Reviews (page 3 of 9)
An album that isn't even in the 2018 version of the book I have. I have a hard time with this late 2000s/early 2010s "indie." The sound was everywhere when I was a lad, so none of this feels important to the greater music scene. Put in Christopher Lee's Charlemagne album, you cowards.
Sounds like no one in the band had any enthusiasm to be making music.
Easy listening for hipsters. Nothing offensive, but nothing to knock my socks off.
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) ★★★★
One of the best albums of the 2010s. 5 stars
I generally like this band, but I find this one a little underwhelming when compared to their previous two albums. There are some cool songs here, like "Terrible Love", "Bloodbuzz Ohio" and "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks", but a lot of the rest of it is pretty one-note. 3.5 Stars.
Not High Violet or Ultra Violet but Mid Violet. For all the bluster in the instrumentation, the songs and vocals do tend to be a dull dragging trip through dour town. There are some moments of quality like on Blunderbuss Ohio and Lemon World. It’s Matt Behringer’s Lemon Party and he’ll cry if he wants to.
At first I thought this album was a bit boring. But then I started listening to it while driving in the evening, and I began to appreciate its nuance. I’m not sure if it’s still a 4, but it’s a solid 3. 6/10
Just so darn bland with absolutely no personality. Each track alone might stand as a fair example of the bands music, but together they form a never ending resonance of whinny 2010s production
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
seilarrrrrr
Indie rock. Think about that. You go indie because the masses think you suck. And in this case, the masses are right. You suck something fierce. 1
This really is a poor man's version of Interpol's Turn on the Bright Lights (which really should be on this list). It has all of the moody depressing atmospheric guitar playing and energetic drumming but none of the catchy melodies, memorable songs, or driving bass lines. The drummer in this band is the only one who sounds like he is awake during any of the recordings here. It also sounds like they recorded the same song 11 times. I know I am complaining a lot about this album, but it isn't really that bad, it is just really boring. Mid 3.
Good music
Tranqui me gusta
I have something of an aversion to listening to bands if the first thing I hear of them is that they’ve been nominated for a Brit award or a Grammy or whatever. Chances are high that they’ll be some johnny-come-lately trendy band that have caught the zeitgeist because one of their tracks was on an advert or a movie soundtrack. I think in the case of The National, I might have been unfair. They had been going for 12 years or so before hitting the big time and seem to have had a solid track record of albums up to that point. The music is very much in the indie vein, with droning guitars and solid, repeating drum patterns with a bit of piano thrown in on some tracks for variety. I wasn’t immediately hooked on first listening, but I think I’m intrigued enough to give it another listen, which is always a positive sign.
Stunning album from start to finish.
Really good lo-fi sounding familiar rock. I don't know that I ever heard them before, but I won't turn 'em off now.
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
too sad girl for me, never got into this band and this reminded why. their top hit from this album is like a 4, but the rest of it is kinda meh
Sad Dads forever
Pretty Meh
The Walkmen. The National. The Editors. I’m sure there are many more bands that sound the same with similar names. The 2010s were rife with them. I remember trying to enjoy all of these bands because my friends did. I’ve seen The National (and The Walkmen et al) live in concert. Anyone’s Ghost is a great track. Overall, best left in 2010. Give me Interpol any day. 2.5/5 for the mems
Music made by guys who wear sportcoats on stage like they're headed to a nice brunch on a Sunday morning...I'm assuming, as I've never seen a picture of them, but that's what how I imagine they'd appear. Button down shirts, tucked in, sport coats and trying to rock. You are probably holding a craft cocktail if you're at their show. It's 2010s indie rock and it's fine. They're good musicians, the layers are cool. The guy who is singing has a pleasant enough voice. They're really great at doing that slow vocal delivery, fast drum and rhythm section gimmick. Which is fine when you can pull it off, but they seem a bit transparent. Glad I listened, figured out who The National are as I remember them getting a lot of hype in the early 2010s. Wouldn't return to it.
I'm almost finished with it at this exact moment and I'm anxiously waiting for it to be over so I can put something else on. Boring, generic and dreary if I had to define it.
I heard your dad cries when listening to this album.
there were a couple of songs i liked, mainly due to their more happy/unique sound but nonetheless this was an okay listen. the songs didn't insanely stick out to me or linger but maybe that's because i was doing calc homework while listening. i like lemonworld and conversation 16. they both stood out to me because of their contrast to the mellow monotone sounds of the previous couple of songs and they have a certain part that is catchy in a way.
