This week, we dive into an acclaimed album from 2010 to see if it has the right stuff to please this group of wannabe music critics. The fifth album from the close-knit band from Brooklyn by way of Cincinnati, is High Violet as kinetic as its album art may indicate? Listen for yourself, and cast your vote. Are you over 18? There will be an old lady checking your registration at the door. Her name is Paul.
12 comments:
Has anyone seen my dentures? No? Diego..Diego! Call the doctor, I lost my teeth again. Dios mio, I'm loosing my cabeza.
Diego no esta aqui, senora.
I love this album.
I gave the album an inaugural listen last eve, and so far standout tracks are "Anyone's Ghost" and "Bloodbuzz Ohio." Demands repeat exposure, I think, so I'll be back with more..
To give a numerical value to my thoughts on this album, it would most definitely be a 5/5 or a 9.5/10. What I enjoy the most about The National (other albums also highly recommended) are the accessibility of the lyrics. What I mean by this is that the stories told in the songs aren't some cryptic set of words that probably are about some crazy time only rock stars enjoy (MGMT comes to mind) but of feelings normal people experience (Sorrow, Lemonworld, Anyone's Ghost) and of places we can imagine (England). The pain and truth that is conveyed in Matt Berninger voice is superb. Their sound is very focused and pure, no distortions, just really talented musicians. I could listen to them all day.
The results are in for favorite song: Conversation 16 got 2 votes and Sorrow got 1.
Just a heads up, you are allowed to vote on more than 1 song.
So I actually listened to the album for the first time this week (busy days and a purchase of Red Dead Redemption stole my focus away) but I did enjoy it. I'm not sure if you guys have every listened to Crash Test Dummies, but the lead singers voice from The National sounds very similar. It's a very hearty, deep voice edging on the line of being raspy.
However, from my first run through, I don't find the album as compelling as pM does. I agree that the lyrics are very accessible which I did like, but I found there to be no overarching gumption to tie the whole album together. I'd give it more of an 8/10.
The album as a whole felt relatively flat for me. I DESIRE MORE. Perhaps more variation from song to song would help. Infusing some more power into the instrumentals would've gotten my goatee in a good way.
Much discussion of the lead singer Matt Berninger's voice, and deservedly so. It's truly unique; pure, unfiltered, at times harrowing and just plain sad. That said, I think this album does take some time to react to, and my response to it is a reflection of how much time I have spent with it over the past week. Some of the tracks have clocked in on my itunes at over a dozen listens. I've been hooked on it ever since it was dropped into my box.
The first few tracks are sort of a blossoming, and the album really gains its footing around track three. There isn't a single weak track in my opinion, and about half or more are really excellent. I voted for Conversation 16 as my favorite, but I could have easily selected several others, so I restricted myself to one choice this poll.
My fascination with this album is derived from how long it took me to wrap my head around it, only to finally arrive at the conclusion that it boils down to terrific songwriting delivered without any frills or gimmicks. I rather loved it.
I would highly recommend you stick with it Micah and see what you arrive at after repeated listenings.
Thinking about this album, it wasn't my first exposure to The National, so in one regard, I sort of had an idea of what to expect from them, both lyrically and instrumentally. However, that being that, like any good artist, each album needs to be taken on its own and absorbed with time. I am so happy that Danny "Daniel" enjoys it, I really feel like the emotions expressed in the album can tie people together, we are experiencing The National's stories, but also grounding them in our world, and to enjoy them with someone else transforms this album into an emotional experience. Micah, in terms of being a "flat" album, I would argue that it fits with the theme of the album. Much like how King of Limbs is "flat" in its musical style, in that it is a very soft with insane drums, it is but one of many albums. However, as with TKOL, each track has many layers. Taking in an emotional story takes time, and I don't think, after a single listen, one can really grasp that. Long story short, Micah, put down the controller and give this album another listen, please. Let me feel your emotional strain and pain, let us feel the sorrows of life together.
also...still waiting for your radiohead playlists...
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Join us, Micah... Won't you join us?
Conversation 16 rated the best song on this album.
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