In Brandon’s beautiful review of the National’s excellent show at Bell House last month, he mentioned “Runaway,” a song that will be the slow jam of 2010. We’re still waiting on its studio form, but until then there is “Afraid Of Everyone,” which is another previously previewed in concert track and follows “Bloodbuzz Ohio” as an official blog-baiting MP3 for cheapskates. It’s ghostly and brassy, features Sufjan Stevens on background vocals, and builds patiently because it is the National, and its key refrain is evocative of the midlife issues Matt Berninger’s baritone chronicles so aptly: “With my kids on my shoulders I try not to hurt anybody out loud / But I don’t have the drugs to sort it out.” It’s more of a cultural crisis than a midlife one; we’re talking social disappointment, not agoraphobia. Download it.
High Violet is out 5/11 via 4AD.
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Thanks, ddogdunit. I was looking at water imagery in general in National lyrics. It just happened to be raining that night.
Brandon. I liked your review. I think ddogdunit probably feels sorry for me now too. Whatever will I do?
Epic track, prefer it to Bloodbuzz! bit of an OTT reaction there ddogunit, not sure i really got the whole water thing but didn’t make my blood boil in quite the same way as it did you… evidently
As per ddogdunit’s request, everybody must now interpret music in exactly the same way.
“It’s more of a cultural crisis than a midlife one; we’re talking social disappointment, not agoraphobia.” Oh, the lot of the bearded 35-yr-old, which of course = society. My god.
And what IS it with water? The fact that nothing is an easier or more loaded reference to dump in a song, most likely. Or wonder about in a music review that strains mightily to be something more when it isn’t even a decent version of the thing it’s supposed to be.
What’s “the thing” supposed to be?
geez who let in self-righteous grumps? If yr gonna be critical of a review or whatever try to at least make fucking sense.
This song made my ears orgasm.
Can’t wait to get my hands on this new album…