I found it a bit boring and I didn’t love the guys voice, but that being said, the more I listened, the less I hated it. At first, it feels like the lead singer isn’t even sure of his own lyrics, like he’s singing into the microphone while someone off to the side is trying to tell him what the lyrics are and he’s fumbling along, mumbling, while trying to get the gist of the song out. He’s monotone and flat. The instruments kinda loop throughout the songs, which makes for a bit of a boring musical experience.
Good vibes but it’s missing something that is needed for me to want to return to the album…
I enjoyed this
I've tried these guys a few times and found them kinda boring each time. That stands true with this album as well. The songs are ok, but there's nothing that jumps out as essential listening and there's no innovation or radio hits to point too. The vocals are average at best, the musicianship is ok too. "BLAH" is how I'd describe this and all their music. Solid listener counts, but I've learned that means nothing anymore. People will consume what's there or what someone tells them is good. This is average stuff for someone who's likely down in the dumps or seriously depressed ("Sorrow", "Terrible Love", "Little Faith", "Afraid Of Everyone", come on!). I didn't connect to a single song. Another total headscratcher. I was damn near asleep by track 11. There is nothing on this album that justifies a place on the Top 1001. 2 stars, maybe, it's so vanilla.
Meh
High quality background music, has a lot of repetitive melodies which are perfectly pleasant but doesn't build to anything much in most cases.
3/10
Enjoyable listen!
Had hoge verwachtingen. De beschrijving klonk leuk. Wat nieuwere muziek. Maar t is echt ongelooflijk saai. Alles lijkt op elkaar. DNF
Milk toast ass indie rock. It invokes images of shirtless guys playing the guitar barefoot on their college quad trying to remember disparate Allen Watts quotes to impress freshman girls who left their hometown for the first time a month ago….not that I’m speaking from experience or anything like that though.
Good.
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.
boring
I enjoyed this but nothing stood out for me, the droney style isn't my thing. I liked the drums a lot though.
Bland
Heard about this band, friends like them, but I never paid much attention. It was ok - I have saved Anyone's Ghost to my playlist.
Yeah, I like it!
Doesn't hit any high notes to make it out of the threes for me but keeps a consistent sound that is enjoyable through out the album.
I know about the National cause Aaron Dessner worked with Taylor Swift during her indie-folk era, but this is the first time I've listened to his band. I realize this kind of music is not for me. I don't hear a lot of melodies, hooks and chord changes, so it's not personally captivating. It's as if the music is just settling, like soda after the fizzle. (2.5-3)
Why are the on the list again?
I'd love to hear the record that fans of The National hear. I can't believe there are five people in this group.
if you had a high fever and had to sleep id recommend this. but if you wanted to listen to music I wouldnt
This kind of feels like the last moment of The National's career where they still seemed like they could have been remembered as a really interesting band. After this, it feels like too much of their early identity had been lost, and even on the last few songs here, it kind of felt like they were running out of steam a little. But for the first approximately 3/4ths of this album, there is some pretty cool stuff. High Violet has a couple of things to keep it feeling above most indie rock. It has cool vocals, it has a baroque atmosphere. But, in my opinion, this album is set apart from the pack mostly by it's lyrics and percussion. The lyrics are kind of doing a very poetic thing in a way that conjures up the Midwestern United States through imagery that almost verges on magical realism. My favorite lyrics here are probably on Bloodbuzz Ohio. And the percussion here is, compared to the rest of the band, extremely high energy. The chaos of these drums really adds an exciting through-line to the album and makes (especially the first half of) High Violet pretty exciting. The songcraft here is also pretty high in general. All in all, High Violet is an interesting flash from a band that I think had the potential to be a lot more. But it still exists as a cool moment in modern music history.
Was initially excited to finally listen to some of The National on their own as I only knew some of their work as features on other tracks. First listen was a tad underwhelming but will try again to see if I have perhaps missed something that would help distinguish one song from another. Second listen has not revealed anything especially groundbreaking…fairly monotonous record, shame.
Beautiful arrangements and instrumentation. Last 3 songs make for a stunning close. Requires quite specific surroundings to really appreciate it.
