Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Really nice indie rock album from an artist that is new to me. Both the slower and more speedy songs add a lot to the albums over all feel. It feels cohesive and the songs flow well in to each other. Definitely something I will listen to again.
This is one of those albums that actually makes a case for indie rock being worth the hype. The National crafted something here that feels both moody and expansive, with a sound that grows on you the more you sit with it. “Bloodbuzz Ohio” is the obvious highlight, a driving and hypnotic track that sticks in your head long after it ends. “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks” closes things out beautifully, a poignant and emotional moment that shows just how much range the band really has. That one hit harder than I expected. Not every track grabs you right away, but as a whole, the album flows together in a way that keeps you pulled into its atmosphere. High Violet balances darkness with warmth, and for indie rock, that is a tough line to walk. This one nailed it. Favorite song: Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks
I *really* enjoyed revisiting this one. I don't remember being as fond of it as Boxer or Alligator at the time, and I guess that's still true, but there's something about the subtle, understated nature of this one thats given it real staying power.
How have I never heard of them before? Really, really enjoyed it.
It was quite a good album. However it is not exactly my tase in music.
This was excellent; I hadn’t heard it before
01) Terrible Love - 8,0 02) Sorrow - 8,0 03) Anyone's Ghost - 9,0 04) Little Faith - 7,5 05) Afraid of Everyone - 8,0 06) Bloodbuzz Ohio - 8,0 07) Lemonworld - 8,5 08) Runaway - 8,5 09) Conversation 16 - 8,0 10) England - 8,0 11) Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks - 8,5 TOTAL: 8,18 (82/100)
Excellent album, classic National, was not familiar with this one, but dark and mysterious while still being upbeat and and catchy.
I can understand the vocals but not following them right now. I like the sound. Lemonworld
<3
83/100 second best album from this project, i love every single song from it and now i really wanna listen to more from the national
This band creates a really cool sound. Atmospheric, lush, thoughtful. If I listened to it a few times I would love it.
I’m not sure why I never got into The National. Did taste freeze set in for me just before the band hit? Maybe! For what it’s worth, I’ve enjoyed a lot of Bryce Dessner’s other work. The vocals here are a little low-key, but the band’s sound is up my alley. The lyrics are smart and engaging. If I’d processed it in 2010, “Sorrow” absolutely would have been one of the songs of my year. So good! When I actually listened to it today, I immediately stopped everything I was doing. And then hit repeat about a dozen times in a row. That’s a helluva song—and about one of my favorite(?) topics, lost love.
Mid-to-good middle of the road indie rock.
chilling, deep
First half better than the second
I liked
Fine, but on par with my previous impression of The National. Heard "Sea of Love" somewhere, from their follow-up album, a nice song that made me check them out only to find they're just too comfortable with their sad, middle-aged melancholic dude schtick. Live a little, guys. We have anger, too!
This album is super solid all the way through. Reminds me of The Blue Nile but in a more indie way. Great album, this is gonna be a really high 4 for me
7.5/10
almost perfect
An American version of Arcade Fire. I have tried to like Arcade Fire over the years, but I have never been drawn in. The National is better. I actually enjoyed the album. Musically, it moves around technically and keeps you interested while the lyrics slowly draw you in. One listen, and I will definitely return. The singer reminds me of someone, but I can't quite put a finger on it. Worth your attention.
Surprisingly good
jako dobro! najdraža stvar i dalje lemonworld, al i ostale su jako dobre
You know this isn’t usually my thing, but I ended up starting stopping and restarting this one a few times, and it keeps growing on me more with every relisten.
This is not bad, but it is also not great. I've heard a bit from The National that I think is great, but none of it is on this album.
i’m going thru a breakup so this is exactly my shit
It took me a while to warm to the National despite seeing them live a couple of times, including once in a comparatively small venue when they were touring their Boxer album. It wasn’t until The First Two Pages of Frankenstein album that the penny dropped and I fell under their moody, broody, almost Tindersticks-like spell. This isn’t my favourite National album but I really enjoyed listening to it - Anyone’s Ghost, the understated anthem Bloodbuzz Ohio and England probably being the standouts.
Great vibe, moody and ethereal.
A melancholy album but with a beat. One for the days when you’re down and needing lyrics and poetry to get you through. Conversation 16 and Sorrow were my favorites on the first listen but that could change.
A solid listen. Nothing too particularly standoutish, but I enjoyed the overall package. Good instrumentals with fitting vocal work.
Weird kinda samey. Felt like I was supposed to like it more than I did... On a re-listen with headphones on there's a distinct nuance of sound that bumps the score up from a 3 to a 4. I admit this sounds great, but I probably won't revisit
I also was carried to Ohio by a swarm of bees.
Another artist I've seen live before. The National is not really my type of music, but I like it nonetheless. They teeter a bit on boring at times with the kind of monotone vocals but it never really becomes boring. The monotone vocals set a great atmosphere and I like the guitar playing on here as well. A lot of good songs I liked, particularly Bloodbuzz Ohio and England.
Volyymivaihtelubiisit, stadionballadit, pari erikoista sanaa kiinnittämässä kuulija huomion silloin tällöin - minusta toimii, vaikka onhan tää kieltämättä imelää. B-puoli ehkä snadisti lässähtää, vaikka Bloodbuzz Ohio yrittää sen nostattaa. Yksi tähti ihan mun sentimentaalisuuden takia.
It took me a long time to get into The National - but damn that's a rock solid band. Mark Berninger is a supremely underrated songwriter - started listening to a bit of his solo stuff too. Super awesome
Enjoyable in a dour way.
Cool
Definitely a top tier record by this band? perfect? idk. Really good? yes.
Really really good, I've slept on this band as early 2000s slop for a while but boy was I wrong
This was a solid album with indie rock vibes. I enjoyed how low-key this album was and how it lead to some chill listening for my morning commute. I would listen to this album again and encourage others to check it out!
Good album from a good band. The vocals are moody but fitting, the instrumental work is complex where it needs to be, and they're paired well. The National is great at building intensity in their songs and this is probably their best album. I like this album a lot and having one album by The National on the list makes sense.
Nice album art. I've heard the name, but not sure if I've heard them before. Great dynamic textured stereo mixing. Makes sense that some members have gone on to produce music for acts with big star power. There is a good sense of composition. A solid album, they do a style of full rising music really well. I'd like to hear a song that shows me something else just to understand their range more. Bloodbuzz Ohio and Lemonworld caught my attention. The whole album sounds like it would be good train ride music.
