SMC - The National - Alligator

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.