National - Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers

  by Jon Rogers

published: 30 / 12 / 2003

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While the more fickle elements of the music industry praise all and sundry US guitar slingers that have a fixation with New York's new wave, the National have plumped for beautiful songs, intelligent lyrics and a high level of emotional intensity on their second album 'Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers'. And it's an accomplished work, taking in a complexity of feelings. It plumbs the bare, despondent depths of early Leonard Cohen, luxuriates in the seedy bar rooms previously the domain of Tom Waits and even manages to pick up on the twisted love songs of Nick Cave. 'Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers' is, basically, quite a find. And they know how to throw a few punches too. Underneath the mangled guitar on 'Murder Me Rachel' lies some harsh lyrics about some "pretty boy" which are laced with venom. Most of the album though is more contemplative and relaxed but just as bittersweet. The opener 'Cardinal Song' glides effortlessly along with vocalist Matt Beminger almost crooning along to his tale of doomed relationships and heartache. '90-Mile Water Fall' gets all folky(ish) and despondent as if Johnny Cash had started writing songs for Mark Eitzel. If there was any real integrity in the music industry then the National should be shouted about from the rooftops. Unfortunately, instead, this American quintet may have to be content with an unfailing adoration that only reaches the bounds of cult status and then becomes forgotten about until someone, in years to come, decides to re-release it to wide applause. Don't let it happen.

Track Listing:-

1 Cardinal Song
2 Slipping Husband
3 90-Mile Water Wall
4 It Never Happened
5 Murder Me Rachael
6 Thirsty
7 Available
8 Sugar Wife
9 Trophy Wife
10 Fashion Coat
11 Patterns of Fairytales
12 Lucky You

Band Links:-

https://www.americanmary.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thenationalofficial
https://twitter.com/TheNational

Label Links:-

http://www.talitres.com/en/
https://www.facebook.com/talitres.rds
https://twitter.com/talitres
https://instagram.com/talitres/

Have a Listen:-

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