I listened to this at work twice and was going to give it three stars. Then, after work, it was raining, and I played this again for the third time. For some reason, I liked it. I want to say the rain changed the mood. I swear bands like The National, Radiohead, Coldplay, and Elbow sound better in the rain. I don't know because without it, I wouldn't care about either of them. I'll give it four stars.
Love the National
This is in my wheelhouse of music I like. A minor quibble is that the lead singers voice lends a sameness to a lot of the songs.
So, I'm a big fan of The National, coming to them quite late and this was the first album I paid much heed to. Some of the tunes here are still iconic favourites in their live sets. Matt Berninger wears the weight of the world on his narrow shoulders well and paints incredibly moving vignettes of ordinary unhappy lives. The stomping Blood Buzz Ohio is possibly my favourite track of their entire output - 'I still owe money to the money to the money I owe', England, Vanderlye Cry Baby Geeks, Sorrow...okay, I love all of it really. It's not their best, that came later, and I can't give half scores (it's a 4.5) so it will have to be a four just because they grew on me much more later.
At first, I thought this album should have come with a prescription for Paxil. By the end, I was in the groove. It all felt very depressing, but by the end the lead's deep voice was a droning layer for the melody to play against. Decent vibe.
I really enjoyed this one! Wasn't quite a 5 star for me, don't know what it was, but it didn't quite have the spark A really enjoyable album though. So close 🤏🏻 4 ⭐️
Good album, a bit linear, with few surprises.
Great album, evoked an emotion very well. Nice guitar. 8-9/10
The fog is coming
Fav one yet
Nice album, a bit one note
Wow, I was actually blown away by this album. As a casual Taylor Swift enjoyer, I was, of course, familiar with Aaron Dessner's work on her albums, but I've never actually given The National a go before. Did not expect to enjoy it this much. In fact, I'm going in for a second listen as I'm writing this. I think the sound on this is beautiful, though admittedly, I am partial to a bit of indie, so I definitely don't see the hate in the reviews for this album being justified. During the first listen, my favourite track was England. Second listen: Little Faith, Bloodbuzz Ohio.
Some memorable weird lines in this one ("I was carried to Ohio in a swarm of bees"). I wasn't familiar with The National but I think I really enjoyed this album. It helped that it happened to kind of suit the mood for the day. I found it really easy to just let this one keep looping.
Love this from schoolhood
I already listened to other National albums and found them good but this one... I don't know what it is but man, some of the songs on it are just special.
Never have been able to get into The National, but really digging the first half of this album. Nothing exactly stands out like crazy but it's flying by and sounding great. My one problem with The National I've come to realize is that I really like the build up in some of these songs and then it just dies with no real climax. They still sound beautiful though. Going a low 4 on this one.
i give 4 starts out of loyalty because i do love this band (but not this album) i cannot believe they had high violent on this list and not boxer and/or alligator
another almost blurry sounding indie rock album from the early 2010s. there's a certain sound that mainstream indie has, especially albums that released around this time. this album excels at audible texture. the ambient guitars, constant hi-hat rhythms and chords that are sometimes strings or pads creates an artistic and melancholic aesthetic. at times it sounds like an early european new wave group. another indie album that while doesn't win over me completely, i can appreciate the craft. this album would probably hit a lot harder if i was sad today, but i'm not. oh well.
2010. Indie Rock. 8/10 Terrible Love / Afraid of Everyone / Lemonworld / Conversation 16 /England / Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks
Loved it, very melancholy but has a hopeful vibe to it. Will definitely be a frequent listener to this.
Initially, I just thought this was okay, but I liked it the more I listened. It has a southern kind of feel on some of the guitars which I enjoy, like on Terrible Love. The reverb on the vocals adds a spacious feel, which adds to the melancholic atmosphere. The album is good at keeping that tone pretty consistently throughout The vocals can get a little bit monotonous, they're performed in a very similar tone and timbre throughout, so they don't often change much Very solid overall, glad I heard this Highlights: Afraid of Everyone, Terrible Love, Anyone's Ghost
Pretty good album that I'll probably never listen to again. Maybe I'm not sad nor dad enough for it. Or maybe this album just alluded me during my depressed indie phase.
This would have had a good chance to get a 5 if the dud just annunciated a bit more. Sometimes that's not really a problem for me (Eddie Veder) but this dude does not have Veder's voice. Loved the overall sound of the band and the way they played. Couldn't really understand the lyrics. Loved the overall feel besides the lead dude's voice and the way he sings.
Pretty good indie rock album! Reminded me of Lord Hurons first album at times. I liked it less as it went on but definitely still enjoyed it overall
Atmospheric...it must be The Smiths of today, without the side-eye
Has mid tempo ever sounded better? Be honest. This is premium grade slightly above average rock - light on the rock. But there are guitars. Well placed and immaculate in tone. There are circular melodies - not exactly song along songs - but they do get in your head. And the drumming - oh the drumming. He's like me a therapized Keith Moon - he hits a lot of things but with purpose and a comprehensible rhythm (that's a good thing). I tease because I care. They never escape the stratosphere the but they do take flight - and then bring you back down. Great "walk around NY" music. Or "sitting here thinking" music. Less "missing you" than "I'm going to miss you".
This album is a mood, but a mood done very well.
listened to again continues to be great
Nice slow album, great for background music
Is intelligent rock a genre? The Dessners come up with unique and unpredictable melodies, The Devendorfs love a syncopated rhythm and the vocals of Berninger pull it all together. Kind of a downer if that’s what you are into, but a solid album
This album would be lousy without the last four tracks, all of which are pretty awesome, and enough to make it worth four stars to me. If those tracks were not there, I think I would be hard pressed to give it even three stars.
Yea, it’s sad Dad music for sure but it’s really good. Terrible Love is a really good opener. Afraid of Everyone starts off with a haunting vibe and then builds with the sharp guitar riff, always liked that track a lot. Vanerlyle Crybaby Geeks is a great choice to tie this whole thing together. 4 stars
Initial Listen: 7.5/10 or 3.75/5, need to relisten again.
The National likes to engage slowly and build and build and build (the ocean breaks). The growing power of each song echoes the growing power of the album. I feel like each song is an education in powerful subtlety. Some songs might miss here and there a bit, but it mostly achieves somehow. The mysterious lyrics never dwell in cliches--did you know your engagement was a blood buzz before the swarm of bees carried you? You do now.
I don’t know why the National always seem to pass me by. But when I remember them, I always think I should listen to them more. They remind me of a Lithuanian friend who went to see them a few years back. When she said she was off to see the National, I thought she meant a gallery. And then I found out who they were and thought they were pretty cool - a little bit Nick Cave, a little bit Elbow, a bit like a warm comforting spa.
