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The National may sound like a garage band turned down, but there's as much primal energy lurking behind Alligator as in any mop-topped group of city kids with bloodstained Danelectros in a dusty warehouse. While Matt Berninger's lyrics and conversational delivery rely heavily on the kind of literate self-absorption that fuels so much of the indie rock scene today, he never comes off as preachy or unaware that the world would manage just fine without him; rather, he uses metaphor and humor as bullet points for a profound sense of displacement and anger. Out-of-the-blue statements like "f*ck me and make me a drink," from the brooding but lovely "Karen," are effective because the listener is brought into the story slowly, almost amiably, before being led to the plank. Berninger's wry, filthy, and often eloquently sad tales of materialism, sex, and loneliness are augmented by the stellar duel-sibling attack of Aaron Dessner (guitar) and Bryce Dessner (guitar) and Scott Devendorf (guitar/bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums), who flesh out each track with so many little creative flourishes that it takes a few listens to break them down into palatable portions. There are upbeat moments found within -- "Lit Up" and "Looking for Astronauts" -- but for the most part the National are content with playing the genial fatalists, and while "All the Wine" seems designed to serve as the record's desolate backbone, "Baby, We'll Be Fine," with its quick changes, lush orchestration, and winsome refrain of "I'm so sorry for everything" is, despite an elegiac delivery, Alligator's loneliest track, and like each part of this fine collection of city-weary poetry, it's as brief as it is affecting. ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide
more albums by this artist
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- Boxer
- Released 2007
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- A Skin, A Night + The Virginia
- Released 2008
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- Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers
- Released 2003
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- The National
- Released 2001
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listener reviews
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Amazing
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- By j8auer
- 1/18/2009 16:49:16
- "I think I'm like Tennessee Williams, I wait for the click, I wait but it doesn't kick in" croons Matt Berninger in City Middle, fortunately for him and the National the "click" does kick in. This is a solid album from start to finish, and it is very rare that I come across an album that I like every track. Any one who finds it hard to listen too, be it too melodic or too mellow, you just need to give the album 2 listens, and let it get its hooks into you. Matt's voice is like Thom Yorkes, in the sense that you can't gauge it the way you gauge other more traditional singers; keep that in mind.
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