High Violet

Hadn’t listened to a full nationals project before despite hearing a lot abt them. I was pleasantly surprised

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.

un po' emo, non troppo male

na lagna unica, ma in viola

This is a fine album that sets it stall out from the start and just continues unwaveringly without much deviation. It suits a mood but doesn't achieve lift off.

Maudlin, moribund, mumbling American indie rock darlings sing depressing songs made for indie movies or teenage TV where someone is walking in the rain or looking out of a window while it's raining or sitting on a park bench in the rain... pretty much anything to do with rain. Best Tracks: Terrible Love; Sorrow; Bloodbuzz Ohio

One more band trying the footsteps of Joy Division. They have some elegance in their songs but also a lot of foreseeable changes. Not the worst album.

I don't really understand why this is on the list. It was pretty nice, easy listening though.

Loved it! love the vibes.

When this album started I thought I might really enjoy it, but then it just went further and further downhill. It’s just a bit boring and the songs aren’t well differentiated

disappointed in this. i like some songs from the national, so i expected to like this, but it just felt so disconnected, and the individual songs didnt really stand out

Monotonous album. Boring.

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 should like them more than I do…

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

After the first track, I'm prepared to believe that this is going to be an absolutely awful album. It possesses all of the pomp and self-aggrandizement of the worst of the Arcade Fire, Elbow-y type shite that infected the mid-2000s. I've made it as far as "Little Faith" and I've decided that there is nothing in this album for me. I've no time for this kind of guff.

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...

not my vibe - but better than I expected. 3.5

Sigh. An acclaimed band with a singer that does, seriously, like 3? 4? notes with his voice. All in that deep just-can't-be-assed-singing-higher voice. Like some parallel universe version of AC/DC where the vocalist just does 3-4 low notes instead of 3-4 high ones. Not one memorable tune here.

Back and forth between a three and a four on this one. Didn’t really catch me until Runaway, then there were a few others I also liked. In the end, enough of it was unremarkable for me that I’m going with a three.

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 have always felt like this is a band I should like. I wanted to really like this album, but it's giving me Morrissey vibes, and it's SO depressing it's just not sitting with me very well.

When I read that they played one song on repeat for several hours--and that the released the whole thing on vinyl--I prejudged that this would be pretentious as heck. Pleasantly surprised to be wrong, or at least it's also pretty darn good. Sounds great, stays interesting and varied. The singer seems effortlessly pretty. I had to work while listening, but this'll be an important candidate to return to. (prior listen)

Not that exciting. 4-6/10 lacks rock n roll.

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.

didn’t even get past the first song

The national… yawn. How can a band that actually have a rather distinctive sound to them sound so generic and boring, looking at other reviews maybe it’s his voice the guy just doesn’t sound very invested into the music stoned and tired at the same time, like I would definitely give the guy a chance if he was invented but not a good vocalist but this guy sounds like he could sing if he wanted to. I can see the appeal for his voice though as it’s the kinda voice that’s all over the 2010’s “indie rock” albums that people somehow see as passionate but for me they make it join the same sonic plane as imagine dragons (ok maybe that’s too far but you get my point). In comparison to other albums on the list and their scores this is a tad overrated in my opinion especially seeing that this is like a 3.3 and most britpop albums all exist at the 3.1 mark. Now to the positives: I actually think lyrically he’s very good and the other musicians definitely can play their instruments to a good level. I guess it’s a 3 overall I just kinda felt like ranting over this band.

Very chill vibes, good background music

Didnt listen very thoroughly but liked the raw and authentic sound. Very chill too, really made me feel relaxed.

Boring

Didn’t really rate it as a good album at all. Not my style it music. Maybe 1 or 2 okay sounds but don’t think I’d ever go back to it and a very long listen

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

a whole lot of meh. i reckon on paper i should like this but in ear i just couldn't get in to any of it. luckily for the national it come hot off the heels of the absolutely woeful the the so i couldn't justifiably put it in the 1 star club.

As summer turns to autumn, this record should really enrapture that slightly melancholic changing of seasons, but it doesn't. They're a raging herd of dull cunts.

There was a lot of hype about this. It's kind of okay, but it doesn't exactly get you so excited that you have to publicly shit in a bin, does it?

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.

To many of these kind of albums. Enough already.

Stately

Loved it

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.

I can see why some like it, but it was too mellow and vibe-y for me. At the moment I’m not into it, but I’d have to come back and re-listen to see if that changes at all. I’d likely give it 3.5 stars if I had the chance

Radio head vibes af

Very good

Awesome

Soothing and easy. Could be nice background music, but nothing I would listen to directly.

Jo men rätt trevligt ändå

Slow, almost sombre indie. Really liked this album.

Runaway dejansko poznam (iz filma Dead Bodies se mi zdi) in mi je všeč. Pri ostalih pesmih iz albuma mi ni všeč, da ne razumem večine besedila. Drugače pa mi je album kar všeč, v smislu da je lepo umirjen, ampak mi nobena druga pesem ne izstopa.

sounds like it was recorded underwater

The percussion on this was definitely something that drew me in and the male singer’s voice was mesmerizing.

I don't feel it at all. The singer's voice is boring and the tracks sound very alike.

The National is a must like if your're a millennial, I've been to a couple of their shows and the were ok, I get tired of their sound after a while but it is good music

spawn child of Radiohead popularity, created whole series of album based on "No Surprises" thinking alternative rock music is now just lamenting

I don't know why this is on the list. Maybe some people think it's great songwriting, but I find it to be sonically very boring. The lead singer doesn't have a strong enough voice to carry the album and the arrangements don't make up for that.

