The National - Trouble Will Find Me

YorkeDaddy · 05-09-2013, 05:27 PM

The most anticipated album of the year for many, many people. Well, how good is it?

1. "I Should Live in Salt" 4:08
2. "Demons" 3:32
3. "Don't Swallow the Cap" 4:46
4. "Fireproof" 2:58
5. "Sea of Love" 3:41
6. "Heavenfaced" 4:23
7. "This Is the Last Time" 4:43
8. "Graceless" 4:35
9. "Slipped" 4:25
10. "I Need My Girl" 4:05
11. "Humiliation" 5:01
12. "Pink Rabbits" 4:36
13. "Hard to Find" 4:13

I Should Live in Salt
An excellent opener and one of my favorites from the album, to be quite honest. You are instantly greeted with some very pretty acoustic guitar playing and a unique time signature that throws you off for the first couple lines of the song. Berninger's voice is higher than it usually goes, and it makes for a rather soothing tune.

Demons
The lead single of the album, although it's probably the lowest point of the record and I can't help but question why this was their first choice. It feels a little dark and unsettling, but for the most part uninteresting and a song I've generally been skipping.

Don't Swallow the Cap
Things pick up here. A sweeping landscape of sounds, fronted by Berninger's baritone and beautiful melody make this one of the nicer listens on the album. Akin to the general formula for this band, the song constantly feels like it's building up towards a mighty climax, but said climax feels very brief and almost as if we're being teased, as if the record is just waiting to really knock our socks off a few tracks later...

Fireproof
What is your opinion of "Guest Room" from Boxer? You will feel the same way about this. The songs are very similar and fulfill the same purpose, making this track rather simplistic but beautiful at the same time.

Sea of Love
Boom. The album explodes with this masterfully done track, featuring Devendorf's crashing drums alongside intricate and powerful guitar playing to highlight Berninger's trademark vocals. "If I stay here trouble will find me, if I stay here I’ll never leave."

Heavenfaced
I recently read a review of this album that described this song as "post-coital," and frankly that's the best description that could be mustered here. After Sea of Love blows you away, this slow number brings your heart rate backdown. As an "album band," The National really know how to manage a listener's emotions, exemplified by the placement and tone of this song.

This is the Last Time
A damn good song. It feels so melancholic yet so hopeful, and peaks with a trademark crescendo that the band is known so well for. "You don't think before you jump," moans Berninger among the sea of sound.

Graceless
Devendorf repeatedly smacks that snare as the underrated, intricate guitar playing of the twins echoes in the background. Several words that rhyme with "Graceless" are uttered by Berninger for a couple minutes, and you're utterly stupefied at the musical bliss you're experiencing. I'm not sure how they do it, but they do. This will likely go down as one of The National's greatest works.

Slipped
It's hard to follow up after "Graceless", but this song does admirably. Berninger delivers a very intimate, minimalist vocal that works very well as a sort of 'fall-down' track after the climactic middle of the record.

I Need My Girl
Personally one of my favorites. A gorgeous guitar riff starts us off, followed by a touching melody that culminates into a simply beautiful track. It's not a masterpiece, but damn is it pretty. I also would really love to learn it to perform for my girlfriend

Humiliation
This feels like a "last hurrah" to send the record spiraling towards it's conclusion. It's fairly up-tempo and feels strangely joyous despite the less-than optimistic lyrics, creating one of those strange feelings that only The National can get out of a listener.

Pink Rabbits
The piano riff initially leads me to think I'm in for a rousing pop tune, but that would be too easy for this band. This may be one of the more heart-breaking moments of the album and feels regrettable and reflective. A powerful piece.

Hard to Find
A soft, lovely tune to send the record off to bed for the night. It doesn't climax like you keep expecting it to, and that's how you know the album is coming to a close, as you're met with some ambience and a few seconds of silence to top off this remarkable album.

The Verdict:
Um. Gosh. I can't say this is better than Boxer/High Violet, but it's simply a spectacular record that will go down as a classic.