Loved this
Reminds me of Fleet Foxes.
Good music
This is very good but not great. It's still very much the national but I just compare this to trouble will find me which was my first exposure to TN and it doesn't quite match up IMO. Still Mid 4.
Perfect melancholy vibes.
It is a pleasant listen. Musically it is not a 4 but I like it like it is a 4.
I enjoyed this - good album.
Ah, the deep feels of the boys from Cincinnati. This is a pretty good representation of their brand of emo. I think Trouble Will Find Me is a better overall album -- but this is fine. All the hallmarks of the National are here: Berninger's baritone, the stripped down guitar lines, and oh so much sincerity in the lyrics. They're one of the bands I much prefer recorded versions than live -- because the airy production is as much a part of the band as anything. Quality album. Unexpected bangers: Sorrow, England, Little Faith.
A bit monotone and almost ethereal in the melodies. It's not too chill and not very energetic.
I love this album. It was my introduction to The National, and it's still my favorite album by them (though I think a lot of people think their previous album is even better). But as much as I love the album (and Matt's tenor voice), I wouldn't consider this an album you *must* listen to before you die. I would give this 4.5 stars, but I can't bring myself to put it with the likes of some of the 5 stars, so I'm rounding down.
Le chanteur de The National a un ton un peu monocorde, qui toutefois ne fait absolument pas ombrage aux émotions véhiculées par ces pièces luxuriantes, aux multiples couches ciselées. J'aurais donné 4,5
A really good album, I liked the songs Terri Le love, runaway and Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks.
Terrible Love Bloodbuzz Ohio Conversation 16
Pleasant enough listen - it's getting a weird amount of hate in the reviews! 🤷 Fave tracks - "Lemonworld", "Conversation 16"
I've been sleeping on The National. This is music that is soothing and exciting a the same time. It feels like love but also a yearning... I think probably best enjoyed while high.
Didn't love their live show, but they record great music.
Surprisingly enjoyable 4/5
It was pretty good. I hadn’t heard of the group before but they really impressed me with this album. The vocals and the lyrics were just powerful(a little repetitive but it was fine). Sorrow and Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks are some of my favorites from the album.
I can’t resist a moody baritone. And I can hear the influence of some of my favourite bands…DM, The Smiths, etc
Love the National - not my favourite National album (prefer "trouble will find me" and "I am Easy to find" but still a very solid 4
C'est partie pour une nouvelle galette issue de ce foutu bouquin qui nous tiendra occupés jusqu'à ce qu'on ait l'âge de ne plus pouvoir différencier un vinyle d'un frisbee. Aujourd'hui, on s'attaque à un morceau de choix, un disque qui a su, à sa sortie en 2010, mettre tout le monde d'accord, ou presque. Je parle de "High Violet" des Américains de The National. Dès les premières notes de "Terrible Love", on est happé. C'est un brouillard sonore, une montée en puissance faussement chaotique qui s'installe, et puis cette voix… Ah, la voix de Matt Berninger. Un baryton de crooner dépressif, un chant de loup fatigué qui aurait trop fumé, trop bu, trop vécu. Le type ne chante pas, il exhale ses textes avec une sorte de désenchantement classieux, une chaleur rauque qui te file le frisson. On sent le vécu, la cicatrice mal refermée, le costard un peu froissé après une nuit blanche à refaire le monde. C'est la voix d'un type qui sait que tout va mal finir, mais qui trouve une forme de beauté dans cette certitude. Musicalement, "High Violet" est un putain de chef-d'oeuvre de clair-obscur. Les guitares des frères Dessner ne cherchent jamais à t'en mettre plein la gueule, elles tissent des toiles, créent des spirales aériennes, des arpèges qui se répondent et s'entremêlent avec une élégance folle. C'est complexe sans être chiant, subtil sans être fade. On est en plein dans ce qu'on pourrait appeler le post-rock, mais sans le côté mathématique et froid que le genre peut parfois avoir. Ici, c'est l'émotion qui prime et chaque note semble pesée, chaque silence a son importance. Et puis, il y a la section rythmique, bordel ! La batterie de Bryan Devendorf, c'est le coeur battant de l'album. Le mec a un jeu unique, à la fois martial et incroyablement souple. Il peut te marteler une rythmique militaire qui te donne envie de marcher au pas vers l'abîme, puis soudainement, tout lâcher dans un roulement syncopé qui relance complètement le morceau. C'est une tension permanente, un fil sur lequel Berninger peut se permettre de tituber. C'est ce qui donne à des titres comme "Bloodbuzz Ohio" ou "Afraid of Everyone" cette puissance sourde, cette urgence contenue qui menace d'exploser à chaque instant. Le disque est sombre, c'est indéniable. Les textes parlent d'anxiété, de relations qui s'effritent, de la difficulté d'être un adulte dans un monde qui n'a aucun sens. C'est le disque parfait pour une journée de pluie, le genre de truc qui te fait dire que, finalement, ton petit cafard personnel a quelque chose d'universel. Mais là où The National réussit son coup de maître, c'est qu'il y a toujours une lumière au bout du tunnel. Une chaleur se dégage de cette noirceur. C'est peut-être dans les arrangements de cordes discrets, dans une envolée de guitare plus claire, ou simplement dans la beauté pure et simple d'une mélodie comme celle de "Sorrow" ou de "Runaway". C'est un album qui te dit "oui, la vie c'est de la merde, mais regarde comme la merde peut être belle parfois". On pourrait reprocher à "High Violet" une certaine uniformité, une tendance à rester dans une même zone de confort mélancolique. C'est vrai, il n'y a pas de virage à 180 degrés permettant de changer de régime. Mais ce serait passer à côté de l'essentiel. Ce disque est un tout, une oeuvre cohérente qui s'apprécie sur la durée, qui se dévoile écoute après écoute car c'est un album qui demande un peu d'effort et surtout qui ne se livre pas à la première écoute facile. Et c'est justement ça qui le rend si précieux. Alors oui, un gros 4 sur 5 pour moi ce n'est pas la note maximale, parce que je suis un vieux con et que la perfection, ça n'existe pas, et peut-être qu'un ou deux morceaux auraient pu être un peu plus percutants. Mais ne vous y trompez pas, "High Violet" est une pièce maîtresse du rock des années 2010. Un disque à la fois intelligent, émouvant, et d'une classe folle c'est le genre de disque que t'as envie de faire écouter à quelqu'un que tu aimes, juste pour voir si ça lui fait le même effet qu'à toi. Et si ce n'est pas le cas, tu sais que cette personne n'a rien à faire dans ta vie. C'est aussi simple que ça.
