[.ca] Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers

totally beautiful:
Got this one because it was picked as an album of the year in Magnet and Uncut. The album goes to a lot of different places sonically and emotionally, but all the tunes are beautifully wrought. Perfect if you like Leonard Cohen, Joy Division, Nick Cave.....

Wow! Contendor for best rock album of the year.:
I couldn't believe it when I discovered this album. It's so rare for an almost totally unheralded band to come up with such a powerful statement. Out of nowhere... They remind me of an American version of Pulp or the Tindersticks...or a modern rock band in the tradition of Wilco or Interpol. You will be blown away by this record, no question.

Unbelievably Great!:
I read the great feature on these guys in the Fader and ordered the album. It is totally unbelievable how great this album is --- I will be very surprised if the National does not blow up --- or at least become a major cult band like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds or the Tindersticks. Songs like Thirsty, which starts off incredibly restrained but gradually grows richer sonically and ends with an absolutely brilliant string arrangement, just blow me away. Where did these guys come from? What I like most about this music is that it is smart and ambitious and hip without sounding overly contrived or image conscious. It seems to me that the National is not trying to sound like anyone or any particular genre (unlike most bands today). I get the feeling they are just making music as it comes to them -- without any thought to defining "a sound" that is easily marketed. The album ranges from stripped down traditional folk sounding tunes like 90 Mile Water Wall --- which seems inspired by almost any track of Bob Dylan's Desire --- to raging rockers like Murder Me Rachael and Available --- which seem to take their cues from Joy Division and even U2 --- to intricate electronic and acoustic arrangements like Patterns of Fairytales and Cardinal Song which seem almost entirely original to my ears.....very restrained, intelligent, plaintive vocal performances combined with subtle electronic percussion and intricate, almost classical guitar/keyboard/bass/string arrangements. It will be very interesting to see where this band goes --- there is a huge amount of talent and genuine songwriting here.

Tough, Tender, World-Weary Rock-Pop-Alt:
I bought this because of a blurb on the cover of the CD. Just an impulse buy. Boy, was I glad I did. While being totally their own animal, The National combine some of the best elements of the Tindersticks with a less laid-back sound and traces of Nick Cave and others. Songs like "Slipping Husband," with its frequent mood changes, are brilliant

Next time make it more similar of your live show .:
I saw The National open for The Walkmen in Philly and they had this really nice hard edge to them. However, after their rockin live show I was a little disappointed with the CD. Most of the songs here are slow with poor lyrics (except 90 Mile Water Wall). How many songs do I need about Pretty girls/Pretty Boys and Wives? None, maybe. The only song that compares with the live stuff is Available. If they put out an entire album like that song I would be a huge fan because they are talented. Until then, they are just Ok.

• Cardinal Song
• Slipping Husband
• 90-Mile Water Wall
• It Never Happened
• Murder Me Rachael
• Thirsty
• Available
• Sugar Wife
• Trophy Wife
• Fashion Coat
• Patterns of Fairytales
• Lucky You