The National - High Violet (CD, Double vinyl LP, CD)

Who the National are is anybody's guess, they've swooped over my radar and nestled in the international "mature" indie higher echelons with ease. They look like a bunch of old acid head dudes largely, if the unflinchingly stark portraits of them inside the sleeve are owt to go by. Musically, they play heavy-hearted anthemic American rock with some cracking understated wistful melodies & bristling atmospherics. It all sounds incredibly austere & very New York. If Interpol had babies with Tindersticks the resulting offspring might well come out sounding something like the songs on 'High Violet'. I was expecting to dislike this but there's a serious depth & craftsmanship to these tunes and the song 'Anyone's Ghost' is making me feel a bit weepy. With such a dull name I expected the music to follow suit yet i'm quite taken by this warm-hearted, sad-eyed collection. Nice one lads.