Annehmbar!
this was great, nice optimistic sound it it
8/10. Really nice melancholy. The album gets better as it progresses. It's not revolutionary, but it's really appealing. :)
Pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this having never heard of it nor the artist. Fantastic production, good lyrics, nice instrumentation. Writing was unique enough for me to enjoy, but the album as a whole wasn’t the most original and could sometimes feel a little monotonous. None of it was offensively bad, though. Otherwise, no complaints. Really enjoyed it. 4/5
The songs flow pleasantly in the background
There is some truly beautiful music here. I can't give it a 5 because it fits feel repetitive at times.
Nothing complicated, but it just is catchy at times. 3.5/5
Not usually a sound or genre that I'm drawn to, but this was quite well done. Good songs, well written, pretty good musicianship (I sense they may be much more talented but have to keep it in check for the style).
4.5 stars. Layered indie rock. Varied without being overly complex and kept a consistent feel throughout. Not really any hit individual tracks but no duds either. Standout was "Conversation 16".
I enjoyed the album that they released this year, 2024 so I was looking forward to listening to something else by them and I wasn’t disappointed. Love his voice and like the whole vibe that the band has. It might sound bad but it makes great background music when working etc.
I really liked the feel and sound of this album. It's upbeat tempos with the singers low voice make it feel sad without being depressing. Like there's still a bit of hope to keep going towards. It falls right in that 2010's alternative sound that I love.
Going through these albums has really made me realise the extent to which there are summer albums and winter albums. If I had got this in July I probably would have found it too downbeat and gloomy to enjoy. But on my grey November commute it really set a mood that I could get into. I likely wouldn't play this repeatedly but I enjoyed it in the moment for sure
Strong 2000s indie stuff. A bit slow at times but overall very enjoyable.
I'm having a hard time making up my mind about this one. First time through I found it to be pleasant but a bit of a snoozefest, really. A second listen and it grew on me quite a bit. I think this might actually be a pretty good album.
Not something that I'd normally set out to listen to. Not something I need to spin again, but a good listen while I browse the world from my desk.
4/5
Beautiful album. Perfect for sitting by the window watching the first snow fall. I get the most out of their songs by reading along with the lyrics. "I still owe money to the money, to the money I owe" is such a great way to describe the situation of being under a hopeless mountain of debt. And "It takes an ocean not to break" ugh, gut punch.
Actually a really good album
Never heard of them but slow melodic, enjoyable.
High enough 3 to round up. Something interesting here.
Another group reminiscent of the Magentic Fields for me. Here because of the lead singer's deep voice, the melancholy sound and the way they sing about NYC. Oh and because the "I don't want to get over you" line in "Sorrow" is literally the same as a Magentic Fields song.
A favorite of mine
High Violet - The National (2010) Post-punk revival em Ohio? O álbum conta com uma sonoridade indie post-punk melancólica, com vocais calmos, falados, que casam bem com a descrição do estilo musical da banda. As músicas no geral são boas, e talvez a falha seja a baixa energia das músicas, mas ao mesmo tempo a estética que a banda The National busca é essa, de sons mais tristes, melancólicos e arrastados. Também se sente a falta de mais sons sintetizados característicos do post-punk. No geral é um bom álbum com algumas músicas que se destacam. Interessante essa tentativa de ressurreição do post-punk, mas faltou um pouco mais do punk. Melhores músicas: Terrible Love, Anyone's Ghost, Lemonworld Piores músicas: Bloodbuzz Ohio 3/5
Living up to their Sad boi indie rock darlings reputation. Dig the drumming which feels uniquely busy/involved for the vibe of the music, but it works to bring a somewhat post-punky feel to some of it. Songs feel somewhat down but often build to some type of exciting or emotional payoff. I like the bits when they’re on their noisier side. Enjoyable album thay I need to spin a few more times.
For best results please listen drunk on red wine and sad about entering your 40's
8/10…sehr gutes Album, es fehlen aber ein wenig die Highlights
My period for indie falls in the 90s but I do like the indie bands that came afterwards although the hardest thing to do is not to compare them but it's hard not to. This is a good album of I don't compare it to 90s stuff I've heard better but this is pretty good as Bloodbuzz Ohio is a banger.
I was only dimly aware of the band - very Radio Paradise.
Super bello e super malinconico
Big fan of The National here, but I confess I've not listened to this album. Loved it and will definitely add to my rotation! From my first listen, my favorite track is "Afraid of Everyone".
Something indescribable (to me) about this album grabs me. Not sure what. If I contemplate any song by itself it seems somewhat unremarkable to me yet the entire album feels solid enough that I want to give it 4 instead of 3. I'm perplexed...
Rigtig god, første National jeg har hørt :o
Virkelig god plade, hvor stort set alle sange er lige til at høre igen!
3.5
I like this a lot and I’m not sure why. I’ve criticized other albums for shortcomings that this has too. Mumbly singer, droning voice, weird ass lyrics, and backing music that isn’t all that interesting. I think it’s because it’s catchy. They have the ear worm algorithm down.
Starts with the definitive sound of early 2010s folk revival alternative. Has a listless / meloncholy sound. The singers voice is strong and has a unique timbre- it works well for the sound they are going for. The song subject is a little one note- tumultuous relationships and heartbreak. I guess thats what a lot of songs are about. The lyrics are surprisngly nonesensical at some points- its a juxtaposition to how serious the subject matter seems to be. Overall- i was initially surprised how much i enjoyed the album. But given the clear Arcade Fire influence and mt enjoyment of this style of alternative in general, it makes sense. Very solid album that I enjoyed- i could see coming back to this in morose moods in the future
The album can feel a bit one-note at times, but it makes up for what it lacks in atmosphere and texture.
I used to love these guys a lot… it’s not my favorite of theirs — this doesn’t hit as much as Alligator or Trouble Will Find Me — but I do think that Matt Berninger’s vocals go a looooong way in my enjoyment of this band/record, it’s hard to go too wrong! Very rousing and affecting!
I like The National and I enjoyed listening to one of their albums!
7/10 very enjoyable
Great moments throughout, but not totally my thing. I appreciate it as being great, but it definitely doesn't resonate fully.
I liked it pretty well
Familiar with this album. Some great tracks
This was just... Nice. I can't put my finger on why, but it was just a very enjoyable listen.
