This week’s Monday is actually a Tuesday, but we’re still going to launch our new weekly blog entry, Music for Mondays. We’ll suggest a song, album or new release to rid you of the beginning of the week blues. This week: The National, Trouble Will Find Me.
Matt Berninger’s inflectionless baritone is akin to a modern Leonard Cohen, especially on slow, meandering tracks like “Demons.”The new material upholds all of the signature depth and darkness of The National, with brooding lyrics and buzzing, sexy, down-tempo cryers, matched with bouncy pop-driven singles.
Oh, every day I start so great and then the sunlight dims
The less I look the more I see the pythons and the limbs
Do not know what’s wrong with me
The sour’s in the cup
But when I walk into a room
I do not light it up
F***
So I stay down with my demons, etc.
—”Demons,” The National. Trouble Will Find Me.
The album isn’t all dark and depressing, on more uptempo songs like “Don’t Swallow the Cap,” Berninger’s growl develops into a lighter middle range, with songs driven by rolling percussion and tinny piano.
Take this Monday! (Reminder: it’s actually Tuesday today, one day closer to FRIDAY!)
This article appears in May 23-29, 2013.
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