Vocals weren't my thing
Really enjoyed this music and the variety. A definite keeper! Good for an afternoon.
Favs: Little Faith, Afraid of Everyone, Lemonworld. The kind of album you could sink into. Warm blanket on a dreary day. Might just need to wait for days like that to come along to feel the warmth.
Would've loved this shit at 13. Sadly, I grew up.
Maso
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.
wow, a lot of emotion in these first tracks. I'm digging it. This was pretty good, I'll give it 3 stars.
8/10
This is a deep dark indie rock album. It is full of very emotionally charged melancholy songs. It is beautifully arranged and Matt Berninger's vocals are deep, slightly monotone and full of sorrow and regret. His voice sounds not entirely unlike Tom Smith of The Editors or Johnny Cash without the deep south drawl. Their sound is really quite polished and enigmatic. But its not for me. I found it hard going listening to 43 minutes of heartbreak and grief. Individual songs would probably be pretty well received. But a whole album is just a bit much for me. It felt like the musical equivalent of a month of grey, cloudy, cold days. And as I live in the north of England, I need all the sun I can get. (2.125)
I am quote honestly not understanding why this is on a list of 1001 albums to listen to. It sounds like every coffeehouse -- no, Starbucks -- background listening music out there. There are times for dreary albums, but there are plenty of dreary albums. Why does this one stand out? "Afraid of Everyone" is ok, but yeah, I would probably only draw one or two songs from this album for a themed list, and that'd probably only be after I listened a few more times. IF I listened a few more times. It's not a terrible album, but I don't get any influential, groundbreaking appeal.
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
Was ok once I realized the sound they were going for. Drums were a bit too busy at times and sounded like a techno beat trying to be fit into indie songs. Probably wouldn't listen again but sounds like ok background shopping music.
Almost every song on this album feels very repetitive and there were barely any moments throughout my listening experience where I wasn't feeling bored. High Violet isn't a terrible album in my opinion, but there really isn't anything that stands out about it. 2.1/5
220226 18:46 3
5/10
I should really like this album as it's a genre of music that is amongst my favourites, but I found it to be just ok. Apart from Englad, I didn't really feel there was a track that stood out. 3/5 Not bad, not great.
A personal favorite of mine!
Hmmm... I like indie rock, but this album was a lot more somber than what I normally listen to. It was still good, just not something I would wanna listen to often.
Music is okay, but can’t stand the singer. This album is no exception…
Man I forgot how great this band was.
Pretty plain and I suspect Boxer will be on here too. Maybe nix this one in a revision (2.5/5)
Groupe inconnu pour moi. Album agréable à écouter, un peu longuet sur la fin, dommage. Pas mauvais du tout. 2.5+/5
langweilig
Didn't hate it but I don't love it
Really like the assortment of instruments, I think they work very well with the singer's voice. Great album.
My usual vibe but not as good
Legend has it the singer of this band was hooked up to an IV of NyQuil while binge drinking sleepy time tea during the recording of this album. When the singer sounds like he can't be bothered, why the fuck should I? Its so god damn boring and drones on forever. A genuine slog of an album.
Solid
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.
Yeah
Boring.
Meh!
Refined, serene, and precisely arranged music for mature listeners.
The last decades has some hidden gems like this. Good album.
Love it! I like the music a lot.
10’s Indie Rock ⭐️Conversation 16
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
Awash with sound but it's only when the band pick up the tempo and create a sense of urgency that it really delivers
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
I was kind of looking forward to this as I like a few songs and some of guest appearances by the singer on other artists’ work but had never dug into the discography. Was a bit of a letdown though. Not that it’s bad or anything but just nothing that stood out
I never liked The National as much as most of my friends. Still a fine album with a few really good songs.
With a few more listens it might even be a five
++: Little Faith, Lemonworld, England +: Sorrow, Afraid of Everyone, Bloodbuzz Ohio, Runaway +-: Terrible Love, Anyone's Ghost, Conversation 16, Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks 4,9/10
Ikkje så dumt
Solid indie rock that reminds me quite a bit of Nick Cave (but the good kind).
Bloodbuzz Ohio was used in a commercial on Current TV like 15 years ago. Seems I'll always keep that association.
It was okay. Felt like a more depressed Interpol. Was fairly chilled out at time but just not for me.
