When ‘Terrible Love’ opens The National’s newest album ‘High Violet’, you might catch yourself checking your speakers to make sure there are no loose wires. The first 15 seconds are pure lo-fi fuzz, an airy ode to My Bloody Valentine. But then Matt Berninger starts his instantly identifiable drone, which pierces the static like a sheet of water. What began as a gentle wake up slowly builds until the the reverb fills the room and Berninger repeats over and over “It takes an ocean not to break” and the band hits a layered, uplifting crescendo that would make Arcade Fire smile. It’s a powerful track one, and it’s only a teaser of what is already the best album of the year.

It still sounds like The National, but they’ve never sounded this awake. Berninger, always understated, sometimes monotone, delivers soulful, literate, stream of consciousness thoughts in a delicate baritone that sounds like he might splinter apart if pushed too far. But he keeps pushing this time out, finding a range to match his soaring emotions. Sometimes it’s an awkward stutter like on ‘Afraid of Everyone’ where he sounds like a record jumping grooves ‘Your voice is swallowing my soul-soul-soul’. It turns to pure silk on ‘Sorrow’ where the band plays a sparkling angelic driving beat as he half whispers, as if he might be ashamed to admit it, that ‘I don’t want to get over you’. And on ‘England’ it becomes an operatic, layered projecting chorus. Even if you can’t fully decipher the words or the meaning behind the lyrics (’cause all the silver girls gave us black dreams/leave the silver city/to all the silver girls/everything means everything/I was afraid I’d eat your brains /Cause I’m evil’ on ‘Conversation 16′) you can gather connotation from how he sings. Like The Cocteau Twins or The Talking Heads, the meaning of these songs does not come through a concrete narrative, but through a texture of words, sounds and inflection.

The band displays a similar broadening range, moving between the gentle chamber indie-folk of ‘Runaway’ to the slow burning storm of ‘England’ to the towering anthem of ‘Bloodbuzz Ohio’. Everything sounds thickly layered, with horns and strings washing through and choruses of backing vocals adding further depth. It’s a wall of sound, but it never sounds muddy. Even the lo-fi fuzz on tracks like ‘Terrible Love’ comes gently and feels comforting. Indie rock likes to sound pretty, but it rarely hits the highs that ‘High Violet’ reaches on every other track.

‘Bloodbuzz Ohio’ deserves special mention. The first single from the album, it’s also the first song by The National that actually deserves to be released as such. For a band that willfully kept their heads down and played to the critics, ‘Bloodbuzz’ sounds like a wake up call. The drum beats burst out of the gate, hurtling the song into a lush, spiraling wall of sound and the best use of piano in rock and roll since Pink Floyd’s ‘Us and Them’. It’s an epic road trip of a song, one that will raise hairs on your arms and make your chest hurt with the staggering beauty of it all. As it climaxes in a final rush of insistent pounding tides of sound, you’ll find yourself looking for the repeat button. ‘Bloodbuzz’ is easily one of the best songs of the decade.

(being given a leaflet)

(not looking at it)

(looking at a Priest)

(with friendly, kind, no fuck that, with, the colour, the colour …  with amazingly grey eyes)

…

Priest: Why don’t you come and pray with me?

…

X: Why are you listening to him, just let’s go, ok?

H: No.

…

H: Why would I wanna pray with you?

X: Fucking hell.

P: To find a minute or two that allows you to get away from this rat race.

H: Where?

X: Husten, I’m off.

…

H: It’s ok, I’ll find her soon.

…

H: Right, ready to pray now. Where do you wanna go?

P: Follow me, it’s just around the corner.

…

P: You comfortable?

H:

P: You sure?

H: Wasn’t expecting an empty room above a High Street shop.

P: Our resources are very limited and the friendly, kind people downstairs …

H: Do they have grey eyes, by any chance?

P: They have very colourful, bright eyes.

…

H: Dunno, you could have at least, oh I dunno, like, got some candles.

P: You are not comfortable, are you?

…

H: I’ll be honest with you, I don’t want to continue with this.

P: That’s perfectly fine, Husten. Here is my card, if you ever …

…

H: I like you, but I’m a snob, religion should be practised in appropriate surroundings. Cathedrals and the like. Not …

P: I understand.

…

P: I know you know your bible and I could quote you …

H: Shhh, let’s be respectful in these surroundings …

P: (laughs)

H: (smiles) I like that you laugh …

P: Yeah, well you are not the first one to make comments about where I try people to discover God.

…

(walking back)

P: You don’t believe in God, do you?

H: Naaah, not the right question. Sorry, buddy. See you around, ok?

P: You have got my card.

…

…

(much later)

(much much later)

H: Wait, wait, wait a second.

X: Oh my God, Husten, you are soooo pissed.

H: Fuck off.

X: Find your fucking keys.

H: Who the fuck needs keys?

X: This is soooo funny. What are you doing?

H: Trying to find a piece of paper … Listen, I can’t carry you across the threshold of the front door until I …

X: What the fuck, Husten.

