The National Sheds Restraint for Raw Sound

The National's seventh album, "Sleep Well Beast," introduces a deliberate infusion of disruptive energy into their studio process. Moving away from their typically restrained sound, the band embraced abandon and quiet contemplation, with Matt Berninger's vocals exploring themes of endurance rather than mere enjoyment.

This new approach contrasts with their previous method of inviting studio chaos, partly achieved by creating a more tranquil recording environment. The result is an album that "quakes and shivers" with uncharacteristic sounds, including "barbed, intentionally sloppy guitar attacks" and a rawer performance from Berninger, carefully mussing the band's established image.

Tracks like "The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness" and "I'll Still Destroy You" showcase this evolution, blending familiar National sounds with unexpected experimental touches. These controlled breakouts serve as a metaphor for clinging to moments of irresponsibility within a stable existence, a recurring theme in Berninger's lyrical explorations.