Nice and broody. 4.5
This was actually very good, no skips and even a few "add to my playlist" tracks in the mix. This was exactly what I expect an album by The National to sound like. Best song was Conversation 16, and other favourites include Sorrow, Bloodbuzz Ohio, Runaway, England, and Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks. You know what why the hell not, 4 again
Thoughts before listening: Love this band, despite being a little darker and moodier than most music I enjoy. These guys were putting out albums through my 20s and 30s that felt like "adult" music that I should be listening to, especially coming out of listening to primarily punk rock and jambands. I very much enjoy all their albums including this one, which includes one of their best songs in "Bloodbuzz, Ohio". Review: I think I'd probably give most National albums a 4 with maybe a 5 for Boxer or Trouble Will Find Me. There are some great songs on this album, most of which fall in the back half of the album. "Bloodbuzz Ohio" is the centerpiece and still one of the best songs of its era. Other great songs include "Afraid of Everyone", "England", and "Lemonworld". In general this includes some of the band's best songs, but ultimately drags in a few places keeping it as a 4-star album.
When I'm in the mood for this, it's 5*, when I'm not, it's a 3*
I like it. Bloodbuzz Ohio especially. 3.6
Un disco aclamado por la crítica, que con los años sigue sosteniéndose como de los mejores de la década. The National suenan a Nick Cave, Arcade Fire, el mejor Postpunk, Interpol, Tindersticks, British Sea Power... La portada es preciosa, las canciones solemnes destacando por encima de todas Blodbuzz Ohio. Terrible love, Sorrow, todas encajan y suenan radiantes. Un disco enorme para una banda infalibe. Otros discos de 2010: Arcade fire- the suburbs, Beah house- teen dream, Kanye west- My beautiful dark twisted fantasy, Vampire weekend- contra, Deerhunter- halcyon digest, craibou- swim, Joanna newson- have one on me, Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid, Belle and Sebastian- write about love, The Drums - The Drums, LCD Soundsystem -This Is Happening, John Grant- Queen Of Denmark, Best Coast - Crazy For You, Wild Nothing -Gemini, The Black Keys- Brothers, Crystal Castles- Crystal castles, Delorean- subiza, lana del rey- Lana del rey, Sade- Soldier of love, MGMT - Congratulations, band of horses- Infinite arms, Superchunk- Majesty Shredding, Elton John and Leon Russell- The union...
Very good. I do think Trouble Will Find Me is a better album but this is a Nic choice. Somewhat sombre and haunting. It does lean into some hipster caches which is a deterrent. But overall, a solid listen.
I've heard of The National before, and this is the second album I'm checking out from them after First Two Pages of Frankenstein. It's the kind of indie rock and post-punk blend you would expect from such a reputable group, where rich poetry is delivered over fuzzy hooks, well-accented drums, and great grooves. I don't expect everyone to like this, given the genres they belong in and Matt Berninger's lower register. But if you're into that style of music, then it's a solid recommendation.
Aaron Dessner the man that you are.
Okay l’ho ascoltato al mattino e inizialmente sentivo fosse un 3 ma ho voluto riascoltarlo la sera e ha senz’altro cliccato di più! Super bello e super malinconico
One of my favorite voices in all of music. Could probably listen to him sing anything and enjoy it. Second half of this album really outshines the first. A little disappointed to learn that this is their only album to have ever appeared on this list.
3.5
Leicht schwermütig, angenehm zu hören
I somehow have never heard of these guys before, but I fucking loved it. Deep ass dive time for me.
I love The National. "I Am Easy to Find' was one of my most-played albums of 2019, and I don't think they've made a bad album. Ever. I really like the direction that Dessner and Berninger took the National after this album though. High Violet is a little boring and they've got much better stuff as they've grown and increased production value and musicianship.
Subtle.
I used to not be able to get their appeal at all, and I can still see how they're not for everyone. But there are so many brilliant moments strewn throughout the seemingly calm and melancholy vibe. I really enjoyed this.
Took me by surprise, but sounds a little bit like "Why?"
Nice
I tried and failed with this in 2010. I thought it was too slow and depressing. 14 years later it hit a bit harder
The National do a cool version of Terrapin and collaborated with taylor swift but that’s all i knew from them. this was a super cool album though. no standout songs that i loved but really good time throughout. will definitely listen to more
Not bad at all. I like the voice. It and the arrangements remind me of the German dark wave duo Wolfsheim with Peter Heppner and Markus Reinhard. A bit melancholic, but I like it. 4/5
Great vibes throughout
An album by one of my favourite bands, featuring Bloodbuzz Ohio ..easy rating this one Not quite their best album in my opinion, but a very solid 4 stars
This would’ve been right up my alley at the time it was released, I’m surprised I haven’t heard it before.
A ma grande surprise, cet album indie des années 2010 était excellent. Il a donc fallu attendre 1088 albums pour que Robert arrive enfin à nous convaincre que l'indie pop peut être pas mal. Un travail de longue haleine, qui prouve tout le dévouement de l'affreux Robert. Plus que quelques albums pour profiter de nos critiques les plus avisées, si vous souhaitez obtenir votre critique personnelle, vous pouvez nous contacter à l'adresse mail robertestleperedemikeladd@gmx.com, nous nous ferons un plaisir de répondre à votre demande moyennant un paiement d'une cinquantaine d'euros.
Ein angenehmes melodisches Album. Die Balladen traumhaft. Ich habe eine neue Band entdeckt.
I actually quite liked this album. Such a beautiful voice and very immersive instrumentals. First I wanted to give it 3/5 given the monotonous nature of all the songs which might be kind of boring if you are not in the mood for relaxing and meditating. However, the England track changed my mind. It all made sense, as the monotonous tracks before were now acting as the preparation for this kind of final piece that fell into place quite neatly. So.. great album!
A good album on second listen.
These guys are now my best friends and my dads.
I liked it a lot, sort of a light folk alternative rock feel, very mellow and relaxing. Going to save the artist to check out more of their stuff.
Sympathisches Album mit ruhigen und gefühlvollen Tönen. Es sind passende und abwechslungsreiche Folge von Songs mit einer angenehmen Stimme des Sängers. Das melodische Arrangement ist gut zu hören. Top Songs sind „Sorrow“ & “ England”.
Surprisingly good for driving!
I liked this album… has a band of horses vibe. Also reminds me of some Depeche Mode. Sultry laid back vibes!
It’s a decent album, but not groundbreaking or anything.
love it
Lots of good songs!
Rating: 7.5/10 Very good album overall. The instrumentation was extremely beautiful throughout, the use of strings to accentuate the somber tone of this album was a highlight in particular. The singer's voice perfectly matches the tone of the album, a deep voice that is filled with pain from his past. The crescendos that occurred during the ending of a lot of the songs was great, this definitely helped elevate all of the songs. As beautiful as this album is, it is very one-dimensional in sound and therefore difficult to distinguish a lot of the songs from each other, wish there was a bit more variety while keeping the tone and atmosphere they established so well. Favorite songs: Terrible Love, Sorrow, Anyone's Ghost, Lemonworld, Runaway, England, Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks. Worst songs: Little Faith, Afraid of Everyone.