This record is going into the “not rly sure this needed to be on this list” pile. Is it bad? No. But it’s not super impressive to me personally. It’s giving I graduated college in 2009 and immediately moved to Williamsburg, and this was the soundtrack to my early 20s. -Ruby This album is so murderously drab I was angry by the time I finished it. The production is great but that alone is not enough to save such uninspired and insincere compositions and arrangements from themselves. Millennials really did not know how to rock — it’s as if the Great Recession affected their psychology such that they were never courageous enough to take any sort of artistic risk. This album is exemplary of that particular Millennial cultural deficit. —Noah
I wish this album had grabbed me a little more, but it had a nice low-key moody sound I really enjoyed.
Treads close to good without ever quite making it IMO. Singer has zero enthusiasm.
If the singer sounds like he can’t be bothered to wake up from a nap to preform, then I can’t be bothered to care about the music, which by the way all sounds like mopey, depression riddled sameness. There’s no variety on this album anywhere and I hate this band for not sounding like they gave a shit while writing these songs.
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.
Not for me
problems of national concern...
A good option, but no so magnificent
Meh
Love it
Boring and self-serious
nice easy listen, but sound gets monotonous. and the lyricism starts becoming just entirely depressing and doesn't inspire anything in me
Started off strong but felt like it started to lose me in the second half. Really enjoyed it regardless
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.
I quite like The National though I find this is tempered by often finding them a wee bit boring.
I like this album better than I think I do. Many times when I'm doing 1001, I'm not able to listen closely enough or pay attention to the whole album all at once.
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.
Muito chato mds
afraid of the house caus’ they’re desperate to entertain! se siente como ascender a una mejor sociedad, como estar en la marcha correcta.
20/01/2026 A boring album, a boring listen. I have never heard of these guys before and I'm happy not to hear them again. Spotify listeners: 3.3 million
4/10. Kinda boring, not for me
shorten it up! Good songs
need to give this one another listen
A quirky one. Kind of dark and withdrawn but with a “lighter” sound, like a less claustrophobic Joy Division. A lot of the songs feel like endless buildup with that humming guitar/piano/string drone that seems to be present in every song. I didn’t love it, but it’s worth more attention. Best song: Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks
Uz boxer najbolji the national
when it started i had to check that my laptop speakers hadn't gone weird and needed a driver restart
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
Kind of like a duller Nick Cave. Don’t really understand the hype behind this album. No really memorable songs. Not terrible but just meh.
idk also mixed and got very boring and repetitive 5/10
Great album with vocals that were a little too stilted / broken up across each song.
Never could dig this band, still can't
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."
2010s indie rock, long time favorite.
Dull dad indie. It is very hard to separate the tracks as they sound all so similar. Most of them sound like they are building up towards something before they end out of nowhere. The vocalist sounds like he's bored of his own songs. Sure, the instrumentation on here can be lush, but they doesn't mean much when everything else is so uninspiring.
THIS is meant to be one of the best albums of all time - REALLY???? If you like your music with all the sharp edges removed and any real emotion clinically sanitized, them this is exactly what you have been looking for all these years For me, this is a hard NO!
Dirgecore drivel.
I have always thought of The National as Walmart brand Bon Iver. But The National came first?! I don't know what I believe anymore.
An album that is decent on the first listen and would improve as you listen more. 4 stars or B-.
This wasn’t a bad listen but for me it just felt a bit boring, I think if you were to listen to some of the songs by themselves then they can have their moment but in a full album of songs where they all sort of sound the same it gets a bit repetitive. Also, as the songs have a lower tone to them, when complied together the album can become a bit dreary. The production was good and I feel like The National could have made more from this album with some variations of mood in the songs, with all that being said my favourite song was ‘Anyone’s Ghost’ and my rating is a high end 2 star.
loved it!
Here’s where I stand with the National: they’re a decent band with an excellent drummer. Seriously, listen to how the drums drive every single song! Without them, or with something more subdued, this album would be an absolute snooze fest. I like their sound — it sets a mood, feels like an overcast day — but I’m never quite able to love them.
What was the purpose of me listening to that, it evoked zero emotion in me.
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.
