High Violet

The fog is coming

Fav one yet

Nice album, a bit one note

Rubbish

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.

1.5 - boring

Pretty generic.

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

A bit bland and samey.

Easy 5

I am starting to think I just hate most music.

Love this from schoolhood

Better than I expected.

Wow. I couldn't get into this band. It wasn't for me. The band has talent, but I am not a fan of the music genre they are doing. This is the type of music my dad listens to, but not in a good way.

2.5 Did someone force them to record this at 3am? And there comes the graphic designer... my man I get you, I also hate it when there's only 10 minutes to the deadline and I still haven't got anything done

A monumental record for moody dads everywhere. 'Terrible Love', 'Sorrow', 'Blodbuzz Ohio' and 'Runaway’ - what more can you ask for?

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

son buenos pero cansinos para todo un lp

This album is not bad per se, but it sticks to the same mood and sound, and ends up feeling like one long, vaguely emo road trip with no real destination.

Not terrible (well, outside of "I was afraid I’d eat your brains, caaaause I'm evil" anyhow), but utterly forgettable.

Why are indie “rockers” incapable of making any fucking sense? Every other genre has songs that are about things. About dancing; about relationships; about drugs; about something. But not indie music. “You and your sister live in a lemon world; I want to sit in and die.” WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!!???? Make sense! It’s not that hard. Sure, use poetic language to express yourself, but Jesus, express something other than “here are some words maybe they mean something maybe not who knows”. God I hate you Brooklyn hipster doofuses.

332/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

I liked two of the songs on here and the rest are just so boring. The singer sounds like he so badly wants to convince you that the lyrics are so important that it doesn't matter that he doesn't sound all that good singing them. Reminds me of 80s British new wave but with significantly better vocal production, which is really saying something after I already said his voice doesn't sound very good.

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.

This album isn't bad, but it's boring asf. I really wish we had a 10 point scale instead of a 5. This would be a great candidate for a 4/10. 3/5

I struggled getting into this album. It has all the "bones" of music I like, but something just didn't click for me. Terrible Love was a strong opener and I like other songs here and there (Sorrow, Afraid Of Everyone), but there were also some songs that just sounded bad (Lemonworld, England, Vanderlye). I probably land at just a 3 here.

I've tried getting into The National in the past to no success. Here goes again. I am having the same experience here. For the most part I find the music enjoyable with solid writing, but as a whole it falls into a weirdly sleepy territory that doesn't do much for me. Honestly I think more than anything it is the deep, lazy sounding vocals that turn me off. That and an impression that the instrumentation, while decent, has a production that feels almost too polished -- as though it is trying to sound big and important. That said, there are a few songs that stood out a bit more than the rest. Anyone's Ghost has a nice quality to it -- I enjoy the thump and what sounds like an oboe used throughout. Runaway is a nicely written. Also album closer Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks was probably my favorite here. For me this exists in a middle area between fine and good. Solid 3.

We're on a folky kick and maybe I'm not in the mood for folk or I just need my head checked. This one had some spacey/shoegaziness to it that reminded me of Radiohead at times. This one will land in the forgettable list when I look back at this project. Low 3.

Some really cool music with a singer who sounds like he is crying at some times. I liked the singing on some of the songs but not on others. But overall was a nice album with the instruments. This is a high 3

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.

High Violet is often praised for its moody atmosphere and emotional depth, but for me, it lands with a bit of a thud. The slow tempos, muted instrumentation, and Matt Berninger’s deadpan baritone all blend into a grey blur that never really lifts. It's the kind of album that feels like it’s building toward something... but rarely gets there. There are moments of beauty in the arrangements, and the band is clearly polished, but the overall effect is just a bit too dreary and self-serious. Nothing sticks, and by the end, it’s hard to remember what stood out—because nothing really did.

actually not my type, i kinda like it tho

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

This did not grab me. I found the lyrics obscure. They did not invoke much for me. I wasn’t very fond of their rock sound. The singer‘s voice threw me off in some songs. I can imagine that some people love them and their sound. But this was not my cup of tea (with the exception of three songs.)

