389) The National - High Violet

Now I have struggled with bands in the past, Mercury Rev and Grandaddy took ages and I’m sorry if this offends some I still can’t get Lampchop’s Nixon or anything by Tindersticks and I know I am probably wrong.

I once read that The National sounded a bit like Tindersticks and because I am such an open minded man I never listened to them. It’s good to attempt to write music reviews with such an open mind.

Formed in 1999 we have two sets of brothers backing lead singer Matt Berninger who have slowly built up a following in the UK with ten albums to their name with High Violet being their fifth and their first to make the top ten here.

Terrible Love is the opener and the song adds layers as it progresses it builds but is controlled and intense but is a solid start and Sorrow is simple, beautiful and sad, locked in vocal from Berninger.  Drums seem to be the lead on Anyone’s Ghost which is more up-tempo and the backing vocalists enhance.

Little Faith I would have said was okay but at three minutes Matt raises his voice and the music has more gravitas, a slow burner. Bloodbuzz Ohio is magnificent the piano right up in the mix the band following and pounding drums and a slashing of the guitar to end, what idiot has waited years to listen to this.

Lemonhead Berringer stutters but it somehow works and Runaway is five minutes of beauty and the choir behind Matt on Conversation 16 is a nice touch and the lyrics are worth your time on a marriage/relationship struggling.

Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks is suitably dramatic and lush with added strings and the choir are back, no letting up in quality right to the end.

This is a record to put on and wallow in and again makes a mockery that the album is dead, another bloody one I am going to have to own on vinyl.

8.5/10

GIVE IT A STREAM: Bloodbuzz Ohio