release date: May 22, 2007
format: cd (BBQCD 252)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: Peter Katis, The National
label: Beggars Banquet - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "Fake Empire" (4 / 5) - 2. "Mistaken for Strangers" - 3. "Brainy" - 6. "Slow Show" - 7. "Apartment Story" - 9. "Guest Room" - 11. "Ada"
4th full-length studio album by The National continues where Alligator (2005) ended, and thankfully so. Some critics suggest that the band has turned out as a mere copy of Tindersticks, but the style is not the similar quiet art pop chamber pop of Tindersticks. Also, The National has a fine wild energy that may be restricted but also released from time to time, or in small doses, and they have an underlying tone of post-punk revival hanging on to their own blend of styles, which cannot be said about the British band.
This is like a puzzle falling into place, and everything is almost right here. Perhaps the album lacks more great songs like "Fake Empire", but the quality of the compositions is really fine, the production sound is top notch, and the balance between sweet and sour - a play with loud and quiet... it all fits so well in their alt. rock and chamber pop combo of American melancholy.
So far, this is my favourite album by the band.
Highly recommendable.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone, Mojo, Spin 4 / 5, NME 3,5 / 5, Slant 5 / 5 stars ]