Love the music, love his voice. I never quite got in to The National, like many of my peers did. Not really sure why, but this album didn't grab me like I was expecting it to. It's kind of a one-note album, and while that note is solid...I think maybe I'd enjoy some of their others more than this one.

Tiresome, bland, and uninteresting. I actually felt my body's energy draining while actively listening to this. Just nothing memorable in its melodies, and no dynamic range of the lead singer's voice. There's no wow factor or reason for me to go back to listen to more from this band.

I would call it middle of the road, but the middle of the road has lines on it and those are slightly interesting. It is the featureless part of the road between the curb and the middle. And it’s the road into Surbiton. To call this plodding would suggest some sort of momentum. It comes and goes leaving quite literally no impression whatsoever for even one second. Flavourless, tuneless and soulless. A tedious, droning, chore of a record that is military-level punishing to get through and makes Coldplay sound like Crazy Frog. 1001 Albums To Die Before You Hear.

The first tag listed for this album is "boring" and boy is that apt.

This album is fine. This kind of rock music should be right up my lley, but having listened to this effort a couple of times it just doesn't do much for me. It's not awful, but shouldn't be anywhere near this list. If you did enjoy this album, I would suggest listening to Manchester Orchestra who are in a similar vein, but make much more interesting albums.

It's fine, but not grabbing me.

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.

Chill

77% Best: Sorrow; Anyone's Ghost; Bloodbuzz Ohio Must-Hear? Not quite

2010. Indie Rock. 8/10 Terrible Love / Afraid of Everyone / Lemonworld / Conversation 16 /England / Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks

Not bad national album

felt zero emotion listening to this

Purple in the sky?

2☆→dégâts psychologiques légers ça doit être un bon album quand t’es en fucking DÉPRESSION genre ma journée est ruinée ça ressemble quand même à ma playlist de sieste de H23 j’aime (relativement): Lemonworld, Runaway j’aime pas: le reste

Dull and boring.

3.5. may have to revisit this one in the future because i don't feel like i was in the right mood for this one.

Too gay but not gay enough.

Didn't do it for me. Dude's just kind of talking.

It's all a bit dull and dreary and a bit of a slog to get through.

Quite enjoyed the mellow depressing vocals alongside the chilled rock band setup but it did get a bit samey after a while

Forgetable indie stuff meh baby.

Sounds like a less happy version of Elbow. Never really listened to this band properly, I just dismissed them as yet more generic retro indie landfill, which isn't necessarily inaccurate but it's done well and pleasant enough. Just not enough spark for me to justify the hype. I wonder if they'll still be unfathomably adored the same way 20 years from now?

Fine. The one song about Ohio stands out, but I prefer the Dan Deacon about Ohio.

Just another ex-1001 album!™ http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex Even before I pressed play, I knew it'd be an ex-1001 album. I found it quite mundane. Feels like the sort of music that's made for life insurance adverts.

I should like moody dad rock but never gotten into them. Not this time either. Bloodbuzz Ohio is decent

Perfectly fine indie. Sounded nice but didn't try to push any boundaries

Loved it, very melancholy but has a hopeful vibe to it. Will definitely be a frequent listener to this.

I've no idea who these people are ngl. The lyrics are probably the best part. It's very after the party/hungover vibes for me. It's like depressed Lumineers idk why 😭😂 vocals are giving Chris Martin's alcoholic cousin. FAVES Sorrow (strings here 🥹) Anyone's Ghost Bloodbuzz Ohio Conversation 16

This album was solid But I just felt like something was missing in every track. I'll probably listen to it again someday, but not sure when that day will be. Felt very 2010s both good and bad.

literally dgaf it's kinda giving me not a lot. Decent but i think im just in a shit mood

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

Starts off so strong but gets monotonous after a while

Zzzzzzzz

At first I thought it was fine, but the more I listen to it the less happy I get

Boo hoo, cry about it

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

This wasn't too bad, but I felt like it needed more something. The basslines and drums were great most of the time, but I wish some of the tracks had more energy.