This album is a nice one. I didn’t listen to this originally due to time constraints, but now I like it. I love how Matt Berninger’s voice flows through every note. The instrumentals are clean and smooth, like how a nice indie album should be, and the harmonies are dense and altogether, which makes for some amazing dissonance. 4.3/5 Fav: “Anyone’s Ghost”, “Little Faith”, “Lemonworld” Least Fav: None
Really nice album. Vocals match the storytelling. Great backing track. Felt the pain of heartbreak throughout. 8
# Playlist track - Terrible Love # Notes - Great opening. "Terrible love" really fills the room. - From there it's a great listen, but the opening kind of muddles it all for me.
HL: “Runaway”, “Terrible Love”, “Afraid of Everyone”, “England” Having not really listened to the National, I’m getting very 2000s-indie-stadium, eg Coldplay & Arcade Fire. (Brian Cox Succession meme) “I fucking love it here!” Not all of it is enthralling, with some sleepy moments (see also: Parachutes & the Suburbs), but overall I feel uplifted, like I’ve just endured an inspirational montage where all my life’s hardships pay off in the end. Can see how Berninger’s bassy voice isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m all for more bassy voices in pop & rock— having one myself 🎤 🐟 January 24, 2024
Amazing vocals, music arrangement and production. I had only heard one song on this album before and the rest is amazing.
Brooding and dark in all the best ways. What incredible songwriting from the Cincinnati band. There’s an eerie mix of post punk and early 21st century U2 here. This is an album that’s digested whole even though the parts themselves are still equally affecting.
Very nice!
Gut anzuhören.
The best pure indie album I’ve gotten so far on this list. Nice full sound quality, good production and songwriting. I particularly liked the end of the album with England Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks
Wunderschön melodisch-melancholisch, eine Entdeckung
Very good
Pretty chill
Excellent album. Always felt that The National get overlooked.
I've always associated The National with music to fall asleep to. This should be something... It's interesting how the lyrics are written around the music, I feel like it gives their sound a different vibe from other bands. I think I might be liking this?
One of my favorite bands. Great album.
Tremendous stuff. I hadn't listened to The National much lately, but this album brought them flooding back to me and I'm now embarking on a major deep dive. Matt's voice is absolutely on great form throughout this and the intensity of the music is great.
Strong album! 4.5
Beautiful, felt pretty melancholic which is an emotion I strongly connect to. The songs were pretty similar but I liked the sound.
Not my favourite album of theirs but loved it
Liked it. First song was really good - new folk with electronic hard edge
I’m a fan of The National and this record and Boxer are 2 of my favorites. They have truly unique style, especially Berninger’s vocals, but also the percussion and composition.
I listened to this a lot when it came out, but i haven't revisited it since. It's sad Monday music but I liked it. Terrible Love will be in the rotation now.
I hadn't heard this The National before, but I liked it. I'll be adding it to my rotation.
Straight 4
As a fan of The National, I don't believe "High Violet" to be their best album. My favorite National album is "Trouble Will Find Me," but then "High Violet" and "I Am Easy to Find" are probably tied for second. Musically, though, I believe "Sleep Well Beast" to be their most interesting album that I also return to. The National have mostly become a caricature of themselves, at this point, with their 2023 releases. However, I still appreciate Berninger's lyrics, and "Bloodbuzz Ohio" is one of their songs that affected me the most, as I'm also from Ohio. I still have a distinct memory of driving to Ohio with my little toddlers in their carseats, playing "Bloodbuzz Ohio," and getting teary eyed about the thoughts of how I return to the state and the place my family has been for several generations, "but Ohio don't remember me."
I liked it! Lead singer has a small vocal range and uses it to good effect; a good listen!
Also a big surprise on the list. It hits me just in the right spot. It tickles even the post-rock borders and I really like that. The non-sense lyrics are making this even better. And the song about the bees in Ohio seals the deal.
Well that was good! I found a new band to listen to
je ne connaissais pas du tout et ce n'était pas désagréable
This is absolutely my second favorite album from The National. Boxer is unassailable, but with songs like little voice, and Bloodbuzz Ohio, the national have crafted another masterpiece.
bruh why I did listen to it.
nice
The National's sound is beautiful, hypnotic and melancholy. There are some fantastic songs here but for me, it doesn't gel together very well as a complete album. In my opinion, their previous album, The Boxer, would have been a much better choice and an easy 5. But I certainly didn't mind listening to The National in any event.
Wouldn’t be sure how I’d respond to this album. Loved it along with the rest of this band’s records when I was in high school, but also feel like their music has shifted outside of where my taste aligns slightly, and their last couple records haven’t really been that good at all. That being said, I do think this album is The National at their best. Evocative and heartfelt songwriting on tracks that to me have aged better than similar records of this era and style. Slightly a nostalgia listen but this for the most part definitely holds up. Strong three and a half. Fave track: Bloodbuzz Ohio
very good.
Wat veel bangers (vooral England)
Wow The National used to make really exciting music. WTF happened!?
Svo ljúft og svo ljúfsárt ❤️
Moody and Immersive.
I've enjoyed most every album by The National but this one I'm particularly fond of. It might be that Bloodbuzz Ohio is also one of my favorite songs of the era. That said, there are a few moments where if you are not engaged with the record and soaking up the mood it will begin to drag. A casual, whole album listen to this record is never without that danger. But if you're in the spirit of the record and present, it will reward you.
these guys are pretty great. I should listen to them more
Interesting listen while driving through Pennsylvania Amish Country. I love the lead vocalists baritone vocals.
So sad big vibe.
I like these guys' sound. Erica is a fan. I like his voice. Blood buzz Ohio is a definite treat. Runaway also really nice. Overall really nice album.
It's a grower. Culminating in Bloodbuzz. Listened a few times to the whole album. Enjoy it. The vocal warmth I think is what makes it work, and energy. Good stuff.
This is a solid album by the national. I keep going back and forth on if this is their best album or not. Either way it’s enjoyed and there are several songs on here I could relisten to often. He singer has such a unique singing style that when in the mood makes them very enjoyable to listen to. The instrumentals aren’t anything barrier breaking but the band is one of the better alt rock bands of the past few decades and this is one of their better albums. 7.9/10
I enjoy this specific type of indie (don’t know how to describe it, but I can tell when it’s the type), so this was a good listen. I really like the guitar on ‘Runaway’ specifically. Not amazing, but enjoyable.
