[rating=7.00]
Brooklyn-based band The National have been making music together for almost two decades. The 2007 release of Boxer brought the band both widespread critical acclaim and increased exposure. Following the release of 2013’s Trouble Will Find Me, the band curated a 59-track charity tribute album to the Grateful Dead called The Day of the Dead that included over 60 artists and the proceeds benefited the AIDS/ HIV charity Red Hot Organization. With their new album, Sleep Well Beast, the band finds a new musical direction that is aided by the use of symphonic orchestration, electronic textures, as well as an obvious influence of spending so much time immersed in the musical world of the Grateful Dead.
Sleep Well Beast is the wildest that the band has let themselves get outside of their live shows. The first single from the album, “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness,” starts with random electronic noises before introducing steely guitars with a drum loop and a grand piano complete with horns and a crooning chorus and a guitar riff hook. While the single may not feel too far removed from other National songs, “Turtleneck” finds singer Matt Berninger shouting political lyrics like, “Light the water/ Check for lead” before the rare guitar solo wails its way into the song. Some other tracks that sound strikingly different from other National songs are “I’ll Still Destroy You” and “Guilty Party”, which include sonic textures that feel like they wouldn’t be out of place on a Radiohead song. With many of the songs being centered around piano and baritone vocals, the album is still ultimately a quintessential National album that flits between a newer, more exciting sound to their usual restrained, understated songs.
While the album may not convince the naysayers to convert to being fans of The National, the added layers and sonic textures of Sleep Well Beast at least warrant a cursory listen. Matt Berninger’s crooning vocals are still a little too forward in the mix but the perfectionism that the Dessner brothers bring to the creation of this album makes it something special to behold. The album themes of dealing with middle age and the feelings of regret and dissolution of relationships that tend to come with it permeate almost every song on the album. With fans of the band aging alongside the band, the lyrics are relatable and some may find comfort in commiserating.