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.

I dunno. 2? 3? Not terrible, but very boring

Midlife angst sounds boring

Overall I thought this album was decent. It did not blow me away but did have some decent songs in it.

Doesn’t move me at all. My life goals or worldview hasn’t changed a rather mediocre album

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.

this is the type of music to put on when you really don't care what is playing in the background. solid, solid "meh". drums were decent but vocals just boring, mumbling. (and why oh why do folks love this album but hate on some Coldplay???)

Possibly the most monotone album on the list. Not sure how a band so boring generates so much hype.

decent indie rock. It wore thin on me fairly quick. This particular style of music and singing is just either hit or miss for me, thankfully its pretty good throughout.A bit of a downer in terms of feel, was glad when it wrapped.

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

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

I like the National - ‘thoughtful’ comes to mind when I listen to them. Interesting, emotional heartfelt sound

Very boring and numbingly repetitive. I didn’t like one song and since they all sounded the same the whole album is terrible. I can listen to depressing music if it’s at least somewhat cathartic, which this was not. Why did I have to listen to this album before I die? Swing and a miss.

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

This is a remarkably dull album. Not dreadful, just a bit boring to my ears.

Nice slow album, great for background music

Overall mediocre album. Had an interesting indie/alt rock vibe initially, but the repetitiveness got boring fast. Nothing stood out lyrically or instrumentally. Also too many mentions of Ohio. Rating would’ve been higher if Ohio was never mentioned.

I get why people like it, but not for me.

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

I think it would be a good fit with the right mood in autumn. Its good when the mood matches, otherwise it could be a bit boring or just doesnt feel right. Enjoyed the listen and will get a spin later this year!

O começo é meio meh mesmo, mas vai ficando melhor para o final. Gostei de Bloodbuzz Ohio, Lemonworld, Conversation 16 e England. Prefiro a versão de Terrible Love da Birdy

chato para caramba, não lembro de nenhuma música porque todas são monótonas e iguais

i liked this more than i expected! has a really cool hazy sound that i like

Dull.

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.

Probs deserves a 3 but ultimately blended into the background as mush as yesterday's did, so here we are...

Generic 2010s Indie Rock that doesn't further the genre or help explain why its on a list like this. 2/5

Drivel

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

I can't find any connection to this music. For me it sounds like background shopping music. Nothing more. It is not bad or terrible but not in any way interesting.

6/10 Album indie rock interessante con alcune tracce che mi riascolterei, ma niente di rivoluzionario

I found nothing redeeming in this album. The songs were bland and purely annoying. I have no clue why this album is considered important in anyway.

An indie classic

Boring meandering repetitive pretentious. No bueno

Meh

Love this band

Rock, 2010 -> 3

Not in love with it but well made

wait, is the singing good or bad??

Dull and dreary.

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.

Somehow this band seemed to want to grow every song from a humble beginning to a grand, sweeping crescendo, and yet, it felt like there were no dynamics to the music whatsoever. I turned up the volume thinking maybe that was it, but there was a haze over the overall sound. It was all so flat. I found it distracting and even annoying. So I guess I didn't much like this album.

I've never been able to get excited about these guys. The songs are cool enough. But there's a sheen of meh that glosses over their sound. Maybe it's the arrangements or the performances. i don't know. Even when they were rocking out it didn't sound like anyone was terribly excited to be there. Still, giving this less than a 3 seems mean.

Loved this

Reminds me of Fleet Foxes.

Dachte es wird so langweilig wie Bon Hiver, nein, es ging, die Instrumentals hatten was und der Gesang nervte nicht so extrem. War aber trotzdem etwas zu eintönig für meinen Geschmack.

Good music

A band I have never been interested in checking it. It sounds like its parts are better than its whole. Just feels kind of boring to me. Not my favorite at all.

Wasn't bad, listened to the whole thing. Probably not going on my list to come back to.