05-09-2013, 05:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
YorkeDaddy silky smooth Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Pangaea Posts: 4,079	The National - Trouble Will Find Me The most anticipated album of the year for many, many people. Well, how good is it? 1. "I Should Live in Salt" 4:08 2. "Demons" 3:32 3. "Don't Swallow the Cap" 4:46 4. "Fireproof" 2:58 5. "Sea of Love" 3:41 6. "Heavenfaced" 4:23 7. "This Is the Last Time" 4:43 8. "Graceless" 4:35 9. "Slipped" 4:25 10. "I Need My Girl" 4:05 11. "Humiliation" 5:01 12. "Pink Rabbits" 4:36 13. "Hard to Find" 4:13 I Should Live in Salt An excellent opener and one of my favorites from the album, to be quite honest. You are instantly greeted with some very pretty acoustic guitar playing and a unique time signature that throws you off for the first couple lines of the song. Berninger's voice is higher than it usually goes, and it makes for a rather soothing tune. Demons The lead single of the album, although it's probably the lowest point of the record and I can't help but question why this was their first choice. It feels a little dark and unsettling, but for the most part uninteresting and a song I've generally been skipping. Don't Swallow the Cap Things pick up here. A sweeping landscape of sounds, fronted by Berninger's baritone and beautiful melody make this one of the nicer listens on the album. Akin to the general formula for this band, the song constantly feels like it's building up towards a mighty climax, but said climax feels very brief and almost as if we're being teased, as if the record is just waiting to really knock our socks off a few tracks later... Fireproof What is your opinion of "Guest Room" from Boxer? You will feel the same way about this. The songs are very similar and fulfill the same purpose, making this track rather simplistic but beautiful at the same time. Sea of Love Boom. The album explodes with this masterfully done track, featuring Devendorf's crashing drums alongside intricate and powerful guitar playing to highlight Berninger's trademark vocals. "If I stay here trouble will find me, if I stay here I’ll never leave." Heavenfaced I recently read a review of this album that described this song as "post-coital," and frankly that's the best description that could be mustered here. After Sea of Love blows you away, this slow number brings your heart rate backdown. As an "album band," The National really know how to manage a listener's emotions, exemplified by the placement and tone of this song. This is the Last Time A damn good song. It feels so melancholic yet so hopeful, and peaks with a trademark crescendo that the band is known so well for. "You don't think before you jump," moans Berninger among the sea of sound. Graceless Devendorf repeatedly smacks that snare as the underrated, intricate guitar playing of the twins echoes in the background. Several words that rhyme with "Graceless" are uttered by Berninger for a couple minutes, and you're utterly stupefied at the musical bliss you're experiencing. I'm not sure how they do it, but they do. This will likely go down as one of The National's greatest works. Slipped It's hard to follow up after "Graceless", but this song does admirably. Berninger delivers a very intimate, minimalist vocal that works very well as a sort of 'fall-down' track after the climactic middle of the record. I Need My Girl Personally one of my favorites. A gorgeous guitar riff starts us off, followed by a touching melody that culminates into a simply beautiful track. It's not a masterpiece, but damn is it pretty. I also would really love to learn it to perform for my girlfriend Humiliation This feels like a "last hurrah" to send the record spiraling towards it's conclusion. It's fairly up-tempo and feels strangely joyous despite the less-than optimistic lyrics, creating one of those strange feelings that only The National can get out of a listener. Pink Rabbits The piano riff initially leads me to think I'm in for a rousing pop tune, but that would be too easy for this band. This may be one of the more heart-breaking moments of the album and feels regrettable and reflective. A powerful piece. Hard to Find A soft, lovely tune to send the record off to bed for the night. It doesn't climax like you keep expecting it to, and that's how you know the album is coming to a close, as you're met with some ambience and a few seconds of silence to top off this remarkable album. The Verdict: Um. Gosh. I can't say this is better than Boxer/High Violet, but it's simply a spectacular record that will go down as a classic.