Eindruck: Joah klingt halt alles gleich, langweilig Rating: 4/10 Favourite: könnt ich jetzt garnicht so sagen weil…. Klingt alles gleich
Erster Eindruck:gefällt mir,entspannt Lieblingssong: sehr ähnlich (Lieblingszeile:) Overall Rating: 6/10 Andere Anmerkungen: angenehm für Hintergrund, mag ich auch, stimme tief bisschen cool (bleachers)
A few bright spots, but overall I found it repetitive and droning. It was a slog to get through.
They're alright
Standard indie album
Big fan of the national
I was bored.
Great music to help cure insomnia
They're like a meeting of The Vaccines and TR/ST; the lead's voice reminds me alot of Robert Alfons of TR/ST. Songs felt very hit and miss for me, "Terrible Love" was great towards the end, "Sorrow" was fantastic and "Anyone's Ghost" fell flat for me, then back up again for "Little Faith"! Tracks started to bleed together towards the end and I began to wonder when the album would be over. Not a good sign. Overall, this is an album that I did somewhat enjoy and, from previous experience with music like this, it has the potential to grow on me until I love every track, much like Mount Kimbie's The Sunset Violent.
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.
First song starts off walking with spiders. Spooky. Now he’s talking about going to Ohio in a swarm of bees. Dude’s got a thing for bugs. I’m with it. It wasn’t terrible, but it also wasn’t terribly interesting.
Didn't tug at my heartstrings but very soothing
Decent late 2000s-early 2010s indie album. I was hoping for a bit more here, but it's still good. I'm not upset about this album, I'm just not overjoyed that I've now discovered it.
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.
Easy listening but unremarkable
It was okay
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
kinda boring
I like it but it’s not like up there - the songs are ok I like the guys voice the songs are nothing special
Moody…if I’m in the right moody. However, if I want to hear a voice like this I rather listen to Hozier.
yeah. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with these guys. I like one song by them but it's on a different LP.
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.
2/5 Halfway through I started losing it because it all felt very same-sy and it just made me want to pull my hair out. Nice mellow tunes, though. But yeah, some variation would've been nice.
This sounds like an album of potentially good songs that's had all of the energy drained from it, like an indie-rock-flavored LaCroix. Even the songs with more energetic rhythm sections ("Little Faith", "Bloodbuzz Ohio") have them buried in the back of the mix, as if the engineer was afraid that someone might start nodding their head in time with the drums. The composition and production are all well executed, and the lyrics are interesting (if incomprehensible), but most of the songs have no dynamics at all. They start and end at the same level of energy - which I'd call "more or less awake" - and don't seem to go anywhere interesting along the way. "Bloodbuzz Ohio" and "England" are the closest to being interesting to me, but they don't quite get there. Still, if anyone ever wants to make a Disco Elysium musical and Sea Power isn't available, this might be the band for the job.
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
High Violet has been in my collection for a couple of years - I bought it whilst on my travels on a complete whim, as similarly to the Pixies record, The National were a band I'd seen being praised widely and that had been recommended to me incessantly by friends and pub-goers alike. When I got home from my staycation, I gave it a spin and ultimately was left wishing I'd asked the cashier for a receipt. I thought it was moribund and one of the most thoroughly dull albums I'd ever heard, so it sat on my shelves collecting dust until fairly recently. From what I can remember, I'd had a bit of a crap day and wanted to see if an album that I'd dismissed as being too morose for me would reveal itself further whilst I was in a more compatible headspace. In some ways, it did provide a suitable soundtrack for my woes, but I still wouldn't be able to reel off too many discernible, standout features about it. Vocally, Matt Berninger has that somewhat "apathetic" style which doesn't allow his vocal passages or lyrics to really endear themselves to me. The music very much follows a similar vein - the album kind of just floats around and fills a hole whilst it's on, without being particularly memorable. High Violet will most likely be joining my clearout pile and collecting copious amounts of dust again for the foreseeable future.
I go back and forth over whether I like this or the Boxer more? Either way it’s great Brooklyn Dad rock.
Not so much for me, Bon Iver precursor which is cool
Nothing special, unique, important or ground breaking. It's not bad not worthy of "must hear" statues
Terrible Love: 3.5/5 Sorrow: 4.5/5. Anyone's Ghost: 4/5 Little Faith: 4/5 Afraid of Everyone: 3.5/5 Bloodbuzz Ohio: 3.5/5 Lemonworld: 2/5 Runaway: 2/5 Conversation 16: 3.5/5 England: 3/5 Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks: 3/5 Verdict. 3/5. Starts extremely strong, ends just okay.