Ah, thought I’d like this. Unrelentingly dreary I’m afraid, only just got through it.

Older me would have liked how depressing this is, but not current me, alas

Interesting but to much variance in my opinion of songs to rate higher

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.

6.5/10

Love it

Perfect melancholy vibes.

Another boring indie album

First song was pretty good, the rest did not move me.

Pretty good indie rock. Not completely blown away, but good.

It is a pleasant listen. Musically it is not a 4 but I like it like it is a 4.

Not as good as the other album I know of them, but I enjoyed it.

I enjoyed this - good album.

Dull for the most part apart from a few glimpses here and there. High 2*

Rubbish

Musical half erect edging. They muse be able to tour endlessly as their singer so rarely passes a droning mumble. Good drums?

Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: ⬜🎨🖍️ Production: 🧈😊👌 Music: 🌧️🖤〰️ Rating: 🖍️🖍️(🖍️)/5

C'était sympa. Rien de particulièrement mémorable, mais loin d'être inécoutable.

Another one where I've never heard of the group. Interesting album cover. I'm always looking for new music, but this one just didn't click for me. It sounds like more downbeat Coldplay. It's not bad to listen to, but kind of blah. I can't imagine I would listen to it again.

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.

nossa senhora, esse trouxe memórias da adolescência com força ainda assim é extremamente mediano

sutil até demais esse aqui. definitivamente pra ser escutado num humor específico. dito isso, num eh ruim nao. achei que fica faltando um salzinho, mas as vezes dá pra curtir a comida sem tempero mesmo.

Zzzzz… I’m sorry, but I find this very boring. I told myself I just wasn’t in the mood, and decided to relisten. I definitely appreciate it more, but why the hell is this on the list?

A bit monotone and almost ethereal in the melodies. It's not too chill and not very energetic.

It’s OK

Solid 3. Reminds me a bit of Get Well Soon.

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

Meh

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

I remember The National being a pretty popular band around this time, with a lot of DJs and producers remixing their tracks. Whenever I checked out the original versions of some of those remixes, they never left much of a lasting impression. Listening to this album now, I kind of feel the same way. It’s definitely not bad, it’s a solid product of its time, but it sounds like the average indie rock bands of that era. While it wasn’t an unpleasant listen, nothing about it really stands out, and I can already tell this will be one of those easily forgettable albums for me.

A really good album, I liked the songs Terri Le love, runaway and Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks.

2.5

as an 00s indie music enjoyer, i'm a little particular about what i enjoy and what i don't. even though at the time, i liked a lot of music that was similar to the national, i never actually listened to them until now. the album wasn't bad, but was also not really my thing. it was pleasant enough but really didn't leave much of an impression. to me, it felt like standard indie fare for the time. not an all timer for me, but acceptable. but really, that's all it is to me, acceptable.

A pleasant enough listening experience. I am impressed by the extremely lush and uplifting arrangements throughout, but at no point does it particularly move me or go anywhere. Vocals are pretty lacklustre. Best Tracks: - Sorrow - Bloodbuzz Ohio - England Worst Tracks: - Lemonworld Rating: 6/10

Solid alternative/indie that shows qualities of what the genre was like in the late 2000's/early 2010's. My only issue is that I kept waiting for this to take that next step, but it never did.

Dull

Terrible Love Bloodbuzz Ohio Conversation 16

There’s a lot to enjoy about this album, but there was nothing particularly special. I was working with my partner during it and we felt very relaxed and were singing along here and there. Signs of Coldplay, fleet foxes, bon iver, etc. I’ll probably listen to more of their work

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

Pleasant enough listen - it's getting a weird amount of hate in the reviews! 🤷 Fave tracks - "Lemonworld", "Conversation 16"

Quizá sorprenda a muchos, pero creo que es música de riff y punto.insufiviente para mí gusto.

