In my mind this album is much more polished than Boxer, but it is actually more abrasive and in ways, noisy.
When he pulls the vocals back here, fantastic. It makes so much difference.
Little Faith
Another track where the drums take centre stage for me, the drummer for The National is one of my favourite drummers of the last few years, he rarely plays traditional drum patters. - edit this was in reference to Anyone’s Ghosts.
Some intro on this one, that actual noise, then it relaxing into this, settles into a nice groove, the vocals are very well delivered.
Love that little bass riff that leads into the verse on this.
It’s one of those songs (by name) I’m not actually sure if I know, but when it comes on it is really lovely.
Love the subtleties on this track, the light touches of guitar with strings quietly building in the background.
Then there is real tension when that chorus kicks back in.
Afraid of Everyone
This is just sublime. Not much between Boxer & High Violet for me. No bad songs on either album.
Love the backing vocals on this track, beautiful lifting above the menacing main melody and lyrics.
Lyrics so warm, love the delivery of them, distant.
The lyrics to this are wonderful. The music is equal to that.
Those drums.
Then that drum comes in with those guitar notes, sublime.
Like being punched through a pillow.
This was the first album I listened to from The National and after listening to it for a week I immediately went out and bought everything else they had released. Such a great album.
The vocal and lyric now, they don’t get better than this.
Love those subtle brass notes that warm through the outro.
Bloodbuzz Ohio
No let up on this album yet.
Subtle monster after subtle monster.