Pretty decent, always have enjoyed Bloodbuzz Ohio but found a few other good songs there

rien de notable, peut être redonner une chance

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

5 av 5

Not listened much before, but some real kickers. Terrible love, conversation 16, afraid of everyone ✨

Competently dull...sorry

Listened Before? N So I'm not sure if this was an album or one long-ass song. It was slow, dragging, mumbly... freaking early 2010s hipster music. Not good. Like, it's okay for about 3 songs and then it just becomes background droning. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Bloodbuzz Ohio

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!

Liked this more then I thought I would. Was expecting bland hipster rock. But this has a great sound, good mix, relaxing vibe.

It was good but nothing really grabbed me.

This guy has a fantastic voice. I didn't much care for the national in early college around the time this album came out and it's nice to discover you were wrong about something, especially when being wrong means experiencing something over 10 years old like it was new.

quite good!

How terribly dull. Some nice drumming and it did pick up a little in the second half.

Favorite song: England

Really enjoyed this indie rock album! Was what I look for in indie rock and was really relaxing and the singer has a great voice!

I remember listening to this when it first came out and I HATED it. It probably didn't help that I associated it with your typical hipster C.H.U.D. When this popped up I groaned. This was a band I got off on not liking. Things change. I actually dug it. I don't love it and there are a couple tracks that don't really do much for me, but I can't say this is a bad album. I actually might listen to it again and (sweet baby Jesus) check out some of their other albums. I think I'm going to be sick but I'll be okay; but If I develop a taste for IPA I demand to be euthanized.

Miserable

I do like The National but the raw sadness of this was kind of a slog yesterday.

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

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

I thought that this might be better than the others i’ve listened to so far since it was so recent… but really it was more meh.

2.5. Seems ok. Nothing really stands out, but nothing is bad... just need more time to get to know it.

i actually really enjoyed this album! the national is a band that i wasn’t super familiar with before this album. this is going to make me listen to them more! highlights: anyone’s ghost, bloodbuzz ohio, conversation 16, england, terrible love (alternate version)

Très ordinaire. Pas mauvais mais juste très fade et safe

I liked it. Heard a lot of the songs before.

Really enjoyable album, light music, I'd consider listening to more of the national

Overall 1.5/10

Had no knowledge of this artist before. They were enjoyable to listen to. Well done!

I hate to continue to throw out twos and threes but that’s what this album deserves. I liked the ending of the album but the beginning was tough to get through. The end was like lifting but the beginning was gah

I remember when this band first started to hit it big, and I thought I'd get in on the ground(ish) floor with an up and coming band. But I lowkey kinda hated them and after a few spins of an early album gave up on them. Fast forward >10 years and so when I saw this I thought "excellent - let's give 'er another go..." And I still hate it. Some mental notes as I was cleaning the room trying to get through this: laconic, plodding, god I hate this dude's voice Leonard Cohen sucked enough the first time around, won't these songs go somewhere [I appreciate and often love songs with a great long build but these seem like cheap U2-knockoffs and U2 did it better and I generally don't like all that much U2].... I don't exactly know why this band bugs me so much - a song like "Little Faith" is actually pretty good and almost great - they did that dramatic one right for me; a little Radiohead-ish oddity near the end. But virtually everything else is a chore to get through. "Lemonworld" holy stab my ears "dih dih dih dih dih dih..." AWFUL. I'm sure over 75% of all of this stems from the mopey vocals - I'm not fully anti-mope, I liked a bit of Depeche Mode and early Cure, even a few Joy Division songs hit right. But if the goal of this was to sound miserable while making me feel miserable, goal achieved. I feel not *entirely* right giving this one star, as I consider some of the trash i've listened to and given an easy 1 star... because there's absolutely talent here and oddly i *can* see how people would like this. But not me. It actually did put me in a lousy mood while listening to it and as soon as I realized I'd probably go out of my way to not listen to this band again...1 it is. 2/10 1 star.

Rich, storyteller voice. Sometimes a bit musically bland for my taste but I love the syncopated rhythms. Fantastic drumming.

Not much to say about this album. Nice enough 2010s indie music. I had never heard of this band but apparently Chloe really likes them

Bloodbuzz Ohio is still one of my faves.

What it sounds like in my brain to hit the snooze button

Like all good 4 star albums on this list from bands I am unfamiliar with, it grew on me as it progressed. By the end I was very excited to listen to more of their stuff. Love the Eddie Vedder-esque vocals.

It was slow at first but, then, it began to open up. The National's High Violet continues the band's seamless path towards indie rock glory that began with Alligator as they churned out some of their most impassioned and revelatory performances. Songs that don't look like much at first glance would soon consume you and turn you inside out the more it advances towards the finish line and unveils its layers that it is capable of making. The expanded version of the album builds upon this as well, with extra tracks that flow from one to the next with seemingly no end. High Violet is deserving of high praise. Favorites: Anyone's Ghost, Afraid of Everyone, Bloodbuzz Ohio, Lemonworld, Conversation 16, England, Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks, Terrible Love (alternate version), Wake Up Your Saints, Sin-Eater.

Сегодня весь день шёл дождь. Данный релиз неплохо вписался в картину происходящего

You're turing Violet, Violet!

post dad-rock

It's been less than 24 hours and I really don't remember anything from this album. On to the next one!

The National have a way of turning every song into something layered and anthemic. The musicianship and instrumentation on this album is top notch. The vocal delivery is languid and intentional and when paired with backing vocals, is something really special. The biggest drawback of this album is the lack of variety. However, the album is very consistent and enjoyable throughout

é o pop de 2000 bem basico, chato pra cacete, bateria monotona e eletronica. detesto

They sound like the National. And that's the point. It's magnetic and inspired.

Though there really aren't standout exceptional tracks for me, the sincere conversational tone and approach of these songs makes them easy to enjoy.

