Rating: 8.9
The National have made a career writing knotty songs about the realities of leaving youth behind and settling down. On first listen, all of their albums sound similar, but further listens reveal that each one has a unique mood and personality. I see their albums as a progression through the stages of grief.
Alligator is denial. Its songs have a drunken energy that the band has never recaptured. It is unique in having songs with conspicuous hope ("Lit Up", "Mr. November") and warm romance ("The Geese of Beverly Road", "Looking for Astronauts"). This is an album about knowing that you're not as young as you used to be, but going out and drowning that knowledge in alcohol and ephemeral love.
Boxer is anger. There is a focused aggression here, thanks in large part to Bryan Devendorf's drumming, which is is absolutely brilliant throughout and a clear notch above his work anywhere else. It lashes out against the realities adulthood ("Mistaken for Strangers") and mocks the mentality of middle class existence ("Brainy", "Racing Like Pro"). It's about understanding exactly how you'll inevitably end up, but fighting against it anyways.
High Violet is depression. Here, the drums are noticeably more relaxed, and the guitars eschew melodic lines for hazy textures. Overall, the arrangements are the simplest of all their albums, and nearly all the songs have a feel of wry, weary resignation. This is an album about not liking where you're headed, but not caring enough anymore to do something about it.
It follows then, that Trouble Will Find Me is acceptance. Here, there's an unforced looseness to the songs that sets them apart from The National's previous efforts. That's not to say that the songs are happy, but, even with the odd song structures and time signatures, most of them feel comfortable. They sound settled, at peace. This is an album about about finding out that where you've ended up isn't as bad as you thought it would be.
In terms of quality, the album is very good. It certainly doesn't come close to the lofty heights scaled by Alligator and Boxer. Even compared to High Violet, the songwriting is a solid step down. There's some of the worst songs The National have ever put out ("Hard to Find") and some songs that feel like they were just a series of ideas glued together in no particular order ("Pink Rabbits", "Humiliation"). Still, the more varied instrumentation picks up some of the slack, and everything clicks together more often than not.
There are about eight good songs on the album, which is more than enough make them one of only half a dozen artists to release four good album in their career. U2, Radiohead, Coldplay, Kanye West, and Taylor Swift are pretty good company to be in.
Personally, in a few short weeks, I've already listened through Trouble Will Find Me more than High Violet. It isn't in the running for my favorite album of all time like Alligator and Boxer, but it is my favorite album to be released this year (or the last two years for that matter), and that's plenty good enough.
Key Tracks: Don't Swallow the Cap, Heavenfaced, I Need My Girl
Track-by-Track Rating:
Alligator - 9.8
Key Tracks: The Geese of Beverly Road, Daughters of the Soho Riots, Looking for Astronauts
Boxer - 10
Key Tracks: Fake Empire, Slow Show, Apartment Story, Mistaken for Strangers
High Violet - 8.7
Key Tracks: Runaway, Lemonworld, Bloodbuzz Ohio
Rating Key:
10.0 - Phenomenal
9.5 - Brilliant
9.0 - Great
8.5 - Very Good
8.0 - Good
7.5 - Solid
7.0 - Decent
6.5 - Passable
6.0 - Mediocre
5.5 - Poor
5.0 - Bad
4.5 - Abysmal
The National have made a career writing knotty songs about the realities of leaving youth behind and settling down. On first listen, all of their albums sound similar, but further listens reveal that each one has a unique mood and personality. I see their albums as a progression through the stages of grief.
Alligator is denial. Its songs have a drunken energy that the band has never recaptured. It is unique in having songs with conspicuous hope ("Lit Up", "Mr. November") and warm romance ("The Geese of Beverly Road", "Looking for Astronauts"). This is an album about knowing that you're not as young as you used to be, but going out and drowning that knowledge in alcohol and ephemeral love.
Boxer is anger. There is a focused aggression here, thanks in large part to Bryan Devendorf's drumming, which is is absolutely brilliant throughout and a clear notch above his work anywhere else. It lashes out against the realities adulthood ("Mistaken for Strangers") and mocks the mentality of middle class existence ("Brainy", "Racing Like Pro"). It's about understanding exactly how you'll inevitably end up, but fighting against it anyways.
High Violet is depression. Here, the drums are noticeably more relaxed, and the guitars eschew melodic lines for hazy textures. Overall, the arrangements are the simplest of all their albums, and nearly all the songs have a feel of wry, weary resignation. This is an album about not liking where you're headed, but not caring enough anymore to do something about it.
It follows then, that Trouble Will Find Me is acceptance. Here, there's an unforced looseness to the songs that sets them apart from The National's previous efforts. That's not to say that the songs are happy, but, even with the odd song structures and time signatures, most of them feel comfortable. They sound settled, at peace. This is an album about about finding out that where you've ended up isn't as bad as you thought it would be.
In terms of quality, the album is very good. It certainly doesn't come close to the lofty heights scaled by Alligator and Boxer. Even compared to High Violet, the songwriting is a solid step down. There's some of the worst songs The National have ever put out ("Hard to Find") and some songs that feel like they were just a series of ideas glued together in no particular order ("Pink Rabbits", "Humiliation"). Still, the more varied instrumentation picks up some of the slack, and everything clicks together more often than not.
There are about eight good songs on the album, which is more than enough make them one of only half a dozen artists to release four good album in their career. U2, Radiohead, Coldplay, Kanye West, and Taylor Swift are pretty good company to be in.
Personally, in a few short weeks, I've already listened through Trouble Will Find Me more than High Violet. It isn't in the running for my favorite album of all time like Alligator and Boxer, but it is my favorite album to be released this year (or the last two years for that matter), and that's plenty good enough.
Key Tracks: Don't Swallow the Cap, Heavenfaced, I Need My Girl
Track-by-Track Rating:
- I Should Live in Salt - 7.0
- Demons - 8.5
- Don't Swallow the Cap - 9.0
- Fireproof - 6.5
- Sea of Love - 7.0
- Heavenfaced - 8.5
- This Is the Last Time - 7.0
- Graceless - 10.0
- Slipped - 7.5
- I Need My Girl - 8.0
- Humiliation -7.5
- Pink Rabbits - 7.5
- Hard to Find - 6.0
Alligator - 9.8
Key Tracks: The Geese of Beverly Road, Daughters of the Soho Riots, Looking for Astronauts
Boxer - 10
Key Tracks: Fake Empire, Slow Show, Apartment Story, Mistaken for Strangers
High Violet - 8.7
Key Tracks: Runaway, Lemonworld, Bloodbuzz Ohio
Rating Key:
10.0 - Phenomenal
9.5 - Brilliant
9.0 - Great
8.5 - Very Good
8.0 - Good
7.5 - Solid
7.0 - Decent
6.5 - Passable
6.0 - Mediocre
5.5 - Poor
5.0 - Bad
4.5 - Abysmal
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