going to get Pet Sounds. I think that might be as good as Pet Sounds, but I’ll have to wait to find out. What I did work out was that comparing things to Pet Sounds is pointless, and given I really liked this album I decided to give it a 5, partly because it’s so good, but mainly because I wasted its time comparing it to Pet Sounds. RIP Brian, you had nothing to do with this album, but you did make Pet Sounds.

good rock album

Heelijke atmospherische muziek!

I liked a lot. The National is always a happy listen because the solitude is comfortable and comforting. Thanks for bringing me an easy day.

Modern classic.

The National are my favourite active band and glad to see them on this list. This album is the one that really cemented me as a fan. I had heard one or two of their songs but they were a bit of slow burn, when this album came out and I heard it, I was hooked. I loved the poetic lyrics, the interplay of guitars and the classic way they seemed to appreciate the art of setting a mood across an album. I don't need to listen to this, it's getting 5 stars whatever, also their B-sides are great. Its worth seeking out the expanded edition of this just to hear the heartbreaking You Were a Kindness. That or hunt down the six hour (!!) version of Sorrow .

Wow! A surprising 5/5 for me right now! I’ve never listened to The National before, only heard of them in passing and I think they feature on a Taylor Swift song? But if my memory serves me well, I didn’t love that song when I heard it. So yeah, this album definitely pleases. Mostly I just can’t find anything to criticize it on. It just is a really engaging, exciting, interesting, captivating, and overall relaxing listen.

If you look on Wikipedia, you’ll see that The National is defined as a “post-punk revival” band. I never quite got that until I relistened to this album. I do think this is the National’s best example of a post-punk album. It's also their most goth album, especially since indie anthem “Bloodbuzz Ohio” stands out so much in sharp relief to the rest of the album. Drummer Bryan Devendorf has always been this band’s secret weapon, but here his drumming *really* stands out, especially when contrasted with the hazy effects piled on to almost every other instrument. Meanwhile, Matt Berninger is at his most dour here on songs like “Terrible Love” and “Lemonworld”. Personally I think he hits the mood best on my all-time favorite National song “Pink Rabbits” on Trouble Will Find Me but the cloudy mood is more undeniable here. After all, this is the album that gave us the almost too on-the-nose “Sorrow”, the song the band played for six hours for a Ragnar Kjartansson piece that is interesting on its own merits and emphasizes this album’s qualities. Can you imagine six hours of “Apartment Story” or “Mr. November”? Of course not. All of which is to say: this isn’t my favorite National album, but it’s easily their most successful at creating a very specific mood, one which I hope I don’t want to return to often, but one that’s certainly worth immiserating yourself in if you want to stick a toe in.

Good to see The National get some well-deserved representation on the generator, and it's the album I would've expected (it might well be their best but it's hard to say - they had a string of consistently excellent releases either side of this). If I was subtracting half a star it'd be because it can be a little *too* dour at times (particularly tracks 3-5), lacking the levity of some of their other records. But they make up for it in stately, sumptuously textured anthems. The whole second half of the album is terrific.

Five stars easy - this is The National at the top of their game. Earlier albums are a bit less focused than High Violet (though still great - Boxer especially). Songwriting is great, moody and intense songs. Ending live sets with Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks is great. Bloodbuzz Ohio makes me want to stay well clear of Ohio. Terrible Love is a winner too. Actually, there isn't a bad track here and some real fine hits. Sonically fantastic - sounds beautiful cranked up through my speakers.

I’ve always liked The National but it didn’t fully dawn on me, that they might just be the best band of this century until I saw them live. High Violet is just further proof of that.

Chill

This is a beautiful album. The music is really nice.

now this rating might be influenced by the previous days album (The Incredible String Band are horse shit) and this might just be a truly fantastic listen. I'm onto my 4th listen now, it's a beauty of an album from a band that completely passed me by, 1001 list I forgive you for The Incredible Shite Band

The National are great and this is one of my favourites of theirs - maybe controversial but I like their later stuff better, starting here.

An indie classic

One of my favourite modern bands so a biased review of an album I've played numerous times. The National have an uncanny knack of creating epic music - most of these tracks have an anthemic quality with some arrangements that build beautifully (England in particular) I see how Matt Berninger's lyrics and vocals could be polarising and suspect that limits the score, but I love them

An easy 5 for me. I just like the sound and his voice and the words that make you think. Fave: Bloodbuzz Ohio, Afraid of Everyone, Anyone's Ghost

Saw them in NYC just after this album came out. Amazing! He killed some white wine on stage

I feel like this reminds me of something that I can't quite place in style. I really enjoyed this one, it's calm and pleasent and dripping melancholy. Somehow it leaves me with a positive feeling still where a lot of melancholy often leaves me with a depressing one. The vocals and music work well together and it impresses me how the sound manages to both feel fragile and simple/clean and somehow also like an epic open soundscape Standouts Anyone's Ghost Afraid of Everyone Runaway 5/5

Stylish and intelligent, this is world-class art-rock, by a band that can be aptly described as the American Radiohead (though they have stayed more accessible [maybe that's the American part]). The use of strings is well-judged and highly additive. The consistent mood – wry, subtly haunting and contemplative – throughout the record would feel cinematic if it weren't so novelistic (thanks to the literary merit of the lyrics). One feels swept along by the first several cuts, all of which are highlights (especially the irresistibly hooky "Bloodbuzz Ohio," argubaly the strongest banger of their career), and the level of excellence is mostly sustained right through the to the end, which is quite a soft landing, with a mood that's both whimsical and vaguely elegaic. One can quibble about which is their best reocrd (Boxer belongs on this list, certainly, and several of them deserve a shout, including the most recently released), but this one is surely near the top. Rounding up for being a homer (both Brooklyn and the 'nati).

Favourite song- Bloodbuzz Ohio

Absolutely brilliant

One of my favourites.

