The National - Trouble Will Find Me

The National hit one good note on "Trouble Will Find Me"



“Trouble Will Find Me”, the eighth studio album from the Brooklyn based The National, is beautiful and melancholy. Fans of the band will love the trademark sounds of Matt Berninger's baritone vocals over the somber sounds of the Dessner and Devendorf brothers. The flip side is that “Trouble Will Find Me” isn't going to win over any skeptical listeners.

Matt Berninger knows how to portray universal emotions, primarily through his poetic lyrics. “Sea of Love” the first single off of “Trouble Will Find Me” feels personal and true as Berninger sings, “I see you rushing now/Tell me how to reach you/I see you rushing now/What'd Harvard teach you?”. The theme that you have to live life, rather than read about it, is present throughout the album especially on the bitter track “Graceless” and the timeless “Fireproof”. “Don't Swallow the Cap”, the album's most memorable track, offers an upbeat and defiant tone, as Berninger proclaims “If you want to see me cry/play “Let It Be” or “Nevermind”.

The difference between “Trouble Will Find Me” and an album like Nirvana's “Nevermind” is range. “Nevermind” has range of emotion, range of tone and most importantly musical range. The National strike one chord and they stick to it. This would be a great album if you have just ended a relationship or someone close to you has died, but for listeners who are getting ready for sunshine and summertime, it feels long and exhausting.

The National are good at what they do, writing sorrowful songs that can bring emotion out of the coldest of hearts. “Trouble Will Find Me” is skillful and stylish making it perfect for a raining day but it's the sunny, happier times where you might want put it away and to listen to some Daft Punk instead.