4.5/5. I’ve listened to bands within the same genre but never got into the National during their peak. What a mistake that was, this is some incredible indie rock.
This is one of my wife's absolute favorite bands. They're a touch sleepy for me, but still solid.
I love The National, but this is not the album I would’ve selected.
Me gusta este disco
I like The National but never really listened to them a whole lot. Definitely worth the listen all the way through. Good for a nice relaxing, quiet mood.
Toimii hienosti vaikkakin viime vuosikymmenen muistoilla ratsastaen 4/5
Sitä parempaa viime vuosikymmenen indie-rockia. Toimii edelleen!
Despite The National always being in the conversation when it came to indie music of its period, I never really bothered with them due to preference for the more lively or synth-heavy sounds of the era. Might've been a bad call though, because this was an intriguing listen that makes for a stark but welcome contrast to all the brightness. The sound and vocals are dull and monotonous, almost lifeless, but they never veer into boring territory. That's actually what makes this record listenable and memorable. If any element of this was any lighter, be it more dynamic vocals or a more slightly more upbeat sound, it would sound like most other albums of the era. Instead, we have The National in all their distinctiveness. Standout tracks are Anyone's Ghost, Afraid of Everyone, and Lemonworld.
Sounds like a soundtrack to an indie movie, which is not a dig. I'm really enjoying it and I need to check out more from this band. The singer has a beautiful baritone voice that is haunting.
Lekker relaxte muziek dit. Goed voor in de auto over de prairie. Of een zonnige, licht gare werkdag als deze. Loom tempo, donkere stem, niks mis mee.
Ah, The National, my winter band. Really love this group, the instrumentation and the vocals alone aren't anything extraordinary but the sum of their parts are what make this band great. The strings added into these songs really help to foster the atmospheric, emotional sound. This album is missing that 'wow' factor that 5-star albums get, but it's still great. Fave tracks: Terrible Love, Bloodbuzz Ohio, Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks
Great album by The National, I probably know every lyric here by heart. The trio of Boxer, High Violet and Trouble Will Find Me are definitely my favourite era from them. The National have this special talent for making really somber and depressing songs still sound musically interesting, the Dessner twins definitely have some weird psychic twin thing going on with their writing and performance. Additionally Matt Berninger's songwriting prowess lies in his ability to capture the pain experienced in the mundane things about everyday life. He doesn't really seem like he has any reason to be as sad as he comes off in his songs, but I think that kind of taps into something universal. Personally I don't feel like this album has the je ne sais quoi that pushes it into the 5 star category, there's nothing particularly novel or influential about the music they create. But their music is good, and it is still one of my favourite albums from one of my favourite bands. Fav Tracks: Terrible Love, Sorrow, England
Volgens mij is dit er eentje die steeds beter wordt als je hem vaker luistert. Het is een hele duidelijk eigen stijl die over het hele album doorgetrokken wordt. Het lukt me ook niet echt om vergelijkingen te vinden, redelijk uniek dus. En echt niet slecht. Ik twijfel tussen 3 en 4 sterren, dus we geven het het voordeel van de twijfel met 4.
The slowest burn of slow burn bands. Conventionally their best album. In fact their best album. Not quite five stars, but a 4.5.
I've heard snippets of the National before and they never grabbed me but I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Reminded me a lot of Elbow who also take a bit of getting into. Afraid of everyone and bloodbuzz Ohio were highlights. Wouldn't mind hearing another album or two from them on the list.
The National what
Zwaarmoedig, maar erg goed!
It was pretty good.
Love the National. Such a unique sound they really create a good album feel.
This isn't something I'd normally listen to, but it has a very nice vibe and I enjoyed it.
This is another new one for me. The first track really grabbed me and I was quite interested in hearing the rest of the album. It didn't really hold my attention as I had hoped, but I did find some moments.
The bones of a great album are here. The songs have beautiful melodies and nice instrumentation. I like the quality of the vocals and hear some lovely poetic lyrics here and there. And yet... There was something about this album that felt like I was being held at arm's length. The message I picked up was, "Look how sad I am. You could never understand such sadness." I don't dislike sad albums but I think a good one says, "I'm sad and I can see you're sad, too. Let's be sad together." Perhaps it was my own mood going in. I was already pretty down and felt like High Violet didn't leave much space for me to bring in my own sorrow.
Definitely bringing a different sound to the list, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
- Only ever listened to Boxer before - Thought the first few tracks were good, but the last few were really good - I should probably listen to the rest of their discog - Fav songs: Bloodbuzz Ohio, Conversation 16, Little Faith
Pretty enjoyable.
This was an interesting listen. I bought this years ago as a music magazine rated it so highly and I don’t remember being blown away by it. Think it was something to do with it not sounding exactly as I pictured it, so, gathering dust is all it’s done the last wee while. Let me tell you now though, the folly of youth was clear in me as this album is fantastic! Broody, melancholy, atmospheric, dark and gloomy let uplifting too! Musicality is excellent and your man’s vocals are like being covered in melted Galaxy chocolate. I loved this!
Excellent album. Beautiful, Dirgey, nice production, great lyrics.
Never explored this band as much as Declan suggested. There's a reason we all sought his musical wisdom. It's clean, it's lush, it radiates warmth and emotion with crazy good drums
PREFS : Sorrow, Little Faith, Bloodbuzz Ohio, Conversation 16, England, Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks MOINS PREF : Anyone's Ghost
Down tempo indie rock, pretty depressing, definitely my cup of tea. Keys are heavy in the mix, while guitars are way in the back. Unusually sparse drums for the genre that really add to the songs. This band will definitely be in my rotation going forward.
The National always struck me as "grown-up" rock for people who aren't quite grown-ups. Maybe this type of music was inevitable given the magnitude of delayed adolescence. Their songs are observational, about everyday people. Sort of like the Kinks late sixties, early seventies tunes. But these are a bit darker, both lyrically and musically. It works for them here. They are reaching for a more anthemic sound here and get very close to attaining that goal, with Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks a notable outlier.
Cry
The low energy, slightly sad feels of this album hits so well when I'm in a similar mood - which happens probably more than I would like to admit. The album works well for both background music or active listening, but probably wont be the choice to turn on when looking for something fun.
On first listen this was an album that I admired rather than loved. Will definitely give it a few more goes though.
I'm not sure where I first heard it but I remember listening to Anyone's Ghost on repeat back in 2010, I loved (still do) that song, but never really ventured further into The National's oeuvre. This is a decent album, I was tempted to go 5 stars but there's a certain lightness to the sound which maybe loses something for me. Still a cracking album and well worth another few listens.
Moody shoegazy sort of Duran-Duran vibes. Good when the mood's right.
