Label: Beggars UK - Ada
Released: Apr 12, 2005 |
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The National play the type of music that evokes images of dimly-lit bars filled with a haze of smoke. Their brand of moody rock and roll perfectly suits Matt Berninger’s black-clad baritone tales of love gone wrong. The music is occasionally accented by female-vocals and additional instrumentation like cello and violin. At times, The National’s sound is reminiscent of Tindersticks or Red House Painters, but much more garagey and atmospheric.
Although they can be sad and heartbreaking, Matt Berninger’s lyrics are also full of dry, witty humor. In the melancholy, but uplifting, “All The Wine,” he sings great lines like “I’m a perfect piece of ass / like every Californian” and "I'm a birthday candle in a circle of black girls / God is on my side." In the Bad Seeds-esque, piano-driven “Karen,” he says “Karen, put me in a chair, fuck me and make me a drink,” in a deadpan tone, and later pleads “I'm telling you this isn't me / No, this isn't me / Karen, believe me, you just haven't seen my good side yet.” Berninger so rarely moves outside his deep baritone range, that when he repeatedly screams “My mind’s not right!” in “Abel,” I certainly believe the man.
“Daughters Of The Soho Riots” is the National at their most tender and vulnerable. It’s a mellow, folky ballad that recalls Leonard Cohen as Berninger sings “Break my arms around the one I love / And be forgiven by the time my lover comes.” Despite their overall gloomy tone, The National definitely know when to let loose and rock out. “Lit Up” is a tension/release-driven anthem that makes you want to pump your fist and shout along every time the chorus comes up. The spacey “Looking For Astronauts” is nearly propelled into dance-music territory by Bryan Devendorf's inventive drumming.
Alligator is the most emotionally compelling album I’ve heard all year. It constitutes a mélange of moods that reveal themselves gradually with each listen. Although it was released in April, it’s definitely more suited for the Fall and Winter seasons. This means that right about now would be the perfect time to acquaint yourself with this record.
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