Still a great, consistent album. Not sure it’s their “best” album, but definitely on the short list.

It's just a good easy listen

Quite a surprise. Pretty good album all told. Vocally it reminded me of The Swans. Will listen again.

I feel slightly disappointed with this one. I mildly enjoyed a lot of the songs but it felt like there was no payoff to any of them. Everything seems to stay confine in a melancholic box from which the vocals or the instruments don’t leave. It lacks some sort of emotional release and comes out a little bland because of it. 5/10

I realise loads of people who love the same bands I love, love The National. But this all just feels so... Respectable and placid. It does nothing for me really. It's not bad. It's just some music that happens while I'm in its presence. I'm sorry. Maybe I'm just bad at liking music.

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

I like The National, even if I don't know how to explain why you should listen to them. Their music is just good, and High Violet is a good sample of what the band can do. I have listened to lots of live performance from The National, but High Violet was my first time listening to a full album from the band. I think I've heard "Terrible Love" before (one of my favorite tracks from this album), but I'm not sure what other tracks I've heard before. "Anyone's Ghost", "Bloodbuzz Ohio", and "England" were additional favorites from this album. I will still like The National.

One of the great indie albums of 2010’s

2010 indie mood

man idk i really tried to have an open mind but this album is boring as shit

Nice sound. Enjoyed the uniqueness

💤💤💤 dull, unoriginal.

As boring is boring can be

Best Song: Afraid of Everyone. In an album of excellent lyrics, this song still stands above the others. Worst Song: Can't say there was one. Everything was very cohesive, and each song felt like it belonged. Overall: Intoxicating. Between the deep and resonant vocals, the moody and melancholy lyrics, and the expansive instrumentation, the album feels very well-rounded.

Pleasantly surprised. While every song is essentially the same, it’s the atmosphere and ambience of the sound and production that makes this album intriguing.

Tough to critique but I just kinda like the sound of it and the way it creates a atmosphere with the instruments.

Pretty good, mellow. Kind of same same indie though.

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

This is a great listen, but doesn't break any new ground. Lyrically, it does some interesting things, it has that great indie feel of saying something important, even if what that is isn't quite clear. Sometimes sad boring white people need sad boring white music to get them through the day and this delivers.

3.7 - Overall, this album is a strong sample of its milieu, encapsulating the sound of Brooklyn indie rock around 2010. Pretty songs that unfold with interesting drama.

Good musicians but a little boring. Went to wikipedia for more info about the band. Liked the cover artwork. The National is an American rock band of Cincinnati, Ohio natives, formed in Brooklyn, New York City in 1999. The band consists of Matt Berninger (vocals), twin brothers Aaron Dessner (guitar, piano, keyboards) and Bryce Dessner (guitar, piano, keyboards), as well as brothers Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums). Carin Besser is not a band member, but has written lyrics for the band alongside her husband, Berninger, since its 2007 album Boxer. High Violet is the fifth studio album by the National, which was released on May 10, 2010 in Europe and on May 11, 2010 in North America via 4AD. The band produced the album themselves, assisted by Peter Katis with whom they worked on their previous albums Alligator and Boxer at their own studio in Brooklyn, New York, and at Katis' Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The sculpture on the album cover was created by artist Mark Fox, and is called The Binding Force.

I didn’t like the national when they came out but I’m 39.5 years old now and have come around

I always think that they have interesting lyrics and that the singers voice is unique but sometimes they just lack

3.2

Wikipedia described this as "post-punk revival", but it sounds more like dream pop or noise music. Hell, I even think shoegaze is a more appropriate genre for this. But while it doesn't really matter, I think it reiterates my observation that post-punk, shoegaze, or noise pop are lying in the same dank territory of music. But perhaps the reason it's so wooooooshy is the weird obsession of modern indie rock bands to replicate the sound of TV static. It's... ok. Most of the time it felt like it's about to achieve something, something that will at least poke my bored ass, but it never reached anything worth listening. The whole project sounds... weak. It felt like a timid little noise pop wannabee that tries and fails to make great sounds. The wooshy attempts are interesting sometimes, enjoyable even. But this isn't the harsh and otherworldly dreamy music that they strive to be. It has a lot of potential, but it has a weak sound, and it is therefore boring.

Never heard of this one. Sort of fun. Sort of ordinary. But was ok. Did not like track 1, but whatever ... C

I don't listen to the National often, but enjoyed this album. They aren't super dynamic, but what they do they do it well. Bloodbuzz is obviously a standout, but also liked Anyone's Ghost and Conversation 16.

I used to listen to this album and Boxer back to back on road trips to and from college in the Midwest. I also have a distinct memory of listening to this album on an 18 hour train ride from Italy to Germany after missing a flight and needing to rush back to meet my girlfriend, who was flying in to visit me at the end of a study abroad program. I don’t know how it would be listening to this for the first time, probably comes off as nicely orchestrated existential whining from a baritone voiced white dude, but that was really a vibe for me during my mid-twenties. I usually reserve 5 star ratings for albums that really blow me away, or are personal favorites that I can listen to over and over (clearly this album falls into the later category).

So torn on this one. I like the chill vibe but it feels so aimed at I don’t know male millennials and it doesn’t “speak to me” (old gen-X) but I do appreciate its chill alt vibe. I just wouldn’t choose to listen again.

