Instant Album Review: The National – High Violet

The National - High Violet

Instant Album Review: The National – High Violet (May 11, 2010)
Once many bands hit their third album, the quality of their work tends to decline precipitately. A band may spend years crafting songs for their first album, but two albums later, the rigors of touring, maintaining creative cohesiveness and lack artist inspiration leaves them a shell of their former selves. For me, the third album becomes the line of demarcation …

Matt Berninger and the brothers Dessner and Devendorf are back for The National’s fifth LP, High Violet, which will be released on May 11, 2010. Given the success of the band’s fourth album, Boxer, there could be reason to doubt whether the new album would be able to match the quality of work. The doubters can exhale.

Led, as usual, by Berninger’s baritone vocals, the band has created what may be their most mature album to-date. Much as with Band of Horses new album, The National have created an album that is accessible to the masses. Gone are boisterous vocals which were found on past albums – think “Mr. November” – as Berninger opts for smoother, more even-toned vocals.

Musically, the band remains distinctive while being able to balance the line between creativity and complacency of sound. One of the first released tracks from the album, “Afraid of Everyone” is a perfect epitome for the album: haunting music, even vocals and confident delivery.

Given the number of projects the band’s members have undertaken in the last couple of years, it’s good to see that it didn’t negatively affect their work on High Violet. A few listens in, it’s hard to rank this album with Boxer or Alligator, but having surpassed the three-album bar with ease, this album does maintain the high level of work one expects from The National.