Tune In Saturdays: The National
This has become more of a working weekend than usual, so this one's a quickie. The National is two sets of brothers from Cincinnati, plus an aussie. It's kind of romantic music, but in a mostly odd sense. It's booming and bassy most of the time, especially with the brooding, deep vocals, but they never forget the little touches that make them much more interesting than most bands of their ilk.
From popmatters:
"All these elements—the warmth and humanity and musical complexity, the indelible images and koan-like puzzles, the guitar-based rock and classical embellishments—go a certain distance in explaining why Boxer is so good… but they don’t quite explain it. This album, like all great albums, somehow transcends all the factors that makes it work, absorbs them in a seamless whole and breaks your heart in the process. All hail Boxer, the album to beat for the rest of the year."
The National - Fake Empire (mp3)
The National - Slow Show (mp3)
The National - Mistaken For Strangers (video)