H: Ah! Here it is.

X:

H: Sacrificing the lamb, and all that.

X: Let me in! I need to pee.

H: Haha, wait, here we go.

X: Great. You are setting fire to somebody’s card, feel better now? I so need to use the toilet, will you let me in?

…

H: You gonna be comfortable and warm enough on there?

X: I’ll be fine, just need to call Mick.

H: I’ll be next-doors if you need anything.

X: ‘night.

H: ‘night.

.

.

]]> http://weworemasks.wordpress.com/2010/05/14/video-the-national-afraid-of-everyone-live-on-letterman-2010/ Fri, 14 May 2010 21:46:21 +0000 weworemasks http://weworemasks.wordpress.com/2010/05/14/video-the-national-afraid-of-everyone-live-on-letterman-2010/

those dapper fellows in the national just released their anticipated album high violet, which was just bnm’ed on p4k. the brooklyn boys skipped over to the ed sullivan with special guest sufjan stevens in tow to perform the sufjan guested track “afraid of everyone”. way to brood national. bravo.

high violet is out now.

download:

the national – afraid of everyone

- sunbear

They even brought Sufjan Stevens along for backup vocal support.

Watch it via The Connection over on the right.

Update: My blog is acting the fool and not updating my videos very quickly, so if you can’t see the video on the right, head here.

H: I like how you keep on saying my name, nobody else does that.

X: Meaning what?

H: Dunno. Just like it. I like the sound of my own name.

…

X: Nice lunch. I’m gonna have to go and do what I’m paid for.

H: What’s with that awful ring?

X: Fuck off.

…

H: Don’t you know I hate the word “nice” as well?

…

I’m afraid of everyone.

…

I wish I did drugs. Any. But, no. Gotta be bloody sensible. I blame my education. My upbringing. My parents.

I wish I lived in New York. In the 80′s and 90′s. When every white, middle-class failure blamed their parents. With the help of an expensive shrink.

I wish my dad was still alive. With a brain not raped by a terrible illness. We’d argue for sure. But. I miss his input. I miss his unbearable fake authority. I miss his flaws. I miss his weakness. His weaknesses. God almighty, I’m smiling now. Thinking about him.

I’m quite sure he’d miss my weaknesses too.

…

H: I’m a different person.

X: Are you fuck.

…

H: Please tell me, that after all these years, your breasts have started sagging.

X: Just a normal bra, Husten.

H: Your breasts are the most natural, beautiful I have ever … huh … thinking here … the most natural, beautiful I have ever been allowed to fondle … and kiss.

X: They are still the same.

H: They cant … What’s the look for?

X:

H: Ok, ok, I stop.

…

H: Thinking about kids?

X: Yeah, we are.

…

X: I know what you are thinking and it is disgusting.

H: No, no, no, hear me out.

X: Husten.

H: Breast-feeding won’t do you any good.

X: Why would that be?

H: Coz after Mick has left you, you know, you gotta be in the market again, and breast-feeding is …

X: Enough now.

…

X: Hungry?

H: Fuck me, X, I’m so glad to be eating here again. Thank you.

…

H: You’re smiling.

X:

…

H: I’m a different person.

X: Are you fuck.

…

X: You haven’t lost that spontaneity at all, have you?

H: Just the drink, X.

X: Not because of me?

H: Would you like me to say so?

…

H: If this ain’t love, why does it feel so good?

X: Cheesy.

…

H: I’m a different person.

X: Are you fuck.

…

H: You’re smiling.

X: I’m trying to imagine … Mick wouldn’t like you very much.

…

H: Your breasts, love.

X: I’m not an object, Husten.

H: Don’t fucking give me that. I taught you all about that. Remember my lectures about porn?

X: Haha.

H: I bet Mick is wanking on some porn right now as we speak.

X: Good for him.

…

H: It was never about your body, lovely, your amazing tits.

X: Let me guess, about my smile?

H: No, it was about the way you experienced an orgasm. The way you came.

…

X: You love sex as much as I do.

H: More than most people do, just like you.

X: But don’t you see? I’m trying to settle down.

H: How is it going thus far?

…

X: Husten, please, don’t call me on my mobile anymore.

H: I so fucking will. Just a question by the way.

X: Typical … I give you my time and you assume …

H: Tell me, what do you like about Mick?

X: What is it to you?

H: No, you see, wrong answer. You should have answered, “he’s got a big dick.”

X: Jesus, Husten, how immature are you?

H: Simple. Don’t answer anymore when I call you.

…

And so she didn’t.

Quite.

Quite reassuringly so.

Quite rightly so.

Coz.

After all.

I’m an arsehole.

Avant la lettre.

…

Lovely. She that reads my blog. My posts. She that knew about Milena. At a far younger age. Both of them. She that knew me in Soho. While I was grieving. While. Milena was raw then. Still is. Fuck. As far as I know, as far as you know, I am raw. Raw as an illegal Cuban cigar in the White House. From an American President and an intern in an … well, what shall we go for? … Unlubricated pussy? Better still, unlubricated arse? Feel the pain? Lovely. Feel my pain?

