By Grace Dietz
Staff Writer
The National shows their true colors in their newest album by creating a genuine track that moves many listeners with feelings of true sorrow for the lead singer characterized by the diverse beats and melancholy themes. Despite the fact that some tracks are extraordinary with delightfully heartfelt vocals, practically all of the tracks are ominous with menacing moods.
The National’s latest album, “Sleep Well Beast,” is both profoundly depressing due to mellow vocals and exceptionally brilliant with its soulful lyrics. However, the album can be difficult to listen to, mainly because the majority of the lyrics are inaudible due to the lead singer’s whispering.
The National is best known for the alternative and indie rock sounds displayed in their six previous records. “Sleep Well Beast” was produced by an independent record label, 4AD Records. The band consists of guitarists Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, and Scott Devendorf and vocalist Matt Berninger.
The National was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 2014 Grammy Awards for their sixth album “Trouble Will Find Me.” Their album, “High Violet,” reached #1 on the Billboard Alternative Album charts on May 29, 2010, which was their first album to reach #1 since 1999, when the band first formed.
“Sleep Well Beast,” an album based on the marriage of Berninger, makes listeners feel the lead singer’s agony of his unhealthy marriage outstandingly. With the extraordinary lyrics and powerful vocals, the listeners admire some of the band’s new songs. However, the strange beats and boring themes in the other tracks lead listeners astray.
In the album “Sleep Well Beast,” Matt Berninger’s vocals compliment the harmonies of the guitar solos of Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner and Scott Devendorf with seamless fluidity. The keyboard in the background of many songs adds a riveting touch to the sinister mood and supplies a baseline of life for the album.
The album’s intense melancholia is portrayed in “Born to Beg,” a song that focuses on the idea of loving someone that is better than you. With a slow tempo, heartbreaking sincerity and a steady beat, Berninger makes the audience feel his despair in the darkest of ways.
The eeriness of the album multiplies in “Walk It Back,” with frightening vocals caused by the unpleasant whispering and an abnormal speech about the history politics repeating itself with Trump’s election. The repetition of lyrics adds to the unsettling aspect and makes the track unamusing.
Unlike most of the tracks in The National’s latest album, “Day I Die” is upbeat and engaging accompanied by melodic guitar solos, keeping the listener’s attention for the entirety of the song. The fascinating beat and soulful instrumentals build onto the complexity of the tune.
Overall, the majority of “Sleep Well Beast” is unpolished, with isolated and awkward acoustics as well as excessively depressing moods. Although some tracks on the album are extremely passionate, with various beats and mesmerizing vocals, most are dreadful.
“Sleep Well Beast” by the National is available to stream on websites such as Spotify and YouTube, and can be purchased on iTunes for $9.99.
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