High Violet

Review by S.G.R. Black for High VioletRating: Violet` because I felt if I tried to publish anything meaningful or even try to publish an objective review I thinking I knew what I was talk about, I would have failed miserably while doing a serious injustice to the album. I have owned `High Violet` for months now, and just now I can rightly say that `High Violet` is seriously one of the best albums released in the final ten years.

I strongly beg to disagree in some people`s pale comparison to The National`s 2007 `The Boxer.` The depths to which `High Violet` sinks into The National`s commonly dark and melancholy state is staggeringly fresh and beautiful than any of their previous albums. The lyrics are genuinely poetic, but what actually makes `High Violet` truly stand out is its overall ambiance and coherence. `High Violet` represents a gut wrenching view or realization on life, love, and last much care one does after a night of bad works and heavy drinking; `High Violet` is the consequence or morning after of such a long regretful night. With only eleven tracks, there actually is NO mediocre song available, no skipping is required. If you make a short patience, `High Violet` will reward you immensely.

The intoxicating opener, `Terrible Love,` is an ironically positive love experience set against fuzzy guitars and rich and pulsing drums. "It takes an ocean not break" fits the music gorgeously as it, at times, does good like crashing waves. `Sorrow` is an honorable and intimate song of defeat. Berninger understands his fall into sadness. He doesn`t need to get over his loved one, and he`s all right with that. `Anyone`s Ghost` is stale and fittingly haunting. `A Little Faith` is a blue and musing and perhaps twisted affair as Berninger drones "You`ll find commiseration in everyone`s eyes/The storm will blow the pretty girls into the skies" and "We`ll play nuns versus priests until somebody cries." Your venture is as effective as mine. `I`m Afraid of Everyone` is an excellent return on isolation. Berninger is literally afraid of EVERYone, including his own child; "With my kid on my shoulders I try/Not to offend anybody I like." `Bloodbuzz Ohio` seems to be the only upbeat track on `High Violet.` However, the feel of fate is prevalent, "I still owe money to the money to the money I owe/I never thinking about love when I thinking about home/I still owe money to the money to the money I owe/The floors are dropping out from everybody I know." `Lemonworld` (my personal favorite), an undeniably pessimistic song which displays some interesting drumming and percussion work while the deep strum of guitars create an immediate presence. `Runaway` is a deliberately slow song to end all slow songs. It`s dripping with melancholy, yet the lyrics are quite affirming, "No I won`t be no runaway/`Cause I won`t run." `Conversation 16′ declares the "kids are in trouble." It`s a fascinating song where Berninger reveals his most inner thoughts, "I was afraid I`d eat your brains/`Cause I`m evil." `England` is arguably the prettiest song on `High Violet.` It`s a sweeping epic. `Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks` is The National`s answer to an anthem, and what an answer it is! What a closer. What an album.

`High Violet` possesses all the right ingredients to have a new classic! With five full length albums under The National`s all ready sophisticated belt, `High Violet` is the one they`ll be deservingly remembered for.