Sadly beautiful. Poetic and soothing. Modern sad bastard music.
This is the first album by the National I heard and is still my favorite. Everything about their sound comes together perfectly.
Soothing. Super listenable. A lot of songs sound similar.
Wondering if it was intentional or coincidence that The National followed Taylor Swift. I have been aware of this band since they came up but never gave them a proper listen until now. Boy have I been missing out. This is just the right mix of Americana and pop with an almost hidden reverence to the Smiths. I have spent the day listening to their back catalogue and was surprised by how many songs I recognised but attributed to other artists
Great vibes. Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks was an immediate favorite.
I don’t think there was a certain aspect of this that really drew me in, but all the elements combined worked for me.
This is partly based on nostalgia, but I like this album, despite it being a little slow and mopey, and many songs having a very similar vibe
Just right for a certain mood.
I seem to like this. I think because it's of the 2010s type of indie that I liked then - Editors, Bloc Party et al. Waiting for buses in the dark.
Honestly it was pretty great, loved the sound and aesthetic, and original mood and production, while not standing out, helped blend the album's themes. Sometimes a bit forgettable but tbh I was definitely a fan. A great record.
I like the National and hadn't listened to this album before. It has a very subtle beauty and I can't say I managed to connect with many of the lyrics on first listen but my listened was very disjointed so I'm excited to keep listening again and I am confident this album will be a grower for me. Nice vibes hard to describe but it feels very cool and definitely un-fussy, makes me want to know more about the songs.
4 It dawned on me pretty early (roughly around the lyric "I don't wanna get over you" on Sorrow) that I was going to have to listen again, as this definitely isn't a "10 AM Friday morning with a cup of coffee playing quietly so to not wake up your guest sleeping in the living room" kind of album. So I put on again around 7 PM, and let me tell you, if you're not giving this album a nighttime listen when you're by yourself and can fully soak in everything it has to offer (perhaps with a moderate amount of vice of choice), you're doing it a disservice. I know "in the feels" kinds of albums aren't for everyone, but man I vibe with them like no other. If it's the kind of album you're listening to moments before sending an ex-girlfriend a drunk text you're gonna regret in the morning, it's probably something I'd like... not that I've ever done anything like that. Anyway, while it wasn't absolutely spectacular, I feel room for growth here, so I'll be listening again and checking out more of what The National has to offer. Favorite songs: Terrible Love, Sorrow, Afraid of Everyone, Bloodbuzz Ohio, Conversation 16
Enjoyable. Would listen again
Cool vibe!
Great stuff
Great album to stare out of the window to. At first I wasn't feeling it, but I started getting into it around the halfway mark. Solid album.
I wasn't sure that I was going to like this album. The first couple of songs did not grab me. I am glad that I stuck with it because the rest of the album was quite good.
I don't really understand why this is on the list. It was pretty nice, easy listening though.
Cool music, interesting lyrics, a cool experience all around but occasionally some of the tracks arent super engaging and don't really stand out.
i enjoyed it. 7/10 fave tracks: little faith, sorrow
Big big fan of these moody, melodic alt rock vibes. Kinda gives me an Interpol feeling...
Love the sound of The National. I’ve heard them before and I actually don’t quite understand why I don’t keep coming back to them. Whatever that reason is, it’s why I give this a 4 and not a 5.
I could give this album a 4 just for Bloodbuzz Ohio, but actually the whole album is really good. Sorrow, Anyone's Ghost, and Conversation 16 are some other stand-outs.
Very chill vibes, good background music
Listened before: no Enjoyed: yes Listens: 1 Unfortunately didn't get to listen to this as much as I'd have liked and my only listen wasn't in the same sitting. Looking forward to delving into this one a bit more this weekend
Wasps 6 - 0 SHACK. SHACK really is a club in crisis.
Another modern band that I haven't heard about yet. It seems that it falls under the very unprecise category of indie rock, which if you're brave enough, you can classify there the vast majority of current bands. I think The National stands out, compared to other bands from the genre, through abilities and craftsmanship of Matt Beringer. He has a specific style of singing, with a long sequences of deep voice talking, and usually short melodic blurts. The music itself doesn't seem too original, although I would like to point out the keyboard/piano work, which actually elevates the songs to a deeper level. Beautiful melodies create a melancholic mist over the album, but the drums, and ocassionally bass, keeps you on your toes, with an upbeat tempo and a sense of urgency. Guitars seem to be written on this album as a fillers and additional help in elevating the atmosphere and send the message of the particular song. I think that the biggest stand out on the album is 'Terrible Love'. It is the best example of everything I have written in previous paragraph and of how well it works altogher as a song. Moving on, the level of the album stays even, in general 'High Violet' doesn't have any fillers or weaker points. Songs like 'Buzzsaw Ohio', 'England', 'Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks' have something unique, but at the same time fit into the mould of the album. I really like the atmosphere of the album, although it can be a little monotonne over the length of whole record. Nevertheless, I will gladly come back to this album in the future and check other positions in the 'The National' discography.
Listened to 9/1/22 4/5 Favorite song: I really love the National but this album had two alternating vibes and while both were good some of the song choices were not it
Very moody, Arcade Fire feeling album. I liked listening to the whole thing.
Very good
Slow, almost sombre indie. Really liked this album.
The percussion on this was definitely something that drew me in and the male singer’s voice was mesmerizing.
Pretty decent, always have enjoyed Bloodbuzz Ohio but found a few other good songs there
I'm honestly a bit disappointed with how low-energy it is, but it gets better and better with each listen as long as you don't keep your expectations too high (it's not the kind of album to grab you unless you want it to). I like the mellow, dark instruments reminiscent of post-punk and their indie rock contemporaries (e.g. Arcade Fire and Interpol but less flashy). It's clean and multi-layered, with plenty of things to pick out, without much necessarily grabbing your attention away from whatever you want to focus on. Their vocalist is unique, heavily inspired by Bruce Springsteen's mature yet expressive voice. Songs typically pay off, starting off light, perhaps with a hook but otherwise pretty simple, later building up to a grander sound. Pretty solid all around, hoping to fall in love with this record one day. Favorites: Anyone's Ghost, Bloodbuzz Ohio, Lemonworld, Conversation 16
Not listened much before, but some real kickers. Terrible love, conversation 16, afraid of everyone ✨
That's so relieving to review something familiar after all these chaotic albums. I've been listening to High Violet for seven years. I love Berninger's desperate lyrics and voice. I can't say High Violet is my favourite National's album, I'm into Trouble Will Find Me, I'm Easy To Find - late ones. Anyway, I'm glad to see High Violet in this project!