It’s not their best. Not by a long way. When this came out I was so psyched about it I listened with a really positive ear and took away songs like Conversation 16 and of course Bloodbuzz ans said yep, this album is amazing but over the years I didn’t revisit it and now, well… I dislike way more songs than I like. Overall though, the vibe is good, very The National. And the singles from the album, basically perfect.

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.

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

Didn't love their live show, but they record great music.

It’s not terrible. But there’s something about this album that’s not good. Feels like it was composed by AI, or written for midwestern focus groups.

Surprisingly enjoyable 4/5

I usually love The National, Boxer is such a great album but this album feels repetitive and boring compared to it.

Having a hard time with this rating, I need to give it a deeper listen. I tended to like it more after some time with it.. giving it 3/5 for now

Pedestrian.

I feel like I would like this more with different, production and instrumentation and voice. Sounds ridiculous but there is a core of something in there that I really like but the way it is presented is dull. Want to give it a 3.5. I suspect it is a bit of a grower though

This has been one of my favorite albums since it was released. It was an album of perfect timing in my life. I recall long night drives having this album on repeat. 14 years later and it's been reduced to snippets on a few playlists. I haven't really listened to the whole album in a few years at least. This was a great opportunity to re-listen and re-access. Yeah, it still feels good.

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.

A sensação de que as músicas estão sempre correndo atrás de algo que quer alcançar.

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

J. Crew-core Like a mopey indie drama film, High Violet uses every emotional trick in the book to make you think that its deep.

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

Bill Callahan but in a 2010 indies band. I thought it might grow on me over the 16 songs but sadly it did not. It’s perfectly serviceable in itself but just not quite my genre of music. The songs did start the meld together and at one point I could have sworn I had already heard the song before. Bit too long as well. This is definitely for someone just not me. 4/10

Favourite song- Bloodbuzz Ohio

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

Absolutely brilliant

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.

I've tried National albums in the past and their style has never been my favorite, their take on indie rock with these chamber pop esque melodies and Matt's understated and low voice make for something that sounds pretty but becomes tiresome the longer it goes on. It helped in Boxer that it had some post punk elements that appealed more to me but on this one they transitioned into a brighter and kind of lush sound which again, I can see what they try to do with this but it ends up sounding flat and boring to me. Simply the formula for the songs of this album of mid tempo pretty songs with some nice accents and bored vocals really isn't exciting or something that I can appreciate in its own terms, it just sits there without much to catch my attention or worse sound like the worst indie cliches I've heard, even Bloodbuzz Ohio while good it bears reseamblance to a lot of boring indie that probably tried to replicate this song and failed, even the energy on it doesn't work because it just feels so restrained. It's just too stiff for its own good

No começo não gostei, no final parecia que tava no começo...sério, até que gostei sim...indie low fi

better than average by a bit

Take Morrissey, add a dash of Arcade Fire, stir in just a pinch of Bruce Springsteen and you have this album. Despite that, I actually didn’t hate it. I’m in kind of a morose mood because Arsenal drew Fulham, so it fits.

Annehmbar!

Nonchalant poems Deeply sung over droning Melodic fuzzes

Never heard the band before this. Glad that I did. I like the vocalist's voice. No single song stood out to me but good album.

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

Felt virtually indistinguishable from any other "alternative" indie rock band of the era.

The songs flow pleasantly in the background

Well made album. You need a special mood to get into it. Sorry - I'm not in this required mood.

Not my sort of thing, too much noise under the music. But not objectionable. 2

Very interesting. Heard of them but never listened to them. Started off mildly intrigued but the album grew on me the further I went. So much so that I listened again with headphones on. Like the arrangements and the mood. Vocals excellent too. But it just didn’t quite hit the mark overall. I will have another listen to a playlist of their other work as there’s something there. Might be a grower!

Not really listened to this band, my brother has mentioned I should listen to them on occasion, and I can now see why. There is an element of melancholy and sadness about these songs, a world weary sound. I'm sure with further listens there will be standout tracks, but on one listen, all the songs sort of went on there similar merry (or not so merry) way. Definitely something I shall listen to again, but good enough for a 3 star score

The National is a band that I really feel like I should like and I really want to like. But I just don't. I can't put my finger on why. I think all of their songs sound basically the same, and the one word I'd use to describe that sound is "plodding", which is not an adjective I generally would use in a positive sense.

