National - National

NEW VINYL LP ON 4AD 2021
180 GRAM VINYL.
This Ohio-based band strikes a lush, adorable balance between the country-pop of bands such as Jayhawks and Golden Smog and the gloomy, depressing crooning of Tom Waits. Lead singer Matt Berninger manages to transcend leveling the fine background with some reflection and introspection on "Cold Girl Fever" and "Watching You Well." The country hues touched on in "American Mary" are only surpassed by the album's perfect song "Theory of the Crows," a morbid waltz through loneliness and loss. Throughout it all, the band manages not only to exceed their pigeonholed genres but gives a fresh perspective with brilliantly crafted numbers. Starting up where Wilco left off with their Summerteeth album, the group delivers a generous heaping of Americana and alt-country. Brilliant.

Tracklist

A1     Beautiful Head     
A2     Cold Girl Fever     
A3     The Perfect Song     
A4     American Mary     
A5     Son     
A6     Pay For Me     
B1     Bitters & Absolut     
B2     John's Star     
B3     Watching You Well     
B4     Theory Of The Crows     
B5     29 Years     
B6     Anna Freud