National - Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers

NEW VINYL LP ON 4AD 2021
180 GRAM VINYL.
For a band that's been compared to Joy Division, Leonard Cohen, Wilco, and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, the National sure sounds a lot more like the Czars or Uncle Tupelo on this sophomore album Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers. Where the band might lack Joy Division's angular fury, Cohen's existentialism, and Cave's vampiric attack, vocalist Matt Berninger and company whip up a murky alt country meets chamber pop vibe that's quite potent. The five-piece mostly keeps things on the country side of the fence during the album's first half, as slide guitars and fiddles overpower just about any hint of rock styling except the drumbeat, occasional feedback, and some screeching guitar freak-outs.

Tracklist

Cardinal Song     6:16
Slipping Husband     3:21
90-Mile Water Wall     3:42
It Never Happened     4:36
Murder Me Rachael     3:44
Thirsty     3:46
Available     3:19
Sugar Wife     2:20
Trophy Wife     3:31
Fashion Coat     2:01
Patterns Of Fairytales     3:42
Lucky You     4:21