I have never really liked The National. I understand the appeal of Matt Berninger's baritone vocals, but I never understood the hype. However, my opinion of the the Brooklyn band has changed with this record. High Violet is a masterfully crafted album that will certainly make everyone's top 10 list.
High Violet is easily one of the prettiest and most heart-wrenching albums I have heard all year. From it's opener, "Terrible Love," to the newest singles from the album, "Bloodbuzz Ohio" and "Anyone's Ghost," High Violet draws you in with it's hauntingly gorgeous melodies. The one problem I have with this record is that, like past National records, there is not enough ebb and flow. You go from bereaved track to bereaved track and not much changes in the atmosphere of the record. High Violet stays static and makes you feel unbelievably empty, but yet reflective. This is not a bad thing, but it is to say that High Violet is not an album that I can just listen to whenever I feel like it. Rather, this is an album you should listen to when your in a mood of sadness. Save this album from a day when your in the right head space and let it take you to a magnificently empty occurrence.
The National - "Bloodbuzz Ohio"
Rating: 89/100
- Greg
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