This is an album I know pretty well. A friend of mine tried getting me into The National for a bit back in the late aughts, and in 2011, he finally succeeded. I bought this album in the late spring of that year, at a time when I was still reeling from a breakup, and generally feeling like a piece of shit. I remember listening to this on my way to a Manchester Orchestra/Cage The Elephant concert, which was either a great or a terrible way to mentally prepare myself for Manchester Orchestra. I’ve liked this album and the band for over a decade, but I usually reach for Trouble Will Find Me when I’m in the mood for The National, so this is my first time to revisit High Violet in a little while. While this is not my favorite album by The National, it’s absolutely fantastic. Matt Berninger’s baritone voice seeps into every corner of this album, creating a mood that oscillates between haunting, achingly sad, and reflective. The arrangements throughout the album are beautiful as well. There are way too many great uses of instruments to list out on this album, but the sound is never too busy or muddled, and it’s surprisingly cohesive from start to finish. On top of that, there’s not a bad moment on this album at all. Every song is fantastic, and they all fit wonderfully into this album. I’d go with “Bloodbuzz Ohio” and “Terrible Love” as my favorite songs on this album, but after that, it’s impossible to choose what’s the best. I know this album pretty well, but each time I listen to it, there’s something new that sticks out to me that I hadn’t noticed before. High Violet is an absolute masterpiece, and it’s a perfect showcase for why so many artists want to work with these guys. The songwriting is raw and full of emotion, and while I tend to be pretty selective about the melancholy music that I listen to, I’m always in the mood for The National.

Melancholisch, perfekt für Kunst und nebeliges graues Oktoberwetter

The National are one of my favourite bands. I toyed around if there was a world where I wasn't going to give this a 5 but in the end there was not.

a great band. This is their peak!

One of my favorite albums of all time, and my favorite album of one of my top three or so favorite bands of all time. I’m sure The National isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Matt Beringer’s vocals especially take some getting used to. While the band features two incredible guitarists, there’s pretty much zero guitar solos in their discography. Then there’s the lyrics: Matt writes some of the bleakest and depressing stories written for songs in rock history. “Sad Dad Rock” was basically invented by the National. God I love them. High Violet came after the band’s album Boxer, which finally gave them enough acclaim and financial success to keep going as a band (their big payday would come ~14 years later via Taylor Swift collaboration). I became a fan after Boxer, and High Violet was the first new album I listened to as a fan of the band. I loved Boxer and its predecessor Alligator a lot (still very much do), and I remember having sky high expectations for High Violet. Upon first listen, I was underwhelmed. It grew on me a little to the point that I liked it quite a lot, but I thought the band released a superior album a few years later in Trouble Will Find Me (it’s also still tremendous, a masterpiece in my opinion). Slowly, over dozens of listens to all of their albums over the years, High Violet kept revealing things to me. Songs like Runaway and Sorrow were afterthoughts at first, maybe even skippable, but I found them becoming earworms over time. I knew the ending of the album was outstanding: England to Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks is one of my favorite closing two tracks of all time. What took me a long time to realize is that every single track is a masterpiece in some way. Lemonworld is another track that is sort of a deep cut, but has become one of my favorite songs. Bloodbuzz Ohio is often thought of as The National’s best song, and I love it, but it’s not even my favorite on the album. Terrible Love is probably the song most responsible for my slow taking to the album: I just didn’t care for it at first. After seeing the band live though, I found new energy in that song that made me realize how brilliant it is. It’s an incredible opening track. I would guess that the reviews will be tepid for this, but it’s an easy 5 stars for me. I wouldn’t suggest that everyone listen to it 50+ times like I probably have, but I do think it rewards multiple listens as well as any album I can think of. It’ll eat your brains.

5 - Listened to this a lot. I just vibe with The National and always have. I think I heard an interview about the fact the dessner brothers create the music and then Matt Beringer comes in to do the lyrics and it always felt like a great collaboration. It just fits into everything I love about music for me. It's not even my favourite album of theirs either.

"High Violet" is the fifth album by American rock band The National. Indie rock and post-punk revival. That fits. The album was self-produced and had wide-spread critical acclaim. The National are Matt Berninger (lead vocals), Aaron Dessner (guitar, keyboard), Bryce Dessner (guitars), Bryan Devendorf (drums) and Scott Devendorf (bass). Commercially, the album hit #3 in the US and #5 in the UK. "Terrible Love" opens with a slow beat and a fuzzy electric guitar. The songs build throughout with the vocal chorus and backing vocals. The pace picks up and the music starts to mimic the vocals with a feeling of anxiety as Berninger sings about the anxiety of starting a family. "Anyone's Ghost" continues the darker edge atmosphere. Strings and female backing vocals are added. It's about a relationship where there is love but she doesn't want to be with him. The great Sufjan Stevens contributes backing vocals and plays a harmonium in "Afraid of Everyone." There's a jagged guitar. Another song where the music builds with a repeating chorus. The drumbeat begins "Bloodbuzz Ohio." Berninger's deep baritone comes in in an almost emotionless state. The piano carries the melody. The unforgettable lyric "I still owe money, to the money, to money I owe." Drama builds as going back home more in debt doesn't sound like fun. One the best songs of 2010's and my favorite National song. A deeper track that is another favorite is "England." A piano and plodding bass. Strings are added. Horns are added. A very catchy chorus. Berninger initially blames 4AD (their English label) for his writer's block but realizes it's him. This is a very tight band. The instrumental (horns, strings) and vocal arrangements are intricate and terrific. The lyrics are mostly dark dealing with depression, bad relationships, anxiety and debt. Most of the songs beautifully build from the start to the end. There's a lot of catchy vocal choruses. This a compelling listen and a great album, probably their best.

Oh wow that was simply fantastic. So emotional in the best way possible and with such passion. This reminds me so much of Arcade Fire, so absolutely count me in.

I’ve always heard that this was an amazing album. I’ve heard Bloodbuzz a ton, but nothing else. But this was great. I really enjoyed it.

MEGET nem 5er, den her plade er en af mine all time faves

Absolutely fabulous. Didn't know of this band until Glastonbury this year i am ashamed to say but so glad I have discovered them now. Sheer class

Loved this one! So, so good. Will definitely be listening to it again.

So many great songs on this album!

One of the albums I listen to often. I discovered it because "sorrow" was used in a Ragnar Kjartansson art film, where he asked the band to play the same song for 6 hours straight. It was amazing; and the album is too. To this day the only The National album I've listened too but I should explore more!

Great. Just really great 4.5

Boxer by The National was the only CD I ever bought without knowing anything about it or the band. It was in the rock section of Music World and I thought the cover was interesting. Pretty good album. This was fantastic. I’ve heard the singles but this thing maintains through the entire runtime Sad dad music at its best

In the 80s bands worried about selling out and this resulted in some very tight music. In the 00s coolness factor seemed less important for many bands and the National is one such example. Lyrics are pretty terrible and they hit all the right notes with the right kind of instruments for maximum impact ..would all be very boring except that the quality of the songs is just very high. So still like this album a lot (2010: 9/10, 2024: 9/10).