…

I wish I had recorded our conversations.

This post does not do justice to them.

…

The National were on Jools Holland last night.

Made me feel a tiny lot better.

…

We have a Prime Minister now whose favourite band is The Smiths.

We have a Deputy Prime Minister now who speaks fluent Dutch.

Fuck me, Gordy Bordy Porgy. Good riddance.

…

Us, British, have IDEAS again.

(see link to my post (posted more than two years no less))

…

I may want to stay in the UK after all.

…

So no good riddance to me, I’m afraid.

… / …

H: I’m a different person.

X: Are you fuck.

… / …

I’m afraid of everyone.

Really am.

… / …

Sorry.

It used to be.

Perverse.

Living in Britain nowadays.

But.

I’m on fire.

Really am.

… / …

Thank you. And goodnight.

Which is not so obviously.

But.

Dunno.

Must be this period. Reconnecting with people not having seen in a long time.

Was introduced, no re-introduced to an old flame of mine. From my London times.

Was nowt more than a fling. Then. Nowt serious. Just nowt really.

But.

Seeing her in London. In Soho. Where I used to live. In a Chinese restaurant. Going to the Dog and Duck afterwards, one of my old haunts. (old haunts? fuck me, Husten, cliches man!)

Hearing her taking the piss out of me again.

“You didn’t pay for the meal, I guess this one is on me as well, right? Still skint as usual?” (I tried to look as coy as I could possible can)

Hearing her say, “Here’s your Landlord.”

Dunno.

Hmmm, I genuinely don’t know. This was going somewhere. Lost my thread.

Soz.

…

People are nice to me.

I still don’t know why.

…

I wore somebody else’s suit yesterday.

Made me feel I should have taken up acting.

…

Another somebody asked something yesterday. A question no less.

I answered, “I was trying to save bears.”

Didn’t go down too well.

…

I’m surrounded by idiots, you said.

Why, I asked.

No one is making a move on me, you said.

So what, I asked.

Coz I’m ready to be shagged, you said.

I just looked, and didn’t ask anything.

Not fucking you, you said.

…

Husten: Hold on. Let me try fingerspitzengefühl.

X: What?

H: Magic fingers, you know.

X: Why do you always come so fast?

H: Why do you always come so late?

…

Behold!

I can see!

You can see!

We can see!

We don’t get on very well, us human beings, do we?

Not even quietly.

…

H: You smoke too much.

Milena: (some Polish curse word).

…

H: You smoke too much.

A: I know.

…

H: Father?

Daddy Husten: Yes, son?

H: You smoke too much.

DH: Just something to hold in my hand, you know.

H: Father?

DH: Yes, son?

H: I hate you.

…

H: Mother?

Mummy Husten: Yes, son?

H: All the children are insane.

MH: Why do you keep saying such nonsense all the time?

H: The West is the best.

MH: Go and do your homework.

…

And I walked on down the hall.

And I didn’t come to a room.

And I couldn’t look inside.

…

But I put my boots on.

…

I did you know.

…

Come on, baby, take a chance with us.

…

The National performing So Far Around the Bend for P4K

I just can’t wait for the new album to drop this 11th of May. Whilst we avid fans wait, let’s listen to a few of the new tracks off the album. Afraid of Everyone is crazy amazing and all this anticipation is driving me nuts!

The National - Afraid of Everyone

The National – Bloodbuzz Ohio (Track can be downloaded free in American Mary (The National’s Official Website)

The National – So Far Around The Bend

A must listen.

The National | Afraid of Everyone

MP3: The National (Featuring Sufjan Stevens) – Afraid Of Everyone

Here is another new song from the highly anticipated album “High Violet”:

Download:

HOME
MYSPACE

More goodness from The National, thanks to Pitchfork…

Download ‘Afraid of Everyone’, the fifth track from High Violet, here.

Afraid of Everyone – The National

Bloodbuzz Ohio – The National

No one can say that The National aren’t a bunch of sweethearts.  “Afraid of Everyone” is the second MP3 they’ve given us from their forthcoming album, High Violet.  It’s another hushed, brooding rush of their patented chamber-rock.  This time, they even manage to evoke Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.  It’s also another knock-out track.  High Violet is shaping up to be another classic.  If you missed the first single, “Bloodbuzz Ohio”, I’ve re-posted it below.

High Violet is out 5/11 via 4AD.

Download MP3: “Afraid of Everyone”

Download MP3: “Bloodbuzz Ohio”

On first listen it’s a brooding, building number with a (whisper it) pretty danceable grove running in the background. Bloodbuzz Ohio only got better with each listen and I imagine this will do the same. Lovely backing vocals too. What ya reckon?

With my kid on my shoulders I try not to hurt anybody I like / But I don’t have the drugs to sort it out

The National – Afraid of Everyone (right click)