Twenty-four years and nine albums into their career, the National are still examining their sadness. The New York-based band have recently pursued solo projects, with singer Matt Berninger releasing an album in 2021 and guitarist Aaron Dessner working with Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran, but on their latest effort the group return to produce a record that will satisfy longtime fans.
With maturity comes a newfound softness. Gone are the harsh, angular riffs of early records such as Alligator, while the inky darkness of 2010 breakthrough High Violet is supplanted by gently undulating compositions that play over Berninger’s impressionistic lyrics. Opener Once Upon a Poolside sets the tone, with a plaintive piano melody anchoring anxious lines such as “What was the worried thing you said to me?”, before slipping into a similarly forlorn mood on This Isn’t Helping, with backing harmonies from Phoebe Bridgers.
The Alcott, featuring Taylor Swift, injects a touch of lightness, but the album is otherwise consistently downtempo. In its themes of longing and Berninger’s baritone vocals, it has all the hallmarks of a National record, yet lacks the vitality to stand out in their back catalogue.
