SMC - The National - Alligator
StoneG82
Posts: 806
hey guys.....I just discovered this record a few months ago. At first I didn't like it, but over time it grew to be one of favorite records. This band never gets talked about around these parts so I figured most of you haven't heard them.
here's what popmatters had to say:
"Musically, there's a mix and match approach to much of Alligator that works quite well. The band excels at establishing a mood and then playing within the dynamics of the song to keep things constantly moving and fresh. Drummer Bryan Devendorf is key to these shifts, and is one of the most musical drummers I've heard in some time. Not just content to stay in the pocket, Devendorf establishes the beat and then further explores the tonalities of the drums as an instrument in a manner that is sorely lacking in most rock music. His style is more akin to a jazz drummer's finesse. Add guitars that strangely evoke double time country-style picking and Cure-style bass, and I can't for the life of me see how it could be called "uninspiring" and "supremely unlikeable". Songs like the piano-driven "Karen" and the chamber-pop of "The Geese of Beverly Road" contain some classic pop songwriting with a decidedly darker spin on things, while the heartbreaking two-fer of "Val Jester" and "Daughters of the SoHo Riots" contrast the more boisterous tracks like the Westerberg-sounding "Abel" and climactic album closer "Mr. November". Alligator covers a lot of sonic territory, yet still manages to hold it all together to make a fine, cohesive long player.
I should also point out that while the National are considered a "Brooklyn" band, all of its members hail from Cincinnati, Ohio, and don't really stylistically have much in common with Interpol, the Walkmen, or any other bands from the Williamsburg scene. For one thing, the band has a sly sense of self-effacing humor and a good grasp of social irony that is far more intelligent than say, the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs for example. To lump them in with these bands is kind of misleading and not representative of what the band is doing on Alligator.
Finally, I find Matt Berninger's voice to be warm, rich, and somewhat evocative of Leonard Cohen, and I feel it's a good analogy to use in trying to explain what Berninger and the National are all about. Lyrically, Berninger is mining similar territory to Cohen's, and while the band is seemingly open to any influence, I keep hearing the first two Psychedelic Furs albums as the foundation of the band's sound. Call me crazy.
Alligator is one of those albums that slowly dawns on you. Given half a chance, it's ultimately a very rewarding listening experience that I predict will continue to grow in stature as time passes."
people seem to love it or hate it. it's a huge grower though, and from my experience took a few spins before it really jumped out at me. "Daughters of the SoHo Riots" is my current favorite track. It's a beautiful piece of music.
I hope you guys like it.
here's what popmatters had to say:
"Musically, there's a mix and match approach to much of Alligator that works quite well. The band excels at establishing a mood and then playing within the dynamics of the song to keep things constantly moving and fresh. Drummer Bryan Devendorf is key to these shifts, and is one of the most musical drummers I've heard in some time. Not just content to stay in the pocket, Devendorf establishes the beat and then further explores the tonalities of the drums as an instrument in a manner that is sorely lacking in most rock music. His style is more akin to a jazz drummer's finesse. Add guitars that strangely evoke double time country-style picking and Cure-style bass, and I can't for the life of me see how it could be called "uninspiring" and "supremely unlikeable". Songs like the piano-driven "Karen" and the chamber-pop of "The Geese of Beverly Road" contain some classic pop songwriting with a decidedly darker spin on things, while the heartbreaking two-fer of "Val Jester" and "Daughters of the SoHo Riots" contrast the more boisterous tracks like the Westerberg-sounding "Abel" and climactic album closer "Mr. November". Alligator covers a lot of sonic territory, yet still manages to hold it all together to make a fine, cohesive long player.
I should also point out that while the National are considered a "Brooklyn" band, all of its members hail from Cincinnati, Ohio, and don't really stylistically have much in common with Interpol, the Walkmen, or any other bands from the Williamsburg scene. For one thing, the band has a sly sense of self-effacing humor and a good grasp of social irony that is far more intelligent than say, the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs for example. To lump them in with these bands is kind of misleading and not representative of what the band is doing on Alligator.
Finally, I find Matt Berninger's voice to be warm, rich, and somewhat evocative of Leonard Cohen, and I feel it's a good analogy to use in trying to explain what Berninger and the National are all about. Lyrically, Berninger is mining similar territory to Cohen's, and while the band is seemingly open to any influence, I keep hearing the first two Psychedelic Furs albums as the foundation of the band's sound. Call me crazy.
Alligator is one of those albums that slowly dawns on you. Given half a chance, it's ultimately a very rewarding listening experience that I predict will continue to grow in stature as time passes."
people seem to love it or hate it. it's a huge grower though, and from my experience took a few spins before it really jumped out at me. "Daughters of the SoHo Riots" is my current favorite track. It's a beautiful piece of music.
I hope you guys like it.
"What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
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Comments
The thing is, I just bought a few new death metal albums so it will be a while before I get around to this.
good pick.
Brave to try to gamble at times
fav song: geese of beverly road
~it is shining it is shining~
transplant, There's some really great tracks towards the end of the record. "Mr November" is one of my favorites, as well as "the Geese of Beverly Road".
i was counting down the days until it came out after i got done with "sad songs..". you should check that one out.
Brave to try to gamble at times
If you can't get high on purely music and the sounds that you hear, you're missing out on something.
I'll get on that!
hmm, sad songs deserves a listen.
Check out the pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnforte/sets/72057594141782265/
AngryCitizen.org
~it is shining it is shining~
awesome!! i dig this pick ! i need to listen to it a few more times.... don't know which tunes are my faves.
~it is shining it is shining~
WAR + MAGIC BEANS = PEACE
I like the simplicity of the record...its lo-fi without trying to be minimalistic. I get what burnin-candle is saying that it sounds like a UK band but also like a New York band. I do hear some Lou Reed in the singer's voice...you know that detached vocal style. "Looking for Astronauts" is highly intoxicating...I'd love to listen to it late at night when I'm slightly buzzed. Does anyone else think the beginning of "Mr. November" sounds like the Song remains the Same by Led Zep ?
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