On the heels of their May release High Violet, dynamic indie-rockers The National show off their minimalistic side with their new track “You Were A Kindness.” This brooding track is one of the band’s few moments without percussion, leaving listeners to focus on frontman Matt Berninger’s self-doubting and anxious lyrics. Accompanied by both a piano and brass arrangement, “You Were A Kindness” fully resonates with The National’s signature melancholic warmth.
Right after their tour in immediate support of their excellent new album,High Violet, The National will be returning to the United States for another lengthy tour. Basically, they will be playing in all the places they may have missed on their spring tour that is currently moving along now. Also, they will be bringing along Owen Pallett as the opening acting. Expect one helluva live collaboration between the two during this fall tour.
The New York Times has a full free high-quality stream of The National’s upcoming fifth album High Violet. Click here to take a listen. The Player is embedded on the left amidst an article about the band.
High Violet is released via 4AD on May 10th/11th (Europe/USA).
Check out “Sin-Eaters,” the accompanying b-side to the “Bloodbuzz Ohio” 7-inch below. It sounds compact and together, almost like a perfect companion of an Alligator-era track such as “The Geese Of Beverly Road.” Around the 2 minute mark they break out one of the moodiest (and fuzziest) guitar riffs that I’ve heard from The National yet. Throughout the song, the band seem to be on the break of breaking out a major moment during the song, but they never quite do. That is alright though, it’s just a b-side, and a pretty good one at that.
Here’s another track from The National’s anticipated upcoming album, High Violet, entitled “Afraid of Everyone.” High Violet is due out May 10th in the UK and May 11th everywhere else via 4AD.
The lead single from The National’s highly anticipated fifth album High Violet premiered this morning on the Lauren Laverne show on UK radio station BBC 6 Music. You can listen to the audio from the show below.
UPDATE: CD quality version is now available below.