It's been a while that I listened to it, and I'm equally impressed and moved as before. Not enough stars can be given to this album.

I love how music has the ability to transport you to whatever memory you’d forgotten. This album tastes like warm aperol spritz and holidays. Music is great and The National are so good.

Un sentito grazie ai The National per essere, da ormai cinque anni, la mia band-da-piantino di riferimento. Queste 5 stelle sono per voi. Thank you guys, you never miss. ❤️

Sort of forget about this one with how much I like Boxer and Trouble Will Find You -- but damn, it's just as good.

savrseno za blastat dok lezim na podu i buljim u strop A+

Didn’t listen to the whole thing but loved what I heard

Afraid of everyone, Conversation 16 England

I had not heard them before. What a great band!

Dark, brooding and I loved every second. Great album.

Another discovery. Artfull modern sort of post-punk

1. Lyrics The lyrical prowess of Matt Berninger shines throughout "High Violet." Darkly evocative and rich in metaphor, Berninger captures the anxieties of modern domestic life with characters and vignettes crafted in loving detail[3][5]. The shadowy metaphors set the tone, with themes ranging from love to existential dread[3]. 2. Music The music in "High Violet" is a visceral experience, characterized by its depth and color. The album is not instantly accessible, lacking an equivalent to the widely acclaimed "Fake Empire"[6]. The sound is both triumphant and reassuring, with Bryan Devendorf's drums propelling the album[2][4]. 3. Production The meticulous production of "High Violet" elevates it to a sonic masterpiece. The color and depth of the music are integral, touching the heart and soul with a profound emotional impact[1][2]. The album's cohesive sonic palette creates an immersive experience, enhancing the impact of Berninger's lyrics[1]. 4. Themes The themes in "High Violet" resonate with universal emotions. Berninger's lyrics explore love, fear, and existential angst, weaving a tapestry that reflects the complexities of the human experience[3]. The album's thematic richness adds layers of meaning, making it a compelling and introspective journey. 5. Influence "High Violet" has left an indelible mark on indie and alternative music, influencing subsequent artists. Its unique blend of lyrical depth and musical intricacy has set a standard for emotionally resonant albums[1][4]. Pros and Cons Pros Lyrical Brilliance: Berninger's lyricism is a standout, offering a profound exploration of the human psyche. Immersive Sound: The album's music and production create a captivating and immersive sonic experience. Influence: "High Violet" has had a lasting impact on the indie music landscape. Cons Accessibility: Lack of an instantly accessible track akin to "Fake Empire" might make the album less approachable for some listeners.

This is an amazing album. It was the first National album I heard that hooked me on their music and then I went back through their catalog from here. Great songwriting and lyrics throughout. It's a 5/5 for me. Standout Tracks: Terrible Love *, Anyone's Ghost, Little Faith, Afraid of Everyone, Bloodbuzz Ohio *, Lemonworld *, Runaway, Conversation 16 *, England *, Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks * * I like nearly every song on here, so the ones with *s are standouts of standouts.

Such a unique sounding band that doesn't seem to fall into a gimmick of that uniqueness.

4.5/5

National- I actually never heard this one before. I really love the sound of this record. There are some awesome textures and they all gel really nicely together in the mix. After avalanches and fatboy slim this was super refreshing. 4.5

Really nice. Love this band and this album. I like boxer and alligator more than this one. I like runaway. 4.5

This album is so so good. Sorrow has always been my favorite lyrically. Afraid of everyone and blood buzz are great too. 10/5

awesome

Ugh. Yes. Bloodbuzz Ohio is one of my absolute favorite songs.

This album was incredible. 5/5

Skítugt sound í hljóðfæraleiknum - fíla það ekki. Einhver tilgerð í þessu. Þetta á við "Sorrow". Önnur lög, t.d. Anyone's Ghost, mun betri. Þessi plata vinnur mikið á - Mjög góð.

The National maken muziek voor mannen in een midlifecrisis. De teksten portretteren veelal zoekende figuren die ergens waggelen tussen hun existentiële crisis en verdovende middelen. Muzikaal is het de strakke drums die de zenuwachtigheid waarmee deze mensen in het leven staan tot uiting brengt. Het bariton geneuter van Matt Berninger is het stemmetje in uw hoofd dat willekeurig neurotische hersenkronkelzijsprongen maakt. Ik ben ergens in 2009 een fanboy geworden met Boxer en Alligator, de 2 voorgangers van deze, veelvuldig op repeat. Volgens mijn last.fm statistieken staat nog steeds The National op nummer 2 van mijn meest beluisterde bands aller tijden. (Op 1 staan The Beatles met een redelijke voorsprong) Ik keek naar mini-docu's over deze band, zocht zowat alle rariteiten en demo's op Youtube. Ze werden de soundtrack voor mijn uniefjaren. 2 paar broers en een melancholische dronkaard hadden van hun druilerige indierock precies anthems voor het leven gemaakt. Queue in High Violet. Ik sprong een gat in de lucht met de singles. Ik viel weer uit diezelfde lucht toen ik zag dat die gasten aan het doorbreken waren. Het stuur gedraaid richting uitverkochte megazalen. Studio Brussel dat Bloodbuzz Ohio en Terrible Love platdraait. Van extreem vroeg geprogrammeerd staan in de marquee naar een topslot op de mainstage. Ik had het niet zien aankomen. Ik dacht dat ze van de grootteorde van Okkervil River of iets dergelijks gingen blijven. In 2011 op Main Square Festival een voor mij heilige indiedrievuldigheid The National - Fleet Foxes - Arcade Fire live mogen aan het werk zien, het was wonderbaarlijk. Ze konden het, en met de High Violet nummers live tot mij te nemen, had ook die plaat een plek veroverd in mijn hart. Vanderlyle volledig onversterkt over een wei horen galmen, is gewoon pure magie. The National, je bent er voor of niet. Ik was in die periode enorm grote voorstander. Met de platen erna begon ik mijn voeling met hun werk wat te verliezen, maar de singles waren nog altijd uitstekend. Nu is het zo ver gekomen dat ik de singles soms gewoon op de radio ontdek. Ze zijn geen reden meer waarom ik per se naar een bepaald festival zou gaan. Hardcore fanboy af dus, maar hun oude werk zit nog wel in de rotatie hier thuis, waaronder deze doorbraakplaat High Violet.