Genre: Indie Rock 3/5 The National is a group that fits very neatly in the category of "Sounds like Coldplay/Arcade Fire/Morissey". Equal parts simple pop rock, equal parts alt rock, equal parts looking for that big juicy, emotional swell. However, this is rock music that my dad likes to call "constipated rock". We almost get there, and we almost get there a lot, and sometimes we do (Little Faith, Bloodbuzz Ohio), but most of the time we're left with some fairly run-of-the-mill aughts rock. There are songs here that are good, that I'm sure are staples on playlists of people who never grew out of 2010, like Lemonworld or Anyone's Ghost, but they never reach that next level that I feel separates indie rock from the rest of the rock umbrella. Artists like Arcade Fire have mastered the art of the indie rock orgasm, crafting the perfect angsty intro and verse, squeezing the tension for all its worth, where it culminates in a musical explosion of delight and/or sorrow. High Violet has some good verses and choruses, but it maintains a fairly mellow backbeat for the majority of the project. I was hoping for something a bit more lively, but I didn't get it, unfortunately. Not too bad, though.

I do like the national. A lot, but i find sitting through an entire album quite hard work, whilst there is undoubtedly beauty within, and also a lightness of touch. it's a bleak listen.

Downbeat, gloomy and not all that interesting on first listen, despite being fairly intricate. I suspect my rating and enjoyment would increase with repeated listens, but I can't see myself returning to this. I generally like miserable lyrics, but typically when they are accompanied by uplifting music. Miserable lyrics with miserable music is a bit too misery inducing for me, and I don't want to be miserable. Rating: 2/5 Playlist track: Bloodbuzz Ohio Date listened: 25/04/22

Now I love this band so its a challenge to be objective but here goes...It's a brilliant album of obtuse lyrics and hummable tunes....some of them heartbreakingly beautiful. Alligator and Boxer are often seen as their strongest albums but this one shows s lot of maturity. Brilliant stuff. 4.

Terrible Love is an interesting song to put in the 1 spot. Sorrow was a single I remember fondly. Im just not really into it.

The album which got me into The National. I suspect, the album which got everyone into The National. Broody gothy romanticism.

Hi- Anyone's Ghost, Afraid of Everyone Lo- Terrible Love, Runaway Starts off kind of droning and moody, (reminds me of The Bravery, whom I dislike) with Terrible Love. Anyone's Ghost is pretty good and catchy. Afraid of Everyone...that's a whole mood, and I enjoy it. So far this is a mixed bag, I'm not a huge fan. Runaway is back to droning mode, and it's not my favorite...the rest of the album is very much the same as the beginning and I probably won't be listening again going forward.

Yeah.

My favourite of theirs is Alligator but this has lots of their best songs on. The production especially stands out to me as being the best fit for his voice and lyrics they've had

High Violet is the fifth album by the indie rock band the National. The album received widespread critical acclaim at release. It was a carefully crafted, powerfully poetic, beautifully subtle album of rock music, that grows on you and leaves you wanting more. This album was listed on many "Best Albums" list for 2010, and in 2011 it was certified diamond for sales in all of Europe. I loved the subdued nature of the rock music on this album and enjoyed listening to it in its entirety. I realized I've heard the album's single "Bloodbuzz Ohio" before, because I immediately recognized the tune and lyrics. It's a great track on an epic album. I will be putting this band on my list so I can listen to their other albums.

That dude's voice just ruins it for me, every time.

Good kickoff to the week. Very decent lyrically and musically

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

This was not very good. It was boring and lousy.

Nowa hamerykanska banda z gatunku indyjskiego grania do kolekcji, tym razem dosc wspolczesnie, bo High Violet to krazek z 2k10, ktory jest piatym studyjnym albumem grupy, dosc braterskiej, bo dwie pary braci i random na wokalu, ale nie byle jaki random tylko Matt Berninger, ktory spiewa tak gloomersko doomersko sojakowe tresci, ze chyba sila wizualizacji wyguglowalem, ze z wygladu przypomina to co spiewa, wiec sojakowy blues, zagrany w bogatym akompanamencie, bo poza 4 braciaszami grupa podczas nagran wykorzystala dwu cyfrowa liczbe muzykow sesyjnych, wiec jest napchane do rozpuchu, a to wszystko w imie grania powaznej muzyki dla wysubimowanego sluchacza, ktory nie zadowoli sie popowym brzmieniem i nie godzi sie na kompromisy, jesli chodzi o podejscie do brzmienia, musi byc perfekcja, a do tego na dokladke jeszcze wiecej smetow i dlugich kawalkow o niczym, 47 minut materialu i 11 trakow, ktore w wiekszosci kreca sie wokol tak typowego dla nietypowego indyjskiego gatunku, czyli milosci smutnej, rozpadom zwiazkow, odrzuceniu i calemu temu bluesowi, a to podane w tak sojakowym sosiwie, ze az mnie naszla ochota na latte z mlekiem sojowym i przycinanie wasa, gdyby tylko dalo sie posluchac samego instrumentala tego albumu bez tych wymeczonych wokalnie tekstow, na plejke dodam bloodbuzz ohio, kawalek ktory wyroznia sie z plyty pomyslem na siebie, bo pijany ktos wspomina swoje dobre chwile w rodzinnym ohio, ale nie ma ich zbyt wiele, wiec raczej woli pic zeby o nim zapomniec

Beautiful

"Boxer" was their big breakthrough, the album that led to a huge profile of The National in The New York Times containing fly-on-the-wall moments during the making of this album (an instant classic, by the way). My lone critique is that the Alternate Version of "Terrible Love" is miles better than the original that opens the album. And the band knew it, so much so that they released an expanded version of High Violet almost immediately to include the alternate version as a way of correcting the mistake. It's a minor nitpick, and that alternate version has thankfully become the standard. This is the album that firmly put The National on my Top Five list of all-time favorite bands. It's why Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran sought out the talents of Aaron Dessner to make new albums years after they became established pop stars. Anyone unfamiliar with The National should spend some time watching live performances of this album's closing track, Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks. It's how they usually end their concerts. Matt Berninger will walk back on stage for the encore performance, often with a glass of wine, and turn the microphone to the audience, compelling them to sing the entire song while he stands back basking in the joy of hearing the crowd throw the words back to him. It became such a staple at National shows that a mic was no longer needed. The crowd knew exactly what their role was to close out the show. We should all be so lucky to know the happiness Berninger feels during this moment of a National concert.