- Aggressively dad rock. One of those artists I probably ought to like on paper but never really caught my imagination. - Somehow, I only discovered them around this time and they were five or so albums in. I don’t feel like I really missed out. - They do a nice job of slowly building up an atmosphere with layers of instruments but too often there’s no real payoff. The bored, baritone vocals do it no favours either. Just all feels a bit beige. Beige is fine sometimes. Nice pair of khakis or a neutral wall in a hallway, but it’s not going to inspire me to keep wanting to hear it again and again.
Could even be a 5. I liked their understated vibe
Uuuuuuuuugggggghhhhhh
conversation 16 is actually me and Iam conversation 16
BLOOOOOOOD
The singer put in less effort into singing on this as I did listening to it. Musically fine but I’ve heard more uplifting Doom Metal
Immaculate vibe, ill take this over bob Dylan any day
Call me a brooding basic bitch millennial but I loved this. It was like warm chocolate velvet with some counter-swirls of despair rubbed against the grain. The only miss was when they veered into Smiths territory with “Conversation 16.”
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"
Better than Arcade Fire
Solid album. Nothing special. Nothing scary
Love a good midwest nostalgia vibe, but I do wish there was a bit more range. Starts to blend together sonically after a few songs, which makes it hard to appreciate the lyricism. Favorite Tracks: Terrible Love, Anyone's Ghost, Bloodbuzz Ohio, Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks
mola moltissim, molt millennial però en una bona manera
Didn't really hold my interest, just ok I suppose
People love to blame Jack Antonoff for why Taylor Swift's music became bland. For my money, I put the blame on Aaron Dessner. Boring fuck.
Kinda slow and sad, not really my thing
Solid, but I'm assuming if you are already a fan it hits harder. For an outsider it's good at first, but starts blending together in a not so easy to remember way.
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🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
First two tracks are very special. Especially 2. Wonderful song. 3 is very touching eventually, after beginning more standard. I really like the lead vocals. They have some power behind their nonchalant costume. 4 is an example for that. 5 was my least favorite so far. Trying a bit too much to capture my attention. 6 I loved. A moving song. There's a thing about this band sound. It's very very, cohesive. Which in one point of view is a great positive, but on the other hand, it makes it hard to differentiate the individual members. Maybe it the style of mixing that was very popular at the time.maybe it tries to compete with the huge sound of pop music at the time. But many times, for me, it's all a bit buried. I like my bands sounding a bit more airy, more personal. Anyway. 7 is very nice. 8 brings a different vibe which is needed at this point in the album. And does it in a great way. A very good song. 9 brings a dark tone that I like aswell. Ten is nice, but I don't really get the lyrics. The closing track is unfortunately not remarkable. Better than what I thought. I think it fair to give it a 3.5
Very dull album, this isn't my type of music. I found the songs to be repetitive in structure, and not super interesting musically. Part of this is because of the monotone singing on almost every track. The best songs were the ones most dissimilar from the rest. Standout Tracks: Little Faith, Lemonworld.
zzz
Саундтрек для фильма про неудачника который в конце становится крутым
I really really can’t stand the National; pretentious morbidity, want-to-be dark poets. Godawful.
I know with more time this album will be a 5 star for me, but for a single listen it definitely gets a 4.
Oh god, it's the sound of 2010 - corporate indie hipsterism encapsulated in an album! If you like this sort of thing, then this album is well executed with a production value that blends hifi depth and clarity with some great lofi distortion - but it's fucking boring. The songs never go anywhere. Ever.
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
similar to Wilco,not my cup of tea
I was a bit disappointed by this because I have friends who have told me how good The National are. I was disappointed because a number of the songs start well, interesting, catchy even but instead of flowering into greatness, they just bumble along and fizzle out.
A bit depressing really. Didn't get into it.
Great album. Moody and tense; each track is a slow burner. Great vibe for a late night drive or rainy afternoon.
Voz do cara é boa, mas meio morta. É, nada me passou a cabeça do início ao fim. Ok, mas esquecível. 2*
Jesus cristo que álbum boooooooooring. Que soneira que deu mano. Definitivamente não é meu estilo. Não foi o pior álbum até agora, mas é um fortíssimo concorrente ao mais chato. As músicas não são ruuuins ruins, ma é chato demais. Só queria que acabasse logo kkkkk
Beautiful music for a special occasion. Not my everyday though
I am really conflicted about this one. I did enjoy some moments, but most of it was really boring, and towards the end it screamed for being over already. I am gonna give it a 2 because of that fact but it's a strong 2, could be 3 if it had more. Something was missing. It's a pity cause it had potential, which was washed down the drain. Damn.