Star ratings suck

While Boxer and Alligator may be better, this record feels most urgent. It's also around three bands peak. After this, everything has been rather boring. This is peak sad dad music.

It was great! I loved the first song. Very dreamy, modern, the sort of music I listened to a lot of back then.

The National are one of the best bands of their generation. Maybe THE best. Berninger paints the most vivid pictures of mundane life. Dessner a genius at building the slow tension, Devendorf unquestionably one of the greatest drums of all time. No they don’t all have to be mental drummers. Brilliant from start to finish, lyrically more inward turned, neurotic even. Musically subtlety gorgeous and melodic. 9.1/10

This is the first album that I’ve gotten from an artist that I’ve seen live. I really enjoy all the new music that I’ve heard by doing this, but it’s also nice to get something familiar sometimes. I’m hugely biased here, The National is probably my favorite modern rock band and this might be their best album top-to-bottom. I often find one singer hard to listen to for a full album, but I never have that issue with Matt Berninger. His voice is just great, I feel like it comes across as soothing despite a lot of songs that are a bit chaotic overall. A review I saw described the guitars on Terrible Love (the first song) as “buzzy and atmospheric”, and I feel like that actually describes the sound of the album more broadly. The sound is full and grand, but there’s this buzzy undertone that I love. I get the sense that the Dessners are brilliant musicians too. There’s so many great songs on this album, I’m adding basically the whole thing to my playlist. Terrible Love is a powerful opener, Bloodbuzz Ohio might be my favorite song of theirs overall, Runaway is more understated but fantastic. If I had to be picky about one thing I’ll say that the closing song could’ve been better chosen, but I’m getting really picky about an incredible album. An album that’s already in my rotation and will definitely continue to be. Favorite song: Bloodbuzz Ohio Other: Terrible Love, Sorrow, Anyone’s Ghost, Afraid of Everyone, Runaway, Conversation 16, England

Another great album that I've listened to before.

How nice to get High Violet, one of my favourite albums by one of my favourite bands, on the day the band releases their newest album, Laugh Track. While LT and the companion album that preceded it seem to show the band's magic start to fade, HV is a wonderful reminder of why they were one of my favourite bands to begin with. Strong melodies, charming instrumentation, lyrics that bounce between enigmatic and revealing...this is the National that I fell in love with.

If I'm in the mood, 5.

Top I like it!*

One of the greatest

the national is good.

Another of my personal all time albums. This came out my Junior Year of college and was probably what I listened to most that year. While Boxer is still my #1 National album, the highs here rank among my favorites. 4.5/5

Such a killer album. This is probably my second favorite from them after Boxer, which shockingly isn't on this list. It's worth it for Bloodbuzz Ohio alone though, but I'm biased.

National oli mulle n. 20-25-vuotiaana kovin tärkeä ja tää levy lienee heiltä se kaikkein paras. Mattin ääni on tolkuttoman lohdullinen ja musa osuu muutenkin omaan melankolian janoon. Nykyään enää harvemmin tälle sopiva mood, mutta tehoaa näemmä silti.

I’ve listened to this 10000 times, so it was great to see it make the list. It’s pointless trying to write a little review to myself about this as I know how incredible a record it is. The National are the most important band in the world to me, everything they do just ooze’s class. This record in particular is one of them where every song on it at one point in time has been a favourite of mine. From start to finish, each song is 10/10 for me. Just like Boxer before it, and Trouble Will Find Me after (my all time favourite). If you usually love this sort of music but didn’t get this, give it another go. It took me a good few listens over a few years to go from ‘The National are good’ to ‘The National are fucking incredible!’. Theyre a slow burner, but it’s worth it.

Thoroughly enjoyed it, has the misty quality of indie rock that I like. Never heard anything by The National before, and I feel like I've missed out. Highlights were Runaway, Anyone's Ghost, and Terrible Love. Was on a rail replacement bus in Poland on Friday listening to it, providing the perfect soundtrack to a weird experience.

Had never heard anything by these guys before but I thought this was an awesome album. I really like a band called The Airborne Toxic Event and I can definitely hear some of the influences from The National. I listened to the Expanded Edition which has a far better version of Terrible Love. Will definitely listen again and check out some of their other stuff. Highlights: Bloodbuzz Ohio Runaway Terrible Love (Alternate Version)

Heard a few national tracks and liked them, the track on the Taylor Swift album we've had here was really good too..... But never listened to an album before. Really melancholy sounding, right up my street. Enjoyed it and will be listening to more. The only track I knew was bloodbuzz Ohio, think it was the best track too. Lemonworld and anyone's ghost were great too. Probably have to be in a certain mood for the national, but I'll be back

Even mijn 5 sterren afstoffen want het is alweer een tijdje geleden dat ik deze kon uitdelen. Voor mij is het de drums die hun sounds zo uniek maakt. Prachtige plaat!

Mijn favoriete plaat van The National. zowel qua songs als productie-technisch echt geweldig,

It's a good one, one might argue their commercial peak.

Each of these songs takes me on a journey that's hard to put into words. The instrumentation, the vocals, the lyrics, all come together for me into an album I'd like to spend the next few days with while putting the rest of the project on hold. This was new to me, and I want to get to know it very well and make up for the last decade I was without it. It's a headphones in the dark kind of album that makes you forget what year it is as it carries you to Ohio in a swarm of bees.

This moody creation happened to arrive on a day when I was dealing with a lot of depressing shit. These are dense, moody, reflective songs. The sky was gloomy, my spirits were low, and High Violet was perfect!

A favorite of dad rock. 5/5

I LOVED this album.

I like The National. This album is what brought me around. Not all their songs are catchy, but they are all well done. England in particular is very good.

Gran álbum

Rating: 10/10

“I Need My Girl” is the song my wife picked for our wedding, so I’ve got a soft spot for The National. Nuff said.

Highlight tracks: Terrible love, Sorrow, Afraid of Everyone Sadboy hours Great ambient guitarwork Sounds inspired by Pink Floyd stylistically Fantastic chill alt rock album to relax or fall asleep to, even just have the feels 5/5

When it came out, I was obsessed with this album. Literally couldn't listen to anything else for weeks, possibly months. Still isn't old. To me, it's the rare beast - a perfect album.

