The National: ‘Sleep Well Beast’ review

There is something admirable in consistency. While sonic evolution can be fun to discuss, there is a certain charm to doing one thing well — while also knowing when to experiment, make small changes and explore the outer limits of a set of sounds. The band The National is no stranger to this idea. “Sleep Well Beast” — their seventh studio album — sticks closely to their established sound, while iterating on it and creating beautiful catharsis.

Fans of The National know the band’s sound well: post-punk with intricate guitar work, rhythmically complex drums and Matt Berninger’s introspective lyrics delivered in his signature baritone. These elements are all present on “Sleep Well Beast,” but in different ways than in the past. This is The National’s most intimate album to date. The opening track, “Nobody Else Will Be There,” kicks off the album with quiet, electronic drumbeats, solemn string ambiance and one of the most mournful piano parts that you may hear in indie rock.

The album does have a few loud tracks, such as the driving “Day I Die,” but “Beast” is mostly a subdued experience designed for rainy nights with headphones on.

However, it would not be a record by The National if it were merely pretty sounds l. The lyrics, as always, are front and center: dealing with loss, relationships and the pain that both can cause. One particularly brilliant example of this is the one-two punch of “Guilty Party” and “Carin at the Liquor Store,” where the narrator speaks about a failing relationship that is just not working. He doesn’t try to cast blame or point fingers, “It’s nobody’s fault, no guilty party, we’ve just got nothing … left to say.”

However, “Carin” reveals that the other half of this relationship is often more willing to cast blame, “So blame it on me,” the narrator tiredly laments, “I really don’t care.” Most of the other songs on “Beast” follow a similar pattern — focusing on romance and the myriad ways we humans fail at it.

However, while there may be some value in these messages, they have a tough time carrying the entire album. At times, the music can come across as a bit underwhelming, especially on the louder tracks such as “Turtleneck,” where introspective lyrics are tied to a loud rock track that sounds like “Mr. November” without any teeth.

Though this may be one of the band’s more flawed albums,The National are still experts at creating their particular brand of sonic beauty. This album is a gem, polished by a band that has spent years perfecting their craft. If you liked The National’s previous efforts, or if you just like post-punk in general, you will probably enjoy their latest efforts on “Sleep Well Beast.”