A critical darling and evidence that music reviewers are easy to impress if you appeal to their sense of self-importance. One review said "the sound of a band taking a mandate to be a meaningful rock band seriously" as in they haven't screwed up their aspirational *seriousness* by sounding like they're having any fun. Everything about this is mid. Midtempo, middle-register singing, middling temperament. Nothing exemplifying happiness or joy or anything to get the blood going, the kind of music you'd go to watch live with your hands in your pockets, maybe silently bobbing side to side to signify that you were enjoying yourself. (I'm being snotty here; I've actually seen The National live and it was fine, they were having lots of fun up on stage; but none of that enthusiasm really translated to this album.) There are a few moments where the instruments rock out a bit and if I'm honest, the drums sound pretty fun on some of these songs, but overall this is like the album version dry Oscar bait.
The cover perfectly reflects the music a mash of different elements that blur eachother, it is so damn hard to hear the instruments isolated from eachother with the echoes. The vocals are nice, but I cant understand half of the time
some of the tracks blend together but it works. all bangers.
Don't mind the band, reminds me of a cross between gang of youths and war on drugs. not overwhelmingly in love with it but I think it would have its time and place. I think I don't really like deep male voice lead vocals.
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
Ah, the 3rd best National album. Why not. This list should only have Boxer on it.
Aldrig gillat National direkt, för tråkigt och pompöst.
Gillar detta skarpt. Finstämt, melankoliskt, melodiskt. Fin morrissey-djup/mörk sång. Positiv överraskning och nåt jag antagligen kommer återkomma till.
snark
Indiens motsvarighet till mumble rap? Sången ger en känsla av att inget händer. Detta till trots är det inte dåligt. Fina arrangemang och skivan blir bättre mot slutet. Stark tvåa!
befria mig från detta intet!
Försökte när det begav sig, lyssnade en gång till nu. Det är för deppigt och enformigt för att jag ska orka ta till mig det. Som ett deprimerat arcade fire. Sorrow found me... Alltid svårt att återvända till något från när man var i den idiotåldern runt 18-20. Men det är ju inte jättedåligt.
Trying not to gaze at my shoes
Dull
It's been a while since I've made an actual comment, but this might be the worse album I've listened to in this entire process. If I could give this a 0, I would. I was crawling out of my skin listening to this turgid, boring, endless album. Every song sounds almost the same. The singer somehow seems less interested in singing than I was listening. I knew I didn't like the National before listening, but actually going through one of their "best" albums seals the deal.
Very nice, great singer
Sad dads.
Easy five-star performance for me. "Terrible Love," "Bloodbuzz Ohio," "Conversation 16," and "England" among the many highlights.
Might have heard of this band but never listened to them, pretty melancholy but accessible, vocals somewhat reminiscent of Leonard Cohen
3.5.
If I could give this negative stars I would
I listened to part of this in its native habitat, the subway tunnel between Brooklyn and Manhattan. I liked some of it a lot more than other parts, which were generally where they veered off the rock path towards something more like ... I can't find the words to describe so let's say more like The Blower's Daughter by Damien Rice. Is that a description? Not sure.
music to get high and be sad to
eugh
To me this album is in a class along with, like, The Antlers where I know a lot of people who are like "the songwriting is so good" and "there's so many layers to the sound" and maybe a smidge of "they went to Berkleeee" or "they met in Brooklynnnn" and I guess if I could engage enough with it there's probably a story, but the vocals are so mixed down and the music is so thick and the singers never seem to have considered, like, enunciating and I just get annoyed. Sorry I'll never be able to appreciate Hospice or High Violet. I'm happy for you tho. Or sad that happened. Whichever.
The National at their finest hour.
Interesting group. Had not heard of them before this list, so it was a treat listening to something new to me that wasn't Krautrock or foreign music. Overall, I liked the album. It brought back some memories of Joy Division mixed in with modern beats. Very interesting indeed. The lead singer's voice reminded me a bit of the lead singer for Lord Huron. Interesting that The National is from Ohio, and Lake Huron is in Ohio. Just a weird coincidence. 3.4 / 5. I couldn't get it to 3.5 stars, but it's a good album and should be heard by everyone before they die.