Som palha, sem vontade de viver 😅

I like runaway but the album as a whole is kinda bleh

liked this. intresting mix of sounds

não é ruim mas é a cara dos hipster acéfalo da pitchfork

Not too bad, enjoyed it.

Sounds really good. Still something modern but with instruments and singer, not too overly computerized music. I can listen to and enjoy this, but couldn't for example work listening to this. Sounds like 4 stars for now

Awesome

Better than most other albums of this era, less whimsical and more muscular.

Good stuff and like the singer. The music was catchy

Once, on the strength of a gushing profile of Jony Ive's production team at Apple, I went out and bought Interpol's Turn On the Bright Lights. (It's complicated, ok? Let's just accept that I was a shallow and callow young man.) Not entirely surprisingly, the album was not to my liking (I did try bloody hard, I have to say), and I eventually disposed of the evidence of my foolishness in a charity shop. Never thought about Interpol until listening to this, many years on. I didn't buy High Violet at the time (thank you, unnamed music blog. God, those were the days...). I did like the anthemic pomp pf "London" (and, turns out, I still do); and like Turn On...I tried hard to like the cool new alt-rockers on the scene. I failed better with The National. But the point is that I wasn't their constituency, and neither them mine. Sometimes, it is best to accept the natural order of things as it is.

Did not enjoy. Music was fine but content was very sad and did not keep my interest.

vibed to it

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

Four stars! When you're striving to be just 'meh' and have done a pretty darn good job. This album exists because we have ears and they have instruments. There's nothing amazing about this and that's the point. The singing sounds like a Calvin Johnson who maybe had a half cup of coffee. It's not inspiring or even particularly enjoyable, it is just meh and for me, this was just right for today. Thank you.

When we listened to Pavement, I wrote "What is indie rock? Someone not signed to a major label? Today the term indie rock seems to have no meaning. It isn't exclusively used for independent label bands, and it doesn't refer to a specific musical style. I could tell you I like indie rock, but really that doesn't tell you much, and while I like many bands that would be classified as indie rock, I also dislike plenty of indie rock." I declared that Pavement was indie rock. In the 90s. But that indie rock today doesn't have much meaning in referring to a specific genre or musical style. That said, The National is probably as close to an indie style as you can find in the 2000s. It's not their labels (but those are independent), it's something about their sound. They're not alternative, or hard rock. They're actually indie. And they have been much buzzed about for nearly two decades now, with "Alligator" and "Boxer" and "High Violet" being a particularly strong run of critically acclaimed hits. And yet, I've never quite gotten into The National. I've never quite been able to put my finger on why, but I think most of it comes down to Matt Berninger's voice. It works ok on some songs, but I never love it, and more often I think it's too droning or something. It probably doesn't help that I generally have no idea what he's singing about. Most of the time I don't mind not understanding lyrics (whether because they're mumbled or just too obtusely poetic to bother with), but I think in those cases the voice has to be more pleasant or fitting with the music or akin to another instrument. But I rarely feel that with Berninger. The National definitely has their own very recognizable sound, consistent on all of their albums I've heard songs from. It just isn't quite my thing, despite being my thing-adjacent.

At first I thought it was inoffensive. But then I heard more and it got really boring.

I’m having a hard time coalescing thoughts about this album. I like Berninger’s voice sometimes, but he doesn’t really sing. Other times I dislike it. I’m confused. At times, like Terrible Love, it feels like there is a lot going on in the music and it’s somehow disconnected from, or overshadowing, the vocals. I don’t know … 🤷‍♀️ The best summary I can give is that I liked Berninger’s vocals better on Chvrches’ My Enemy and that’s one of my three least favorite tracks on that album, which is by faaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrr my least favorite Chvrches album.

I liked this album more than I expected to. Maybe it was the crooning of the vocals, or the instrumentation. But there was something about it that I really kind of dug. It was really appealing to me for some reason. Probably the vocals, being a lower-voiced singer myself. Conversation 16 had some interesting lyrics to it. I think the only song that didn't stand out to me was England. The problem was there wasn't one song that was catchy. I liked the band, but there wasn't a song I was humming afterward. They were good, but forgettable. That's never good for a band "hey what's the name of that album by that band...?"

A friend recommended this to me back in 2010 or 2011. I had no idea who they were but was completely blown away by this album. Nothing before or since by the National resonated the same but I listened to this one endlessly for months. I still sometimes put it on when I just need an album I can let repeat. Dark and brooding maybe, but I don't mind that. In fact I think I'm starting to see I'm quite drawn to that because the lyrics are raw and honest and really make you think. The music plays right into it - key piano and strings to punctuate the message, with some distortion (guitars or engineered?) here and there to offset it and give it a foggy feel. Highlights - Terrible Love (sets the tone for the rest), Little Faith (lyrics match a little Catholic revolt inside me?), Afraid of Everyone (love the beat and the lyrics are profound), Bloodbuzz Ohio (the vocals just carry and fit so well with the music), England (love the piano and the orchestral-like backing, as well as the crescendo in the last 100s), Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks (lyrics and music so sad but so beautiful).

Not a big Indie person but this album was really good. I think the only song that I wasn't a big fan of (but that might change) was the opening track "Terrible Love." I think it was just the wall of sound that percussion created. The second half of the album from "Bloodbuzz Ohio" to the end really struck a chord though. I've had a few people recommend the National to me in the past but this is the first time I've heard any of their albums. Looking forward to checking out Alligator and Boxer as well.