There is some truly beautiful music here. I can't give it a 5 because it fits feel repetitive at times.

Seriously?! First time an album has made me genuinely frustrated and angry on the list. How droll and boring is this, a couple of songs were OK for the first minute until I realised it was going to end up in the same place as the rest. There is flow, just like a syrupy river would flow, slowly and boringly to the next song, well it may have been the next song, I gave up caring after 15 minutes. I was listening to this thinking, if you're going to a National gig what are you doing, you aren't bouncing, not dancing are you just staring and hoping that eventually it will stop and you can go home? I couldn't even pick out any choice lyrics just droning. Until the doo doo doos in Lemon world? Then I shut down completely. Think this is the longest I've written on one album yet, that's how much it got under my skin. Try hard (badly), boring.

Nothing complicated, but it just is catchy at times. 3.5/5

irrelevant crap. absolutely boring. after the second song I almost fell asleep. not my thing, let someone else enjoy it

good

This is very twilight riverdale 2010 core. It is kind of boring but not annoying either.

Dreadfully dreary.

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).

omg niin vibes.. tämä on niin tärkeä albumi mulle.. nuoruus.. tää tarkottaa niin paljon mulle omg.. tätä se oli.. tätä se elämä oli.. niin tärkeä albumi, koko maailmalle omg. pelkäsin, pelkäsin ennen tätä, mutta tämä pelasti minut... niin tärkee albumi mulle... mul oli iilimatoi pilis... suru. olin surunaamainen.. toi niin paljon lämpöä sydämmeen.. the lyrics are raw and honest and really make you think... mietiskelen tossa äsken kuinka raa'at ja rehelliset ja kuinka paljon pisti mietiskelemään, ehkä pohtimaan, posturoimaan pisti.... niin tärkee albumi omg mun elämän vaikeimmissa ajoissa niin tärkee... kunnes nämä pojat pinsetit kourassa kaivoi kikkelistäni ne ulos... kiitos.. terrible love

Do you like greeting card poetry filtered through a bad head cold? If so, golly I have found the record for you! This deals with dramatic build-ups and refrains, but is short on chorus or climax. Exquisite craft, dull material.

Big disappointment. Saw them a bunch touring "Boxer" which is a fantastic album; this one plows the same furrow with diminishing returns. They still have their moments ("The System Only Sleeps In Total Darkness", later) but lost a bit of their initial knack for melody and drama from this album onward.

relaxing but nothing special

Boo you bad, boo boo Wendy

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".

very chill and laid back album - i didn't listen too intently, but it was very relaxed for the most part, or at least there weren't any massively jarring arrangements that i feel like i heard. maybe i didn't give it a fair listen.

Really love this album, the national just have a melodic sound that becomes so easy to listen to. Though not my favourite album of theirs

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.

Chill vibes and I saved a few songs to stay in my rotation. Very much a band that found their sound but maybe doesn’t want to stray too far from it. There were a few times you could feel more energy creeping in and it’s almost like they noticed and intentionally went back to being blasé or nonchalant about it because that’s cooler. This is a headphones on in a crowded room album so that when someone asks who you’re listening to you can say you probably haven’t heard of them. Cigarettes and black coffee and the newest iPhone.

Not the biggest fan of this one. I did like Runaway, but everything else just kinda fell flat. Not a huge fan of the drolling on and on. Miss me with this one.

Chill and nice sound. Very interesting how there’s an album like this that came out during my prime music listening time, (I guess now is my new prime listening time because of this list actually) that I’ve never heard of before. Not super memorable though. None of the melodies specifically gripped me and I couldn’t give you the tune of a single song. 2 Star.

