release date: May 10, 2010
format: cd (CAD 3XO3CD)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,92]
producer: The National
label: 4AD Records - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "Terrible Love" (live) - 2. "Sorrow" (5 / 5) - 3. "Anyone's Ghost" (4 / 5) (live on Later) - 4. "Little Faith" - 6. "Bloodbuzz Ohio" (5 / 5) - 7. "Lemonworld" - 9. "Conversation 16" - 10. "England" - 11. "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks"
5th full-length studio album by The National follows three years after their acclaimed Boxer (May 2007) and it's the first to be produced exclusively by the band, as well as being their first album on the Beggars Banquet parent label, 4AD.
At first, I was a bit lukewarm about this. Obviously, the giant single "Buzzbomb Ohio" stole much of the attention, but slowly, and over time, I think it's more than just a decently good album, and eventually, I have come to consider it the band's absolute best. The sound quality, the arrangements, and the production as such are much as on Boxer, only this one comes with several truly fine songs.
Highly recommended.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, 👍NME, 👍The Guardian, Spin 4 / 5 stars ]