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES, I already listen to this album on repeat. Easy 5 stars, makes me want to retroactively go back and downgrade every other album, I have been being too generous with my ratings. Standouts include Bloodbuzz Ohio, Lemonworld, England, Vanderline Crybaby Geeks, Terrible Love, and Little Faith. And the rest of them.

The National won't be on the radio on your drive home, or listed in Rolling Stone's Top 500. The most press I've seen them recieve is being mentioned in a piece about Taylor Swift's last couple albums, of which they are featured/produced. Commercial success may never find them, but a connection to their listeners has - and it's no exception with High Violet. For me, this is a nearly perfect album. Excellent production and instrumentals, and Matt's voice you either love or hate, I love. If you get a chance to catch a live show, I highly recommend it - the energy infectious. Fav Song - England

A record of the highest quality, with not a bad or uninteresting song in the bunch. This is an easy inclusion in the list and it makes no sense that it's been dropped. The National merits at least three other records; they were the best rock band in the world for a good long run of years, offering a higher-class product -- smarter, more stylish, and thoughtful and interesting -- as people of taste know. Editors reveal themselves to fall quite short of that standard by overlooking the National.

Still probably my favorite National album.

Well it's a tour de force. One of the National's best. Got some of the absolute bangers on it like Terrible Love, Bloodbuzz Ohio and Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks.

I had never heard this before but loved it immediately, it's the first new (to me) CD this thing has recommended that I can say that about. The vibe here is very much slow, sad, and relatively simple songs, but with an incredible diversity of instrumentation and sense of musical color that allows each melodic/harmonic idea to effectively be played a half-dozen different ways and gradually evolve over the course of a single track. In that way this is a very close comp to "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", which seems like a clear inspiration. Let's get out of the way first what this album does not do well. It's not happy - very much the opposite - although it is at times fun, fast, and surprisingly danceable. Many songs feature or at least include a segment with a dancy drum beat, and despite the overwhelming somber tone it's actually played pretty fast (generally in the ~120 bpm range). And there aren't any really catchy singles, although it's of strong and consistent quality throughout. It's also not virtuosic - their singer has a fairly unique and pleasant voice, but with a very limited (and very low) vocal range, and there aren't any other discernible melodic instrumental solos on the CD. So they mostly deserve an "incomplete" there. Their singer's voice does suit the mood of the songs pretty well, with his sleepy and unexcitable baritone evoking the generally depressing tone, but the key to their success is that they have so much melodic instrumental color backing him up, it's everywhere on every song. So then to their strengths. This album is impeccably produced and so chock-full of wonderful little moments that I had to listed to it 3 times just to form a real opinion, and I'm still not sure I got the majority of it. Just to give some concrete examples, "Terrible Love" adds (in order) string counter-melody, distorted guitar harmony, shakers, a dance-beat, piano arpeggiated harmonies, an alternate-melodic bridge, more piano harmonies, Beck-like cooing backing vocals, and then more string counter-melody. Then it blows up, playing everything at once, including what I believe is an alternate minor chord on the conclusion of every line of the alternate chorus, and then it disintegrates just as completely into a danceable indie-rock frenzy. Every song is like that - there's just so much stuff to play with, and every song evolves in a unique and fascinating way. I'm not totally sure where to place it. On the one hand, I find it fascinating and lovely. On the other hand, it's missing one big thing - catchy singles - and I don't think it's quite as good as YHF (a very touch comparison). And generally, because I'm looking for novelty, I tend to over-rate things that are new to me at any level of quality and under-rate old hat. So I'm on the fence about 4 vs. 5, but fuck it, I'll give it a 5. I might listen to this a dozen more times.

Prachtige muziek! Steengoede zanger ook. Een trip door een donkere sfeer met fantastische nummers

Loved it! love the vibes.

wow. Glad this found me when it did. adult music. morose ornate and super full

Stately

Loved it

Radio head vibes af

5 av 5

I’m never going to give anything by The National less than a 5

This one caught me completely off guard, might be more 4.5 than 5 stars but whatever I loved this one. I’ve never clicked with whole albums I’d heard from this album in the past, but this album was lovely and had a driving energy to it. I need to revisit this band this band’s discography I think maybe my tastes have broadened

I can't decide if this one or Boxer is my favorite National album.

Just a bunch of really smart songs with rich instrumentation that rewards multiple listens. I love this record. Best track: Runaway

It's a little hard for me to explain why I liked this so much. Upon first listen, I spent some time paying attention to lyrics, but for the most part my ears focused on the music and the vocals - and those were just very very pleasant for me to hear. This has a TON of potential to become one of my favorite albums, and I'll definitely check out more of the National...it's something I've been putting off for a while.

Beautiful

Really good album, probably helped to such a high score by the fact that I listened to it a few times through. Reminds me a lot of some of my favourite bands, but in a way that doesn't feel like they are just copying anyone. For example, they sound a bit like a younger, American, version of Elbow. Terrible Love, Lemonworld, and Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks stood out for me

Богоугодная хуйня, сначала понурая гуляла под дождём, а потом надежда какая-то появилась, короче, всем советую 👍🏻

Enjoyed this, simple indie rock but effortless. Great voice and lyrics along with the music. Album starts strong and gets stronger.

****A good, easy listening album. Beautiful vocals

Okay but how kickass would England be as a closer instead? Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks is a wonderful song and a fine end to this wonderful record but England is maybeeeee my favorite National song so

Have I listened to this album before No How familiar am I with this album Unfamiliar How do I feel about this artist? I recognize the name but I don’t know anything about them Pre-Listen Thoughts: Something new! Never know what to expect Favorite track(s): Sorrow Post-Listen Thoughts: This was actually pretty good. I have not been a huge fan of a lot of more contemporary stuff on here but I liked this.

Mellow

You know, I'd normally complain about indie rock having a disproportionately high representation in the 2010s part of the list compared to the popularity of the genre during the decade, but the National are actually a pretty popular band, so I really have no reason to complain this time around. Besides, even if the National weren't popular, they're still good, so I wouldn't complain anyways. Yeah, this album is pretty great. The National are a band that I have heard of, but that I really didn't know much about prior to today. What do I know about them now? Well, I know that they're good! High Violet is a pretty good showcase of talent. I like Matt Berninger's deep vocal register. It's not every day that you get to hear a full-on baritone performance on one of these albums, so it's always neat to hear one. Good vocalist. The words he's singing are well-written. The National are really good at having singular lines that carry a lot of emotional weight behind them. Combine that with some nice imagery and you get a good batch of 11 very well-written songs, with songs like "Sorrow," "Bloodbuzz Ohio," and "Conversation 16" being highlights for me. The band's musical style is just nice. There's not a ton I can say about the music here. It's just some good, enjoyable indie rock. There's some tight drumming that I like. High Violet is a very consistent album. It's not one that you'll always be in the mood for, but it'll always be there for you when the time comes, ready to do wonders. I really like it. High 4/5.