Seemed pretty blah
This seems like the kind of album I'd probably really get into if I forced myself to listen to it a few more times and really tried to get it. At some point it would click, and become one of my favourite albums of all time. The problem is I don't want to have to put that much work into enjoying something. It's deep and moody and introspective in ways that don't seem to fit me, and I often found myself wishing for something more distinctive in the wash of dull indie rock that didn't seem to ever pay itself off. Maybe that's the point of it (I suspect so), and if so kudos! It's really well done. That's an artistic choice I can respect, even if I don't personally love it. I would willingly listen to this again, but I won't be seeking it out.
Bloodbuzz Ohio!
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.
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.
2010. Pretty ok songs that didn't take me anywhere. Soft alt rock.
Would listen to it again, but nothing really outstanding about it, from my perspective
Solid listen. Always nice to get a modern album after living in the 60s for a few weeks.
Never heard of them but sounded familiar
I kind of go back and forth on The National. Berninger has an excellent baritone voice, but sometimes it doesn't sit 100% right with me; it's almost too good. Overall, I like this though; it's at least a strong three, and there are days I'd give it a four.
Enjoyed it, immensly.
Great to revisit after many years.
despite the drummer's occasional best efforts, it's still very BORING
Vibe
Og det her like folk å høre på? Æ har aldri hørt på The National før, men har lenge visst at det e et sånt favorittband for diverse mennesker (som æ har antatt har god musikksmak), og det kan hende æ bare va feil tid og sted og dårlig humør og kæm vet ka, men æ synes ikke det va særlig interessant, eller gøy å lytte til. Alt hørtes, ikke grøtate ut, som sådan, men som om noen hadde skrudd på en innstilling man vanligvis skrur av, men som likevel ikke gjorde ting mer interessant. Men for all del, folk får like det dem like, sjøl om det ikke va nokka for mæ.
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.
It sounds like it was well done, but all the songs sound the same and blend together.
Monotonous. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.
Some great tracks on this one, though I'm not typically a fan of this era's style. I thought it was a good listen overall, but I did miss those big highs. The chord progressions felt a bit repetitive at times. Still, it's a solid experience. 7.5/10.
Chilliger Sound und dann kommt das Intro von Little Faith und tritt einem in die Eier...... Gab entspannte Lieder aber hat mich nicht vom Hocker gerissen
positive Überraschung. sehr schön anzuhören, schöne Melodien, Sänger auch sehr angenehm.
Wollte 2 Sterne geben, weil durchschnittliche Indie Musik, aber "Bloodlust Ohio" fand ich einen richtig coolen Song.
2 точни, защото е боза - 1 точка, защото най-слушаната му песен е с ТС = 1 точка.
This was fine.
Very boring
Pretty forgettable - Spotify started playing similar stuff at the end and I didn’t even notice I was listening to a different band
It may just be music for sad dads but I facking love it! Unashamedly the best thing I saw at Glastonbury. Simpsons: No
Good monging out music whilst on the plane.
Whoever put this on the list must have been High
Fuck off mate
Anyone's Ghost is a great song.
Solid
Tää ei herättänyt mitään tunteita. Kuuntelin kuitenkin läpi.
Honestly, it sounds like a more monotone version of Interpol's stuff from 5 years before. This doesn't shatter my earth but it's a solidly ok album... Very whelming.
дущно
Why?
Similar earlier Albums of other bamds are better. Thisbis good but not great
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 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.
Too much like a 40 minute song for me.
I get what they are doing here but I’m not sure it’s as good as it’s perceived to be. This sounds like a more energetic Bon Iver and that’s probably the only thing I can take out of this. How about a sadder Evan Dando, does that help? I’m not excited about this. The music can be good and bearable but vocally it’s quite boorish
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.
Enjoyed it more than expected
Tbh this isn't really my cup of tea but I can see why people like it. I saw that he had a collab w Taylor Swift and I can feel the same general vibe with the two. I liked Sorrow and Anyone's Ghost but overall this isn't exactly something I would listen to in my free time. There wasn't really any point that stood out to me, which is why at some points I was almost bored and wanted to change the song.