The National - High Violet (2010)

High Violet (2010) is too brilliant to have come from this world. Any of the adjectives I would typically use to describe music I love would fail to do this album justice.

As for the requisite comparisons to Boxer (2007), these songs are more layered, make more use of piano, and create an ambiance that's immediately darker and more melancholic. As with all their work, beneath the somber tone I hear hope in Matt Berninger's voice. This isn't just gloom; there's a real sense of life to these songs, kind of like a dark room with light spilling in through a window. The complexity of their music demands multiple listens. The more you immerse yourself in this, the more you'll gain from it.

If, for some reason, you haven't heard this band, please do. The hype machine isn't always wrong.

The National - Boxer (2007)

This has become one of my favorite albums of all time. Surprisingly, since the only reason I listened to it in the first place was to see what all the hype was about. These guys deserve it though. They're very humble, and their music is relatively accessible, unlike most indie-rock darlings. I guess what I like most about them is that they create a brooding mood with their dense arrangements and Matt Berningers deep voice. The strings and piano contributes nicely to this. Not only that but the subject matter of the songs is often abstract and meaningful. It's probably pointless to describe this, but for those who don't know, this is a mellow, soothing album that also manages to be somewhat unsettling and keeps my interest throughout. Pitchfork (damn them) actually described this album pretty well. "Like those on their last album, these songs reveal themselves gradually but surely, building to the inevitable moment when they hit you in the gut. It's the rare album that gives back whatever you put into it." That's what this did for me. At first listen it was pleasant, well-written indie pop. After a few more listens I suddenly realized this was something special. For those who've somehow lost their copy: mediafire