I don’t own the record, and I’ve never listened to it like this before—at least, I don’t recall doing so. The singer has a nice, deep voice. Sometimes there’s a bit too much synthesizer for my taste, but otherwise, it’s a good album to listen to. Personally, I prefer bands like Madrugada, Nick Cave, or Wilco; they offer more than just a somber, melancholic mood—you also get the occasional full-blown guitar storm.

They cooked with this one

WE LOVE THE NATIONAL. This is my bread and butter. Added like 3 songs from this album to the library and have listened to it quite a bit since. What a treat.

Why would they pick this album by the National when the soundtrack to Cyrano was right there?

This album is a vibe. Like the music over the closing credits of an Indie film. Not terribly melodic, but definitely moody. Great writing to boot.

This album has some well-constructed songs, many of which gradually rise in tension/drama until an explosion of sound at the end.

I love The National.

like it!

*2010 *I like the nationals a lot. *No standouts, but every song is solid . RATING - 7/10

Couple good songs on here and one great one - I generally like the tone and sound of The National and their vocalist.

Tracks feel a bit samey, but I dig it nonetheless. 4.5 bumped down to 4.

Mig rekur bara til minnis að hafa heyrt Bloodbuzz Ohio áður, en þarna er eitthvað stórgott. Endurtekningarsamur texti sem virkar eins og gott drón, skemmtilegur hljóðheimur og eftirminnileg lög. Ekki fullkomið, en algjörlega mér að skapi.

Really great album. Glad I found this band!

Bra! Lyssnat på gruppen till och från genom åren och gillar mycket av det de gjort. Bloodbuzz ohio är en favorit, England och Conversation 16 likaså. Ett bra album om än inte perfekt för mig. Matt Berningers röst är fantastisk!

7/10 Solid album. I've found it hard to get excited about the National, certainly to the extent that friends do, but I enjoy their brand of chugging indie.

This sounded like something you'd hear at a modern church, but in a good way - it had a larger than life sound throughout.

Love this album; actually heard in same year it came out; I felt caught up!

Vibe de fou

Sweet, sad record. Didn't change my world, but nice to know it's there

One of the first indie rock albums I got into. Bloodbuzz Ohio is one of my favorite songs.

Efter at have lyttet til albummet 4ish gange; aktivt, passivt, og afbrudt er dommen klar. Det er behageligt, dragende, dynamisk, og lidt tørt. Lyttet har ikke ændret min grundlæggende fornemmelse for The National.

calm

Loved it.

Nice. 4.1

Grand National, multi-National, inter-national

Note to self. Listen to The National more

I felt like the National shifted a bit in their music after this album, so this is the last National album that i listened to a lot, but still probably only my third favourite National Album. It is still good though. I played bloodbuzz ohio to death at the time, but songs like little faith, Afraid of everyone, LemonWorld, anyone's ghost, Conversation 16 and Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks are just as good and memorable. This is a solid album that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks is maybe my standout . 4 stars

I found this interesting. It merits further listening.

77/100. The songwriting is so strong, and the mood sticks with you. One of those albums that feels understated at first, then slowly grows on you the more time you spend with it. Such a well written record, it really caught me off guard how much it pulled me in.

Shoutout to The National who like me are from CINCINNATI OHIO... #cincinnatimentioned... Don't let "Bloodbuzz Ohio" (great track) scare you off—it's a super underrated city, tbh, and probably even nicer if you don't personally have any memories of teenaged angst or loveless homes tied to it. Stop by sometime when I'm back in town and I'll give you a tour!

Wish I could give 3.5. Really consistently excellent album.

Honestly,I don’t know what to say I just enjoyed the album I can’t say much more.

It’s not super unique, nor is it the most compelling music in the world… but I was in the perfect mood for this today. Maybe I’d be more critical on another day, but I liked it a lot.

Z The National mam tak, że niektóre kawałki kocham nad życie, a inne są mi całkiem obojętne. Nie inaczej jest też tutaj. I co wtedy zrobić? Jak ocenić? Ja oceniam na 7/10, chociaż być może za mocno naciągam. Ale co poradzić? Lubię ten melancholijny wokal, te leniwe aranżacje, ten podskórny smutek i nostalgię...

Overall I really do like this album, especially how each song kind of swells into its own grandeur. But I think the fact that each song seems to do it and almost a similar way tends to pull it back as far as a great album. (8.1) ★★★★

I think this is a very good album. I have no idea why it's on this list. I don't think there's anything particularly new about it - it's just indie-rock done well.

Du indie rock doux. Pas le genre de truc à écouter en peine d'amour. C'est rêveur, le genre de chose qui me fait partir dans ma tête facilement. Un mélange de Mumford and Sons et de Of Monsters and Men on pourrait dire. Se situe autour du 3, mais un 4 pour l'écoute générale et l'appréciation de cet album.

# Album Name: High Violet # Artist: The National # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: An enjoyable album. Something you need to listen to when you go through it. I wouldnt say it was anything remarkable or out of the ordinary to warrant a place on the list. A 3.5 would be a fair score i reckon. # Top Tunes: terrible love / Anyones ghost / Bloodbuzz ohio / runaway / Conversation 16 # Would I listen to it again? Yes

Tranqui me gusta

ok jerome mol luege was die so chönd. erste song sehr schöni flächi. ich verstoh de appeal. afraid if everyone isch seeehr depri. gohts am jerome guet? bloodbuzz ohio mega nostalgie song. sie sind vo ohio aber alli in brooklyn gsi nocher. de eint song seg in mega viel fernsehshows brucht worde und da macht mega sinn. tönt alles noch emotionalem schluss vonere greys anatomy folg.

hmm okee chli en apathische ahfang aber s tempo bauuuut uuuuuf megaa herziig bis jz sorrow kenni iwie? oder hani zumindest s gfühl jöö so herziig seehr churzwiiligi songs s ganze album het so öppis verletzlichs (au dur sini stimm) I don't have the drugs to sort this out hahaha geili line lemonworld isch chli langwilig gsi ABER hslt die ganz atmosphäre isch gnueg schön und herzig, dass es nöd so schlimm isch? iwie fühlt sich s album vill länger ah als 47 min?? jaa es het sich am schluss chli zoge leider aber uuultraa schöns album, woni chli hüfiger muss na lose

I've never listened to the National too much but somehow I got free tickets to see them at the Hollywood Bowl and later at the Greek between 2011 and 2013 because I think they appeal to lonely people who are optimistic that by the time the show rolls around they'll have someone to go with, but for better or worse that's just me on a day's notice without chipping in for the ticket. Bloodbuzz Ohio is pretty great as I am from Ohio and the melancholy of it all does pretty much emulate what it's like to be from Ohio and rarely go back.