I kept listening to this album hoping it would eventually grab me. It's not bad, it just doesn't pull me in. I think the issue is, like other bands of this genre, every song is basically built around one riff that repeats over and over - maybe growing or fading, but still the same riff. The riffs are good and at least each song is somewhat unique, but individual songs don't seem to "go anywhere." It didn't help that they started with a lo-fi sound on Terrible Love and I'm not a fan of that style of recording. I liked the second track (Sorrow) much better. I like the singer's voice - reminds me of Mark Sandman from Morphine (particularly on Little Faith). Other songs I liked: Afraid of Everyone, Bloodbuzz Ohio, and England. I'll give it a 3 because I wouldn't mind hearing it again, but don't think I'll seek it out. EDIT: I said I wouldn't listen again, but after submitting it, I found myself revisiting the album and really enjoying it. Changed the score from a 3 to a 4!

Joy Division / Interpol lite but enjoyable enough.

Decent album, but I found its interest fading after each listen.

High Violet by The National (2010) These are songs that are brooding, melancholy, introspective, dark, and quite comfortable with sadness—the sort of feeling that is the effect of the world’s ubiquitous anxiety. There’s no frivolity, and the only happiness is found in a temporary and carefully limited escape (“Lemonworld”) from the angst factory of urban life. This my kind of music. Lyrically, there’s a stubborn attachment to the full experience of pain, disappointment, and the low feelings accompanying failed relationships, all set against a musical background that is richly elaborated with haunting choral vocals and keyboards/strings/horns orchestrations. One is reminded of the droning electronic colorings, heavy sustain, and slow chord progressions of U2. Brass choir with low woodwinds (“Runaway”, “Conversation 16”) never hit the anticipated strident and victorious highs. This has a halting effect. Bravo. The mix is heavy on drums, pulsing and resonant drums, with spare use of cymbals and snaring. The lead vocalist is refreshingly baritone. Rock music needs more of this. It’s somber, but it’s not a downer. It’s sorrowful, but it’s not depressing. It’s tenebrous, but it’s not hopeless. It’s why, as T.S. Eliot would reflect, “we call this Friday ‘Good’”. It’s honest mood music, best taken in small doses, but good medicine for the flippant soul. Listen to this record when you’re ready to stop being silly. 3/5

I'm actually shocked this album has this many listens on Spotify considering how boring this is. I suppose people put this on in the background as they're trying to get to sleep? Horrendous singing and unimpressive playing. 3/10.

Lo-fi The Cure

while the lyrics tell whole stories the musical composition is rather dull and boring

It’s just so dreary. The whole album is tonally and sonically monotonous. I don’t get all the hype about this band. Bland. Blah.

I feel like I'm missing something here? This is garbage.

Not really for me.

Enjoyed it, did make me want to check out more of their stuff

I should like this, but somehow it sits the wrong side of the boring/interesting line for me

One thing I find so frustrating about this band is that they will let a song build and build and build... before just leaving it stuck in 2nd gear on a repeated refrain? There's no payoff to any of the tension built in unique arrangements and instrumentals, just kind of a dull fizzle as if the band ran out of steam halfway through writing the song.

Indy folk sound. Cool. Low voice singer. Great album all the way through.

Music was good, didn’t like the vocals. Appreciate the craftsmanship at work but this did nothing for me.

As good as it gets. Great production, great music and fantastic lyrics.

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

Solid 4. Can't be a 5 because I can't figure out what he is singing about on any track. Bloodbuzz is a classic and the highlight of the album. Cover art (original cover) 5/5 you can always rely on 4ad

Acoustic music, maybe good when depressed lol but otherwise boring

Fav Song: Bloodbuzz Ohio

Too monotone for my liking

Terrible

Pretty good, but nothing memorable.

I used to enjoy hearing the odd song on the radio, but when I saw them live it was too much song-after-song, so I left and saw another band. Listening to the album is much the same. The one part I can get past is his vocals- a heathen light volition.

Pretty good!

Meh never really been a National fan. I appreciate what they do it's just not for me

The first couple of songs are hard to get into. The third song (Percussion Ghosts) has percussion beats that make it interesting but I find most of this album challenging.

Spotify has been nudging me with songs from this LP over the last few years. I had a some of them on heavy rotation, Bloodbuzz Ohio, Anyone’s Ghost and England. It’s music for adults by adults. Matt Berninger has a great voice, writes somber lyrics and reminds me a bit of Nick Drake. The band is competent and stays out of the way so that the singing is front and center, although the drummer tends to pound away a bit Bonham-like at times, which to me means they’d be more kick-ass live.

This is a very good band with some high quality output. But you have to be in the mood for them though because Matt Berninger's deep baritone voice singing very melancholic songs for an entire album can wear on you after awhile. Personally I think their previous album Boxer was better but maybe High Violet is a grower and I need to listen to it more.

Some good today songs

Jebeni su svaki put. Četvorka jedino zato što su mi neki drugi njihovi draži albumi

Koliko se sjećam, mislim da još do sad nije bio nijedan album ovih kraljeva. Iskreno, imaju previše dobrih albuma pa je teško to rangirati nekada. Sada se ovaj album po mojoj rang listi njihovih albuma nalazi nakon Alligatora, Boxera, TWFM i onda tu dolazi ovaj albumček, ali je svejedno jako dobar, i to puno govori. The National je stvarno jedna jako dobra grupa koju jako volim i koju sam imao priliku vidjeti na Šalati uživo, i bio sam oduševljen i...želim naravno opet ako je ikako moguće! Pjesme poput: Lemonworld, Conversation 16, Runaway, England, Bloodbuzz Ohio i naravno neizostavna pjesma Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks čini ovaj album takav kakav je u mojim ušesima. Što znači da je drugi dio albuma tako popunjen jebenim stvarima da je to čudo.