As I was listening to this I was really wishing it was a rainy fall day because it seems like it would have created a perfect vibe for the album. Because of that, I think I wanted to like this album more than I actually did. Early on I thought I’d go with a four, but then I found myself losing interest. There’s rain in the forecast tomorrow, maybe I’ll see if my theory is correct. For now, I’ll round down from a two and a half.

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.

Meh

Nice low voice. Overall sad feeling songs.

One of my favourites.

Just not for me. Everything sounds the same.

Hey this ain’t horrible as far as indie bullshit goes. 2.09

with respect to my brothers in demography (white people in their mid 30s), I have tried to see what you see, what you saw, perhaps I just missed the moment back in the day, but this sucks ass

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

3/5. It has that stereotype of 2000s rock of quiet and intimate voice with loud guitar and drums in the background. His voice is not common, low and not quite monotone but creating that energy on purpose. It's a nice change of pace of the higher pitched vocalists. I did like a few songs on here and I could recommend this to someone I can guess could like it. Don't wanna say it's game changing but it's good and I could see myself throwing it on every now and then. Best Song: Bloodbuzz Ohio, Sorrow, Runaway

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.

A little boring, but there was some cool stuff in there. not entirely my cup of tea

Boring unfortch. The national is also in contention for Worst band name of all time sorry.

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

I'm always excited when newer bands show up on this list, getting recognition amongst all the legacy acts. I'm not quite sure what to make of this one though. It sounds like a post rock band decided they needed a goth singer for some reason. I've given it a couple of listens through and it isn't really growing on me.

Just because Starbucks corporate, the Apple store, and the umbrella company that owns the GAP, choose to blare this album over their storefront speakers -- in an attempt to woo an indie demographic and mask their true capitalism-driven wallet-felching nature -- doesn't mean I (or anyone else) has to hear this garbage before death. It is neither novel nor exemplary.

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.

First track wasn’t really a fan of but the album gets a better after that the next couple tracks “Sorrow” & “Anyone’s Ghost” are really good This album is pretty one note and maybe a tad hipster pretentious but if the mood is right for this type of music I’d listen again. Probably more so in if a song came on but if I had to listen to the whole album I could get into it’s feeling if I dig deep These type of vocals arnt my type of thing but there is some nice experimentation and production with the music. If this was produced a little different I think I’d dislike it more. Either way it’s a light 3

Melancholisch, perfekt für Kunst und nebeliges graues Oktoberwetter

Absolutely boring.

Every The National record sounds the same and is a little boring. Feels so much longer than its runtime good songs but just so samey

4/5

The best album ever.

So boring. Why is this repetitive music lead by a singer who sounds like he'd rather be somewhere else, on this list???

This one was interesting. Nothing really dragged me in, but didnt really push me away i guess? Sorta 3.6 vibes.

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.

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

There was a customer at a place I used to work at that was all in with The National. He frequently went to the States to see the band play and ventured off to the UK one summer to see several of their shows. Up to that point I hadn't listened to the band, so I was curious and seeked out their music. I must say, with High Violet and their other albums, the music is fine, but wasn't overly impressed. They sounded not unlike other indie bands from the 2000's, but nothing really stood out that made me want to hear more. There isn't anything wrong or unappealing about their music and overall it's a pleasant listen. It's just that I can't hear what the hype was about or hear what could set them apart from other similar bands. Good album, just okay band.

Torn. Parts I enjoyed and parts I didn’t. May have enjoyed it more on a different day.

Actually a really good album

Never heard of them but slow melodic, enjoyable.