Yeah, I like it!

Beautiful arrangements and instrumentation. Last 3 songs make for a stunning close. Requires quite specific surroundings to really appreciate it.

Overall, a chill album. It's not super exciting but that's never seemed like the purpose of The National to me. I'm sure that's led to some of the hate for them but I enjoy them, overall.

8/10

Guapo! Tranquilo, Para escuchar

I wasn't sure at first but got better and better. The 2nd listen was belting. The National are definitely one to listen to more. Cracking stuff

Refined, serene, and precisely arranged music for mature listeners.

The last decades has some hidden gems like this. Good album.

Feeling extra thankful for this list and showing me yet another indie band I somehow have gone so much of my life without knowing about. I was a huge fan of the builds throughout the album and the atmosphere that each song created. The album is perfectly moody while displaying fantastic guitar riffs and drums.

I Was Carried To Ohio In A Swarm Of Bees 1001 Albums Generator 221 (2/5/2025) The National are one of those indie bands that I've always heard about, but I haven't ever personally listened to them. I was surprised how artsy and post-rock-y High Violet is. The drums on these songs are especially impressive; they sound huge on Bloodbuzz Ohio for example. Meanwhile, Terrible Love and Afraid of Everyone have these huge builds that really remind me of a much shorter GY!BE song or something. Instrumentally, there's a lot of chamber elements (think Arcade Fire), with violins, pianos, and horns nearly as present as guitars. Also Matt Berninger's vocals are so crooning, which is interesting in this style, but I do think that the songs start to blend together in the end. Although I quite enjoyed this album, it was really difficult for me on first listen to differentiate between songs, although they started to distinguish themselves by the end. 4/5 for a cool indie group I've been missing out on. I gotta check out Boxer next. Favs: Anybody's Ghost Afraid of Everyone Bloodbuzz Ohio Least Fav: Runaway

With a few more listens it might even be a five

I wish this album had grabbed me a little more, but it had a nice low-key moody sound I really enjoyed.

Love it

Started off strong but felt like it started to lose me in the second half. Really enjoyed it regardless

It's jarring to have such a "recent" album on this project, as I ranked this #9 on my top 15 albums of 2010 (below Matt & Kim and above the Hold Steady). As much as I like the National, their tendency to stay in one zone makes their songs blend together for me after a while. It's not surprising my two favorite songs of theirs, "Abel" and "Mr. November," are louder and more dynamic. Here, "Bloodbuzz Ohio" does that best (and unsurprisingly remains a staple of their live sets). But "Terrible Love," "Afraid of Everyone," and "England" are also solid, as is this whole album, even though it could use more surprises.

afraid of the house caus’ they’re desperate to entertain! se siente como ascender a una mejor sociedad, como estar en la marcha correcta.

This was going to be a straight down the middle 3*, then England came on and I got goosebumps. So they can thank Jordan Pickford, Harry Maguire, Gareth Southgate and the lads at the BBC Sport montage department for the extra star

Great album with vocals that were a little too stilted / broken up across each song.

I believe Jack Black's character from "High Fidelity" would refer to this as "sad bastard music." But as proud fan of that genre that is a good thing! Definitely the type of album that requires the right mindset and vibe to listen to--I guess I was in that mindset. There were a lot of highlights but my faves were the last two tracks "England" and "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks."

An album that is decent on the first listen and would improve as you listen more. 4 stars or B-.

It lifts its aesthetics and sounds shamelessly, is polished to the point it sounds almost corporate and doesn’t really push any boundaries. But they’re excellent songwriters who can perform the hell out of these tunes without turning it into wank. Seeing the live show they put on for this one probably did it a lot of favours.

High Violet feels strangely familiar, even though it was my first time listening to it. The songs remind me of various artists I used to listen to in the 1990s and 2000s, giving the album a quiet sense of nostalgia. Strangely, The National often sound closer to UK indie to my ears — something in the mood and atmosphere recalls bands like The Smiths or even early Coldplay. “Anyone’s Ghost” and “Little Faith” stood out in particular, capturing that balance between emotional weight and restraint that I tend to associate more with British indie.

Have loved this album since the week it came out, when I bought it at Best Buy on a CD. Doesn't get all the way to a 5-star rating for me, though, as it isn't the most dynamic album.

oh wow this is great. listened to this on the train to durham and ive been hooked ever since. i obviously knew the national from their song with taylor swift, but this really showcases the band's OWN sound and appeal. nice.

It was okay

I used to listen to this one a lot in college, so it has a strong nostalgia factor for me.

To me this a very soothing, gentle, mellow and moody album. You have to be in a specific mood to fully appreciate it, but when you are it is magic. I agree with the criticism that it feels like 11 times the same song, cus it kind of is, the range isn't very big in this album. However it is a good song, with a good sound and a good voice. I will definitely be listening to it again, maybe even in it entirety if that mood would strike me again.

Wow, this album was a cinematic experience. Not in the sense of a big screen movie, but more that it somehow captured the feeling of life the way the really great films do. Incredible to act as a background track to any normal day. Favorite track was sorrow

Could even be a 5. I liked their understated vibe

conversation 16 is actually me and Iam conversation 16

Better than Arcade Fire

Саундтрек для фильма про неудачника который в конце становится крутым

I know with more time this album will be a 5 star for me, but for a single listen it definitely gets a 4.

Great album. Moody and tense; each track is a slow burner. Great vibe for a late night drive or rainy afternoon.