Nisam ovom albumu dao previše pažnje prije, drago mi je da sad jesam.

initial thoughts: “oh I know one song from the national” realizing I know one and like one only I think fav off album: conversation 16

Shit

Un dels nous clàssics. A l'alçada dels millors discos històrics del rock alternatiu. Una banda en un estat de forma sobrenatural. 'Boxer' ja havia deixat emprempta però no ens havia preparat per aquesta bogeria de creativitat i savoir faire. Tampoc després han pogut igualar-lo. Així que només ens queda disfrutar-lo i ser feliços per haver estat coetanis de tal obra mestra

I liked it very much so

Not unlistenable but very boring.

"High Violet" is absolutely, far and away, one of the best albums I've ever heard. I got into The National after "Boxer" came out and HV was the first new release I got to experience. A truly incredible work, 10/10.

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

Meh. It is an indie album. It was unremarkable. No need to listen to it again.

Who decided to record this with the singer at the bottom of a deep, deep well. Some times echo is arty! Not for me...

Did not like

I've never been a huge fan of The National and this album stays within those boundaries. Very slow and melodic which was kind of nice but all the songs start to blend together as he shares his woes with us.

Ah, the Nationals. Notorious sad-boy-band of the modern era. I've enjoyed a lot of their work over the years, either together or when working with others, but none of the songs I know and love are on this project, so it was all new for me. I enjoyed it, it's not the kind of music that's hard to listen to, but not a whole lot stood out to me. When the Nationals don't blow me away, they're pretty nondescript. I'll walk away with a few tracks but I'd personally rather see Boxer or Trouble Will Find Me make this list. Still, a good album. Favorite tracks: Lemonworld, Sorrow, Bloodbuzz Ohio, Afraid of Everyone. Album art: The version shown on this website is strange, some kind of deluxe rerelease. The original isn't drastically different but I do think it's better. Colored smoke scribbles coming out of a smokestack, where this one isn't much to interpret. 3.5/5

Good album. An emotionally charged album, but not for me at this point in my life

Really got into this today while knocking back some yard work. Enjoyed his effortless lead vocals, almost soft conversations at times. Great producing on the tracks , really liked when they punched it up with a little blast from the horn section .

"I was carried to Ohio in a swarm of bees". Not everything here connects for me, but this is very listenable. There's some very good stuff here. Very warm production. I do like it.

Cookie cutter indie with absolutely no distinguishing features. Just choke the air with reverb laden guitars and chiming pianos. Make every song sound like an uphill slog with a cheap emotional payoff as your reward. Fuck this, I actively hate this kind of lazy, faux-sincere hogwash

I saw these guys open for the Arcade Fire back when the Arcade Fire could sell out a theater. My one takeaway from their set was that the singer is a baritone. Having listened to this entire record, my takeaway is still that one single thing. Dude's a baritone. There's absolutely nothing else I can distinguish as a single selling point for this band. Except, perhaps, for Andy's NPR thing. Other fun fact from that show: the Arcade Fire didn't play "Wake Up." I get it, I get it. You have one anthem in the arsenal, you just released your second LP, and you don't want to play that song again. But also: fuck off with that noise. We all paid good money to hear that one song and you couldn't be bothered to do it one more time. It was a pretty frustrating night.

This album is not in my copy of the book. It's also not bad. Not something I'd seek out outside of this project - I'd say the production is too clean, it would benefit from being a little more lo-fi, a little more grungy - but it's much better than the inexplicably highly rated garbage album from Oasis I had to listen to yesterday.

Not sure what my favorite National album is, but this one sure is great!

Had not heard of this band and had not heard any songs by them, so this is all brand-new to me. I like their sound. Kind of droning but not in a boring monotonous way. They play with precision, which creates a cool contrast for me with the semi-morose feel of the melody and vocals. Reminds me of several bands I liked in the 80s. Good album overall. Would listen to it again and would like to hear some of their other work.

When I read that they played one song on repeat for several hours--and that the released the whole thing on vinyl--I prejudged that this would be pretentious as heck. Pleasantly surprised to be wrong, or at least it's also pretty darn good. Sounds great, stays interesting and varied. The singer seems effortlessly pretty. I had to work while listening, but this'll be an important candidate to return to.

It's good. But I don't know. Feels kind of much of muchness.

The National is certainly an interesting band. They've established a unique style that is instantly recognizable. However, I'm not a big fan of the muffled sound and the vocal style. I like them in small doses. 3 stars.

Mope-y, dirge-y and wonderful.

I'm not too into the singer, but the lush and somber production holds this indie rock album up pretty well. Favorites: "Terrible Love", "Little Faith", "Bloodbuzz Ohio"

Moody without the emotion to back it up, boring. The kind of indie that's basic without knowing it's basic.

I get why some people like this band. I have always wanted to like them, but it's just so melodramatic and it's too much after two or three songs.

Despite having origins in my hometown of Cincinnati, I somehow completely missed the boat with The National. Now, listening to them consciously for the first time, I can see why: it's very competent music but it also sort of just blends into the general milieu of the indie rock of its time. And since they seem to almost exclusively dwell in a state of heavy melancholy, the album collapses under its own weight rather quickly for me. Come to think of it, "Heavy Melancholy" should be a subgenre of indie rock. If it were used as a label it would be really useful, because it would make it so much easier for me to avoid exhausting albums like this one.

I do like The National, but I don't feel like this album is consistent. Bloodbuzz Ohio is an indie classic, unfortunately the rest of the tracks don't match the quality of this song though. Lyrics are on point for this song as well "I still owe money, to the money, to the money I owe" is basically a Millennial anthem, lol. I do like Runaway as well, I remember being very into this song when I was super depressed. And maybe that's how the National is best enjoyed. This is probably a 3.5.

