New National Album in May

Not sure how accurate this is, but a mini-review of the National's new album popped up on the band's Yahoo group over the weekend (and then All the Wine, and then WOXY, where I found it).

I've now heard the material that will make up the new record as, I'm guessing, have one or two friends of the band also on this list. They gave us early versions to help w/ sequencing. A listening party of the mastered record was held on Valentine's day -- though I was seeing Arcade Fire at Judson Church.

The music is great, perhaps a bit more of a mellow vibe than Alligator overall -- perhaps somewhere between the Cherry Tree mellow/ beautiful sound and the Alligator more up-beat/rocking sound. Most notable about the record is that it has the best arrangements they've done, by far, and there's some unexpected & wonderful new elements that you haven't heard before. Think trumpets, and other brass instruments; increased use of female backing vocals; excellent piano bits by Thomas Bartlett (aka Doveman & sideman to David Byrne, Bebel Gilberto, Laurie Anderson, The Frames, Yoko Ono); and possible even
some playing by band friend, Sufjan Stevens.

Thematically it intertwines songs about love, songs about war, and songs about office life. Or, more correctly, songs that are about all three topics at the same time.

As a bigger fan of the band's more upbeat side, and as a non-fan of Sufjan Stevens, I can't say I'm thrilled about this. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.