The National - An appreciation
They’ve only recently become big in the UK but in the US they are massive, even backing Barack Obama on his presidential campaigns. I only really discovered them this year when I saw them live on the main stage at Latitude festival over the summer. 5 albums, each a different beast entirely, from folky beginnings of their debut, to the grand sweeping magnificence of their latest, each is something to be enjoyed.
It took me a while to get their sobered up indie rock but I really just haven’t stopped listening to them since then and I think they must be my favourite band at the moment. What really struck me with their songs is how they get so much atmosphere and purpose with the songs without the use of any real catchy riffs or instrumental brilliance, not to say that the musicianship is bad, in fact it is so delicate and intricate it often goes unnoticed.
But for me the thing i most love about them is the vocals and the lyrics. The vocals and especially the vocal melody give the structure and drive behind many of the songs and the voice is just amazing, the deep baritone Matt Berninger gives the songs their slightly darker side that sometimes comes right out with full-on rage fuelled verses. The lyrics are something I really admire about the band, they constantly churn out deep, sophisticated lyrics album after album and they never become cliched or tiresome.
However the album of theirs I want to share is their latest album, High Violet. This for me showcases The National as a band and gives the best example of what they do as well as every song on the album being brilliant in its own right. The vocal melodies in this album are brilliant and makes up for any missing riffs guitar-band lovers might want. Bloodbuzz Ohio gives the album a very strong single and leading song and the rest of the album builds around it and for really only the first time in my life I’ve found an album without one song being out of place.
These are a few songs of the National that I think showcase the band and High Violet:
- The National - Brainy. This song for me shows why I love The National so much, the drums, the voice, the guitars, the intricate musical accompaniments swirling in the background, perfection.
- The National - About Today. This song I only discovered recently on The National's 'Cherry Tree EP' and I'm so glad I did. Its simplicity and short brutal lyrics really struck a chord with me at the time, something this band seems to do all too often!
- The National - Available. One of the only national songs with a strong riff in it, the angry vocals at the end feel really genuine and cutting.
- The National - Cardinal Song. The lyrics are beautiful and so profound and make anything I write seem like cliched garbage. “Never tell the one you love that you do, save it for the deathbed when you know you kept her wanting you.”
- The National - Fake Empire. A beautifully constructed song and so grand and classy.
- The National - Mr November A rock song, the chorus beautiful, angry and heartfelt. "I won't fuck us over! I'm Mr November! I'm Mr November! I won't fuck us over!"
- The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio. For me is a culmination of everything the National have achieved and stand for.
- The National - Afraid of Everyone. This is probably my favourite song by The National, the lyrics are beautifully constructed, the rip of the guitar through the song is really felt and emotion just pours out of this song in bucketloads.
- The National and Bon Iver - Vandelyle Crybaby Geeks. The beautiful closing track of the album, full of sweeping brass, heartfelt lyrics and here joined onstage by the haunting voice of Justin Vernon from Bon Iver.
- Mumford and Sons - England. One of my other favourite bands Mumford and Sons have done a cover of a brilliant song off the album, England. Here’s the original as well. The National - England.
By Mason Boycott-Owen
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