The National - Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers
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Free Music Notes for Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers
Free Music Review: Unbelievably Great!
Hit: 5 Stars
I read the great feature on these guys in the Fader and ordered the album. It is totally unbelievable how great this album is --- I will be very surprised if the National does not blow up --- or at least become a major cult band like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds or the Tindersticks. Songs like Thirsty, which starts off incredibly restrained but gradually grows richer sonically and ends with an absolutely brilliant string arrangement, just blow me away. Where did these guys come from? What I like most about this music is that it is smart and ambitious and hip without sounding overly contrived or image conscious. It seems to me that the National is not trying to sound like anyone or any particular genre (unlike most bands today). I get the feeling they are just making music as it comes to them -- without any thought to defining "a sound" that is easily marketed. The album ranges from stripped down traditional folk sounding tunes like 90 Mile Water Wall --- which seems inspired by almost any track of Bob Dylan's Desire --- to raging rockers like Murder Me Rachael and Available --- which seem to take their cues from Joy Division and even U2 --- to intricate electronic and acoustic arrangements like Patterns of Fairytales and Cardinal Song which seem almost entirely original to my ears.....very restrained, intelligent, plaintive vocal performances combined with subtle electronic percussion and intricate, almost classical guitar/keyboard/bass/string arrangements. It will be very interesting to see where this band goes --- there is a huge amount of talent and genuine songwriting here.Free Music Review: A great discovery
Hit: 5 Stars
The title of this album is misleading. It could be called Funny Songs for Angry Lovers ....or Dirty Songs for Sad Lovers....lyrically, the songs explore different sides of relationships and there is a lot of levity..... song titles like Trophy Wife and Sugar Wife make me think the album title may be intended as a joke. Though who can say. Whatever the case, this is an interesting, intense album.
There are quiet acoustic and electronic ballads like the frst song Cardinal Song and one of the last, Patterns of Fairytales ....but also totally blistering, raging rock songs like Murder Me Rachael and Available. I am partial to the latter....but I think they wouldn't be as effective without the quiet, beautiful moments. As far as influences, there are some hints of americana in the Wilco sense in spots (like 90 Mile Water Wall) but also Joy Division in other songs like Available. I was turned onto the National by a friend who is also a fellow Nick Cave fanatic, but I can't really compare them to any specific Cave era or album. I am more reminded at times of Leonard Cohen and even Silver Jewsand Wilco.
Free Music Review: try the Cherry Tree EP too
Hit: 5 Stars
I heard a song called All the Wine on the radio in Chicago from the National's more recent Cherry Tree EP and fell in love it. Got the EP and it is fantastic, one of my favorites of the year. It took me longer to get in to Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers -- probably because the first song, Cardinal Song, is a long, quiet sad and slow ballad --- but it is beautiful and I like it more and more. The second song, Slipping Husband, is the opposite -- up tempo, catchy and then unhinged in the end. The National keep you guessing though -- each song is like a new adventure and there are lots of different moods on this album. Overall, I have to say I prefer the Cherry Tree EP -- but Sad Songs will be in heavy rotation for me for some time. And I am very intersted to hear what comes next.Free Music Review: A definite grower; a definite beauty
Hit: 5 Stars
All of The National's albums have their merits...but few are quite as achingly sad as their sophomore album.
Just listen to the furious, tortured grating of Matt's voice on "Slipping Husband" or "Murder Me Rachael." Or the simple beauty of "Cardinal Song"'s tragic climax.
It's hard to think of a band that captures the unnameable unease that modernity instills in all of us. Ohio. The midwest. The pain of not living up to your own potential.
The themes that The National describe are rarely described anywhere, let alone in great music.
I can't say more than what's already been said. Buy the album. Listen to it only if you don't mind seeing your soul.
A wonderful masterpiece.
Free Music Review: one of my Top 3
Hit: 5 Stars
The first song is low...talks about personal weakness and how to hide your feelings from another. Mentions strangers ("you're just another one of them"), death and unknown men.
The second is completely different, in tone, in tempo. Full of energy & screams. Talks about being lonely ("she's lonely, man"), ghosts, haunted ("by an important life you could have led").. OK, same doleful content, but a lot more upbeat and forms a beautiful contrast to the first song.
I highly recommend this band because it's not typical Alt Country. No. Beautiful violins--it's more like a combination of continental classical mixed in with heartfelt American art-nouveau. Allez-y et achetez-le.