MrNiceGuyMan 6

The National has clearly started to look for a new sound with their seventh studio album "Sleep Well Beast". While each song is near perfectly The National has clearly started to look for a new sound with their seventh studio album "Sleep Well Beast". While each song is near perfectly mastered to the end, it lefts patchy, unfinished feeling. They have taken more electronic sound which potential is really shown in songs like "Nobody will be there" or "the System sleeps in total darkness". But sadly it doesn't work for every song as well. They have clearly tried new things, which is always good, but which doesn't reach it's potential.



Perhaps the darkest album of the National doesn't let the listener down lyrically. The lyrics are funny and clever yet dark as The National lyrics should be. The vocalist Matt Berning in the other hand has taken a new road. "Turtle Neck" is one of the more "rock'n'roll" songs from the band and it's the part where the album really shines. But then the song album was named after, "sleep well beast", leaves an unsure feeling. It clearly is a step for the new sound but leaves an unfinished feeling like they have tried to construct a puzzle with few pieces from different a puzzle. There are pieces that connect like "Day I Die" and "Guilty party" but then there are songs that feels like they are out of place "Walk it Back".



Is the album peak of the National? While the album in itself is an interesting step to the new and keeps listener intrested, no. This is not the peak.

Is the album bad? Its not the strongest show of The Nationals talent, but its not a bad album for sure.

Is this step in to something greater? Probably. We will see what future brings. … Expand