The best word I can use to describe The National is "elegant". However, they are also one of the best examples of the current state of indie rock music. Borrowing heavily from some 80's post-punk bands (most obviously from the band Echo and the Bunnymen), and mixing this with a few post-rock guitar elements and a highly literate approach to songwriting that takes several listens to sink in, The National have created some of the most gorgeous music that I've ever heard, and three of my favorite rock albums of all time.
Originally hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio (here's a local band for you, Beth and Thomas), The National eventually moved to Brooklyn to become a part of the scene that has taken over the indie rock world over the past few years (The Animal Collective are a part of this group). Consisting of a pair of a pair of brothers, including Bryce and Aaron Dessner and Scott and Bryan Devendorf, along with vocalist Matt Berninger, The National are all about the songwriting. Berninger, who writes the lyrics, has a tendency to write repetitive phrases that on the surface can sometimes appear to be non-sensical, but with repeated listenings reveal themselves to be poignant metaphors for young men and women first entering adulthood, which is of course the part of life of which all of us are currently living through.
The National have very frequently been described as a "grower", meaning that while their music might not seem that special upon the initial listen, as the message and the instrumentation sinks in after time, the albums become better and better. I can firmly attest to this, as I wasn't very impressed with any of the albums when I first heard them, but by my second or third listen, I had fallen in love with them. This could possibly make this an unsuccessful pick on my part, as a week might not be enough time to have the appreciation for these albums that they deserve, but I still feel that this band is an integral part of our current musical world, and everyone should be exposed to them even for only a short time. All I ask, as with every pick, is that everyone gives them a chance to grow on them.
The Albums:
1.) Alligator (2005)
2.) Boxer (2007)
3.) High Violet (2010) [my current album of the year]
