There's something that sets The National apart from any other band in existence; a 'je ne sais quoi' factor about them that puts them in a world of their own, and it's the summation of many things. Matt Berninger's anomalous lyrics and smooth baritone voice. The production strengths of Aaron Dessner. The compositional talents of Bryce Dessner. They're a force like no other, and their albums from 2010 onwards are downright groundbreaking to me. Now, that's not to say that their catalogue before that isn't great too, but it's definitely more streamlined as guitar based indie rock music. This past decade has shown a side of them that is extremely experimental and new. Their last album, Sleep Well Beast was only released a year and a half ago and they're already back with a new single. In this day and age that's sort of a rarity, with albums being spaced out at a 3-5 year rate. But the quick turnaround time definitely shows the creative well is flowing for the New York quintet, and this first single is a good indication that they're keeping things extremely fresh. You Had You Soul With You is vibrant and energetic. It's uptempo; it's airy; it's cathartic. It's a three and a half minute realization of everything you hope you can be in life. It's impossible not to find it inspirational, in spite of the macabre theme of the lyrics. The song cries out, 'I had only one thing left, and I couldn't see it yet,' but the music says, 'I see it now and I want to be better.' It's a beautiful dichotomy. The track is rounded out by Gail Ann Dorsey's vocal feature on the bridge. A long time collaborator with David Bowie, touring member of Tears For Fears, and a contributor to many other acts, her status among session musicians is among the utmost legends. While 2017's Sleep Well Beast featured a dark cover, and almost broodingly ominous sounding song titles, this new album I Am Easy To Find seems like it's going to be the complete flipside. The cover is light, and the song titles are soft and moving. Quiet Light, Roman Holiday, and Dust Swirls In Strange Light, all capture my attention as light and comforting. I have no way of confirming this until the album is released on May 17th, but my instincts tell me it will be something along those lines. ~Fonfur
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April 2019
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