#10 - The National - Carin at the Liquor Store
The National first showed up on the 2010 J1 countdown at #4 with Bloodbuzz Ohio, from the record "High Violet". It was absolutely and unquestionably the record of the year for me, beating out heavyweights like Demon Hunter, Them Crooked Vultures and Rammstein, but it unfortunately set the stage for an impossible follow-up. 2013's "Trouble Will Find Me" is a really good record by itself, but nothing could reach the level of "High Violet" for me, although the song "Don't Swallow The Cap" almost made it into the 2013 Countdown. Despite the lack of glamour surrounding their last record, you had better believe that I was stoked to hear about a new National album coming, and this album blew away any expectations I could have possibly had. "Sleep Well Beast" got to #2 on the Billboard Top 200 while hitting #1 in 5 different countries while topping the US Top Alternative and Top Rock charts. You could go top to bottom on this one - "Day I Die", "The System Only Sleeps in Total Darkness", "Born to Beg", "Dark Side of the Gym", etc.
Carin at the Liquor Store is almost a perfect part 2 to Exile Vilify, a song form the Portal 2 soundtrack in 2011. Matt Berninger's distinctive baritone shines as he pushed the song forward along with a mournful piano. It's a simple song that pushes through all the BS of bad relationships and reaches the inevitable end in painful sorrow. "it's gonna be different after tonight, you're gonna see me in a different light - it's a foregone conclusion" seems to resonate the deepest with me, but in reality it's the entire song. Bryan Devendorf dials back his usual pounding drums and the rest of the instruments almost lay silent until a surprisingly screachy guitar solo penetrates the haze near the end. The video for the song has the band playing the song in negative color and the song picked up 5.5m Spotify streams. I don't know how The National do it, but they seem to be able to champion every musical effort they set to their mind. Right now, I honestly cannot imagine how they'll top this album, but I will as always be ready to be drawn in once the time arrives.
Title: Carin at the Liquor Store
Artist: The National
Album: Sleep Well Beast
Previous #10s
2016: Miike Snow - Genghis Khan
2015: The Wombats - Give Me A Try
2014: Cut Copy - We Are Explorers
2013: The 1975 - The City
2012: Animal Kingdom - Strange Attractor
2011: FM Static - F.M.S.T.A.T.I.C
2010: Muse - Resistance
2009: Five Finger Death Punch - Bad Company
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