Okay I got bored whilst listening to the album so I thought of a movie that would feature this album as a soundtrack There’s a 16 year-old boy who’s parents are on the brink of divorce and he’s getting bullied by this popular girl at school He goes the the beach bc he’s emo and he sees some people trying to kill this endangered species of dolphin and he’s really annoyed So the next day he goes and destroys all of the hunters’ equipment and makes friends with the dolphin The dolphin stops him from being emo so he tells his mum and dad about it and fixes their marriage Then he is watching the dolphin one day and he sees his bully also watching it Well, it turns out her mum and dad aren’t getting on well either and so they sit and talk about their trauma and become friends Anyway pretty average album 3/5

Take the more melancholy elements of Arcade Fire and mix them with the melancholy elements of Wilco, Mercury Rev, and a bottle of cough medicine and you get this. Melancholy. The strongest feeling I took away from this was a renewed wish for a more nuanced scoring system for this project. Not bad enough for a 2 but not quite good enough for a 3. I’ll round up since the vocals were good, even if the lyrics were numbing.

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.

I think I like this? Like Radiohead, I feel like there's something here I'm just not quite getting. Definitely got some talent and I should listen to more of them. 3.5*, but I can't quite round up to 4.

A favorite of mine

a great band. This is their peak!

The 5th album of a fairly middling indie band has no place on this list. No hits. No breakthroughs. Nothing special or unique here. Sonic dishwater. The soundtrack to a forgettable Zach Braff movie.

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

Gevoelige muziek voor als je goed wilt janken. Denk ik wel chill in de herfst als je je niet top voelt. Verder fok ik er niet echt mee

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

Fine

Is it just me or do The National make really boring music?

Not bad.

Couple songs in I was enjoying but then my god did it really start to drag. Bit depressing but not in an exhilarating way like Radiohead, just a bit exhausting by the end. Nice music for the background, but I couldn't imagine absolutely loving them and seeing them life. Jesus, of all the bands... 4* for the first bit until it wears you down to a 2*.

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.

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

I had more previous with this album than I realised. Bloodbuzzzz is one of my favourite songs of all time, but I find a whole album of The National quite dreary. Fave Tracks: Terrible Love, Bloodbuzz Ohio 3.3/I had more previous with this album than I realised. Bloodbuzzzz is one of my favourite songs of all time, but I find a whole album of The National quite dreary. Fave Tracks: Terrible Love, Bloodbuzz Ohio 3.3/5

Pretty cool, kinda like Bon Iver at times and kinda like Death Cab for Cutie at times. Be prepared to get emotional. Not very engaging and exciting, pretty mundane and dreary sounding albeit the intention. Around this time the "boom stomp clap" genre of indie upbeat folk came about. This album kinda serves as the antithesis to that genre. Monotone uninviting and sad. But, still good music. The National are great at what they do.

I don't understand why everyone loves this band so much. In many ways they're Coldplay by way of Brooklyn. I mean it’s kind of the same throughout, not that they sound alike.

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

3.5/5

3 I like The National in single song doses. A full album is too much for my tastes.

forgettable

the national are great but i think this is their most overrated album, i get tired of the main guy pretty quickly. a better album would be i am easy to find

Typical 00 indie rock. Nothing special but it has some good moments.

I’m not sure if there is another band that has received as many attempts by me to appreciate them as this band. There is just something about them, this album being no exception, that does nothing for me and in a way that I find very irritating. It’s hard to describe. Everything about them is completely competent, but I find the constant melodrama to be very off putting. Do I hate this? I don’t know. I’m definitely don’t like it, though.

The recipe stays the same; you order The National you get The National.

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

I like the national, but this just isn't one of my favorites of theirs.

For best results please listen drunk on red wine and sad about entering your 40's

I honestly think that you need to be going bald to like this band.

The National is a great band, very instrospective, but the reason why this project is sooooo appreciated is still a mystery to me.

Meh, not my style

8/10…sehr gutes Album, es fehlen aber ein wenig die Highlights

First time listen. I'd heard Sorrow before, which I like. The album is in a very similar vibe, with low, slow vocals. Not what you'd call an uplifting album, kind of like listening to a full Radiohead album, but it has it's merits. 3/5

2.5 Everyone raves about these and I can see the appeal but I was BORED

Sad and boring - 2/5 Reviewed 20/08/2024

I've always found the national to be kind of dull, pretentious and certainly quite overrated. I don't think you could really call this "bad" but it's absolutely not for me

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.