I always feel like I get into bands via the wrong routes. I suppose there's really no right or wrong way to decide to listen to something, but I get that slightly guilty feeling nonetheless. Maybe I'm ashamed I don't follow the music world as closely as I'd like.
Anyways, before last week, I had only known The National from their track on that magnificent compilation of indie splendor, Dark Was the Night. I saw in the paper that The Antlers were opening for The National at the Royal Oak Music Theater. I've been wanting to see The Antlers since The Last Hurrah derailed my attempts to go to their Ann Arbor show in April, so I decided to check The National out to see if the show was worth going to.
I started with their most recent album, High Violet. It is excellent. Very genuinely excellent. It's hard for me to pick a favorite track because every song packs a firm musical punch. The first impression you get of The National is that it's kind of like Interpol, since Matt Berninger's vocals land in that particular deadpan, baritone-y zone. Upon further listening, though, the band's distinct sound and style emerges: intense, round, full, carefully orchestrated, ebbing and flowing, sometimes playful and poppier, sometimes dark and threatening.
By the time I got to Royal Oak last night, I'd gotten a good grasp on High Violet and Boxer, the album preceding it. The Antlers were fantastic, but The National blew me away. It was definitely one of the best live shows I've been to. The energy and sound were both amazing. If you have a chance to see them live, I couldn't recommend it more highly. Regardless, buy their albums. Do it. You'll thank me.
[Addendum:] Here's a video of "Fake Empire," the pre-encore conclusion of the show on Tuesday night. The quality's not ideal, but it conveys the energy of the show pretty well.
The National has a definite Interpol vibe, but they remind me most of The Cure and other post-punk rockers. I had a really hard time getting into their groove when I saw them in Boston. Most of the time I felt like their songs had only just started by the time they ended -- like they were on the cusp fo a really great groove that never came into being.
I should probably give them another shot and listen to some albums. I've never gotten into a band based off of a performance, anyway.