So, so bad

Pretty cool modern rock. A little slow and droning. Similar to Interpol.

Arcade Fire meets Johnny Cash vocals and a bit of emo sensibilities.

Quite earnest singing. Some refreshing alt-rock. Mostly listenable and not too much is dull. Impressive drumming and some interesting bass lines.

Sad white male

This album was new by me. It's not really something I can see myself coming back to, but it was a good listen. The music faded into the background a bit, but it was still good 4/5

8/10

More enjoyable of an album than I recall it being. I know I listened a ton when it came out, but it doesn't have lasting power the same way Boxer does. Still a solid offering. Really like Conversation 16 and Bloodbuzz Ohio. 4/5

Really enjoyed this album. Only the second National album I've heard. Found this one far less depressing. Reminded me of Joy Divison/New Order at times.

An album of its time. I used to listen to a lot of this kind of thing and this is a good example of the genre.

There are some interesting things happening with the layering of instrumentation, the production is quite good, and there are some decent moments, but overall it feels like there’s a lack of variation musically which lends the album an air of sameness and makes getting through the whole thing a chore.

Amazing album from an amazing band. I could probably listen to Matt Berninger sing the phone book and be happy.

Not bad, mildly boring.

My indie cred is damaged by the fact that I've never listened to a full The National album. Heard many songs, just never got super into them. Happy to be listening through this. It's good!

Great mellow album

Very good

Great album - love The National so this is well known to me. Favourite song-Afraid of Everyone

The vocals are too cool for me. They're kind of tired and mumbly. The songs are delivered as if getting excited or passionate about the message is not cool. To me the singing feels too contrived. The music belies the singing though. The accompaniment is edgy and pulses with energy - paired with the disinterested, indistinct singing, I guess that's what makes it cool.

Meh.

Ni chiquito rollo pretencioso

No es mi rollo

Pretty good 8/10

This is so boring and common that I don't understand why it is on this list. Anything between a piece of elevator music and an end of party music. Even the live versions have not any soul.

espectacular

Not my cup of tea☺

Very chill sound overall. Dude has a nice deep voice.

It's okay at times but pretty boring. I wasn't a huge fan.

There were some great moments musically, but I found myself having trouble getting through it. A large part of it is the guy’s voice... at times it sounds like he’s so stoned he’s struggling to even stand in front of the mic, let alone sing. Also, I would describe his singing style as “apathetic” Favorite track(s): “Little Faith” and “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks”

I enjoyed listening to this album, but I immediately forgot all of it as soon as I finished listening

First half was solid indie rock 4/5, second half was forgettable ballads 2/5.

Rock blandito, moderno. Aburrido.

boff

I've never listened to this record before, just "Boxer." Though, I do know Bloodbuzz Ohio. I like this band, just haven't listened to them a ton.

Easy listening. Low-key.

Nostalgiaaaaaaa

First time diving into a full album. I dig lead singers voice and lyrics are interesting/different

Singer's tone is monotonous. Songs all sound the same. Driving beat is a little too much. More acoustic instruments would lift the record up.

Quintessential 2010s sound, with very interesting composition and instrument layering. Ladytron meets Arcade Fire! I listened to the live version and Squalor Victoria was splendid.

Good album but not my favorite by The National

Really nice indie rock album I'd give it a 9/10

Mostly meh - but got quite good towards the end

Perhaps it ain't too fair to the album since I wasn't listening very attentively but I found the album a little unexciting for my tastes.

oomf- bloodbuzz ftw

One of the best bands of the last decade.

Easy listen

Great album from a band I haven't really sat down and listened to.

Solid background music, not what I'd normally listen to but it was decent enough.

An album that I have loved since I first heard it. The kind of music that either has a personal connection with people or doesn't. Not groundbreaking or earth-shattering, but has an ability to mainline emotion (even if through artifice), which is impressive. Also, will possibly be one of the last complete "albums" in the age of the album.

It's aight, 2.5 stars, but I'll be fair since I did want to add one song to a playlist.

@@@½. Nice indie rock.

just not my type. it's way too scattered

Melodic and beautiful, but a bit sleep and sad.

Surprisingly great album to run to.

A mix of talented vocals and interesting audio arrangements give a very enjoyable listen if a little modern for my tastes.

This is a band I had never even heard of before! Interesting sounds, was great for background music while I was working.

I love High Violet! Such a great album! So beautiful and heartbreaking. Great instrumentation and feel.

Very good indie..

Meh

Very slow, again not for work. Very much enjoy them, will probably listen to their other work now

Had a great time. Good vibe.

Terrible Love and some other tracks have a really interesting 'raw' feel, very intentionally messy mix with the guitar/bass/percussion. Vocals are baritone 'depressive' Morrissey-style. Overall this style of indie rock reminds me a lot of Kensington/White Lies, but the vocal style and downbeat melodies aren't really my cup of tea. Having said that, Bloodbuzz Ohio is a banger that sounds like a modern Johnny Cash song. Makes sense it's the most popular track from this album!

The National is good, and this album is them at their peak imo. I really have to be in a mood to listen to them though, and someone listening to them off the cuff may not be the best introduction to them.

Great tshirt

Meh. Not memorable.

Basically the same song over and over again. Lead vocalist has no range.

eh

kinda boring white people music

Absolute classic. One of those albums i know every lyric to and can listen straight through at any moment.

Atmospheric, thoughtful, a clear theme that keeps through the whole album; it's a bit moody at times but overall quite enjoyable

For me, two stars is decent music that I like, but can’t handle in large doses. Had to split the album up throughout my day, and felt like a chore to finish it