Beautiful music for a special occasion. Not my everyday though

Very nice, great singer

Might have heard of this band but never listened to them, pretty melancholy but accessible, vocals somewhat reminiscent of Leonard Cohen

Bloodbuzz Ohio!

https://x.com/MarkRonson/status/1288485122732326917?s=20 // My friend stereotypes The National as being "sad dad music.” I tend to agree. High Violet is a stark example of the band's place in the pinnacle of Pitchfork's indie rock fever, and their sound is forever marked as being that of an aging millennial who’s reached parenthood. But by the circumstances that I exist, with having to attend high school during that period of time, early 2010s indie rock will always be one of my favorite genres. Terrible Love is a standout opener for me. Afraid of Everyone’s shoegazy instrumentals pulls me back in, and Bloodbuzz Ohio sends me goosebumps throughout for its poignant reminder of my upbringing. However, besides that, the album overall does get a bit boring throughout with a certain tone of melodrama that isn't quite dramatic enough for me nor self-deprecating enough for me to empathize with it's monotone. However, I thoroughly enjoy The National’s unreluctant assertion of their roots and a sound that sounds so specifically dated from 2010, because it's better than the alternative that Spotify and Big AI proposes in 2025 - that of generic sounding singles that blend together for the purpose of being thrown on a playlist to be listened to completely in the background. The National, whether you like them or not, has stamped their sound on culture to the point that even Taylor Swift is recruiting them.

Ohio represent! The National has some lovely guitar work that meshes well with the depressed, but hopeful vocals

I love the sound of The National - this album used a little too much repetition to be a 5, but not too much to be a 4.

I often criticize electronic music that we get in this project as dull and droning, hence 1 star. But here, when it's vocal droning (as opposed to instrumental droning), I love it! It's great, but mostly this is just a nostalgic vibe that I'm responding to here (and I'm not ashamed to admit it). 4.5 stars, but rounding down to 4 because of the potential nostalgia of it all.

Never heard of them but sounded familiar

Great to revisit after many years.

Vibe

The National stand for everything that was wrong w/ Brooklyn in the 2010s, a hipsterism that's hopefully on its way to obsoletion, but I'm not going to insincerely denounce the band that got me listening to genres I wouldn't've dared appreciate before. I understand that they don't exactly make rich or very exciting music, but it's not pretentious, it's honest enuf, and it exhibits an authentic beauty I'd like to swim in. Berninger's baritone is a rare thing and his lyricism, tho imperfect, has its moments of provocation + identity: 'Don't leave my hyper heart alone on the water / Cover me in rag and bone sympathy'; 'Awesome prince, get your sleep / Lose your heart in history.' We don't need any more bands like them in the world, but they've a place.

positive Überraschung. sehr schön anzuhören, schöne Melodien, Sänger auch sehr angenehm.

Good monging out music whilst on the plane.

Solid

I'm a dad now, so I am required to enjoy this.

It feels like where Joy Division left off in the very early 80’s, The National picked up in the very late 90’s. This is a band I had avoided because I thought they were something very different. I’m sorry I missed out for so long.

I can enjoy the mood the national have in their songs. A bit melancholic and sad, but beautiful. A couple of songs are nice, but a full album becomes a bit too much of the same.

Great album, although I find the opening track mix is just…horrible.

Ótimo álbum. Provavelmente eu não ouviria se não fosse esse projeto. Curti muito. QoA Adonis New.

Frappe !! Afraid of everyone Runaway England

Some bands you miss and then you realize you were an idiot. This is one for me. I would have loved these guys in the oughts. Great indie rock and carries a feel all the way through the record. That feeling is a bit of a downer but in a good way. Belongs on the list. Good one and I will be coming back for more National

#149/1001. I had only a vague idea what kind of music The National plays - perhaps something in between Coldplay and the xx. And to Bo honest this is what this album sounds like. And if I had to choose which one it reminds more it would be xx, thank God for that. I like the layers of sounds, how they texture the sky with multitudinous clouds, yet still the 80s sun shines through here and there, revealing a sophisticated and mature approach of song making and a nod to the past, building on what has been instead of just xeroxing a bad copy.

3.5

This is quite good. Shame they suck live.

I hadn’t done a full listen in years, as when I’m in the mood for the National, I usually go with Alligator or Boxer (both 5 stars in my opinion), and I really enjoyed it more than expected. The reputation I gave it as quality, but a little sleepy, was unmerited. The songs and lyrics are honest and gorgeous. I must be more patient as I get older because I had no problem with the pacing either. Brought back some wonderful memories from this era also - it’s what this project is all about.

This very specific era and genre is nostalgic and I can’t help but to like it. This, like The Airborne Toxic Event’s self titled and Give Up by the Postal Service are those melancholy indie albums that would be great to cry to on a rainy winter day.

The National fandom grows every time a sad boy grows to become a sad man.

When speaking on the indie rock movement of the late 00s/early 10s, The National are a band you'll hear mentioned a lot and deservedly so. Their sound perfectly encapsulates that young melancholy. It's that feeling when you're no longer a teenager and yet still so lost navigating your twenties. Wether or not it was intentional, their music feels like it was made for a coming-of-age indie film. There's a haunting bass that resides throughout the songs whether it's from the thunderous drums or Matt Beringer's vocals. It never stays there though. It swells and swells into this overwhelming crescendo. The songs feels painful but they're not depressing. In fact, they're full of hope. There's a fight in them. There's a lesson to be learned. Whether it's trying to be a better person to save a failing relationship, or finding comfort in letting go of love. These songs become cathartic. 4.5 stars

Enjoyed it more as it went on. Standout songs: Bloodbuzz Ohio Runaway England

Really cool

Good, inventive songs, a bit on a slow side

Melodious

First track I wasn’t overly fussed on this. I found the vocals a bit boring. By the third song though I was starting to really enjoy it. I don’t know if it was just a case where I needed a couple of songs for them to click with me. Overall a great album I’ll definitely be keeping it saved to revisit later. Top Tracks - Runaway and England

Musica para ir en colectivo

Enjoyed this, but I still enjoy boxer better.

Warm, cozy-toned but drivenly-paced indie rock album filled with some of the most cryptic and abstract lyrics juxtaposed with much more straightforward lines More of a consistent overall-feeling album than a highs-and-lows one, although I was familiar with Bloodbuzz Ohio before I listened to the album and it's still a standout

autumntime sadness y'all