The National – Trouble Will Find Me

The National, the Cincinatti-born and Brooklyn-based band, much beloved of their Williamsburg hipster neighbours, return after a three-year hiatus with their sixth album. After a slow start with their initial two recordings, the next three works Alligator, Boxer and High Violet have been amongst the best, and most lauded, of this century’s albums. Reassuringly, Trouble Will Find Me continues this fine and utterly unique run. Few if any of their peers who can match their release of four great consecutive opuses. Even the best of bands have blips, the mighty Radiohead included – but apparently not these guys.

It’s a feature of each and every work by The National that nothing is immediate: every album is a grower, creeping up on you when you’d felt indifferent on first listen. And so it is here, with Demons, This is the Last Time and Fireproof among others firmly imprinting themselves in your head before you’ve realised it. Standout tracks are Sea of Love and This is the Last Time, though the entire album is likely to resonate with critics compiling the end-of-year Best of 2013 lists. 

The only downside is the lack of sonic progression or experimentation, The National have barely moved on from their debut, still propelled by percussion and Matt Berninger’s beguiling baritone, a sound that has stood them well. It’s a minor quibble though, as when they write tunes this good, your immune system offers little resistance.

Geoff Maguire

Trouble Will Find Me is released on 20th May 2013. For further information or to order the album visit The National’s website here.

Watch the video for Sea of Love here: