Guess we can add Berninger to that list of divisive voices (along with Satomi, Tom Waits, Joanna Newsome, et. al.). I like it, although at times he does sound a bit like that guy from Crash Test Dummies.
--------------- I wonder if you're mythologizing me, like I do you
Posts: 1429 | Location: State of Disarray | Registered: 10 January 2007
I don't understand the dislike for Berninger's voice. It's a deep voice - sort of like Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, Mark Sandman and the dude from the Crash Test Dummies - but he can certainly carry a tune.
----- Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.
Posts: 5276 | Location: Michigan | Registered: 19 June 2005
I'm a big fan of his voice. I like everything about this band actually; I just think the melodies on Boxer are weak.
Fans of Boxer should listen to a 2007 album by the New Ruins called The Sound They Make. Listening to it today, it occurred to me how similar the two albums are. One of the 2 singers from New Ruins sounds a lot like Berninger and the understated songwriting and excellent musicianship are similar. The drumming and production on Boxer are better, but I like the songs from the New Ruins album better.
Posts: 3949 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
Although there are songs on Alligator that I like better than any on Boxer, I think Boxer is a much better album.
The beauty of The National is in how they work together as a band. They each are so talented at what they do. I'm glad Bryan is getting so much praise for his dynamic drumming, because I think he is the best drummer playing right now (next would be the dude from The Walkmen). And I understand everyone's comparison of Berninger's singing to Cohen and the Dummies, but the man I hear is Gordon Lightfoot. And that background atmosphere that changes for every song is not an accident. They deliberately structure hooks to be so subtle you can hear the same song ten different ways depending on the situation. This is a band that knows how to work together as a team. And they have constructed an album of songs that do the very same thing.
Boxer is my album of the year. I'm hopeing something else takes it's place, because I would love to hear the album that could.
---------------------------- I'm the operator with my pocket calculator.
Originally posted by Shadrach: Boxer is my album of the year. I'm hopeing something else takes it's place, because I would love to hear the album that could.
Nicely put. The National is clearly in my top three or four, and, on any given day could be my top spot. Sinister and I have been working them out on keyboard and guitar, (well, mostly Sinister since he's the better musician!) and have a goal of being able to play them all in the next few weeks.
The songs are deceptive. They seem much simpler than they are. We think the time signature on "Fake Empire" is 6/8, but he sings off the beat, so that the vocals give the impression of 4/4. Any musicians out there have any other thoughts?
--------------- I wonder if you're mythologizing me, like I do you
Posts: 1429 | Location: State of Disarray | Registered: 10 January 2007
"Fake Empire" is indeed in a triple meter kendo and it is in 6/8. A 6/8 meter is usally depicted by it's strong first beat, it doesn't have to be "louder" than the rest but it should "feel" stronger. One thing is for sure, there is no way the song is in 4/4.
The trick is that his voice is not "off the beat." Try this the next time you listen to it: Count from the start, "123456 123456 123456 123456" and so on, when his voice comes in you can hear which of those beats he is singing on. The ones that don't land right on any of those beats are simply on an upbeat or a tad behind or ahead that work as some embellishment/decoration. I hope that works well.
----- I go to sleep and think you're next to me.
Posts: 5760 | Location: Texas | Registered: 27 December 2005
Thanks FKA. I didn't mean to suggest that we actually thought that he was singing in 4/4. 6/8 usually has a bit of a 'swing' feel, but Berninger paces the vocals very straight, and there is a little tension that I never noticed until I tried to play guitar and sing while my son played the keyboard. It makes for a much more interesting song than it might seem to a more 'casual' listener. Many of the songs on the album have elements like that, whether interesting time signatures, or funny chord progressions that, imo, really add up.
--------------- I wonder if you're mythologizing me, like I do you
Posts: 1429 | Location: State of Disarray | Registered: 10 January 2007
I haven't heard Alligator so I can't compare them, but I like Boxer quite a bit. Took me a while to appreciate it, because it bored me the first couple times I listened to it. Now I love "Start a War" and "Mistaken for Strangers", and also enjoy the rest of the album enough for it to be in the top 10 of '07 so far.
like 90% of the people in this thread, i'm sure, i adored alligator more than i can say.. i listened to it for weeks when it came out, just boggled by the singer's voice.. and when boxer came out, i was kinda disappointed at first, i think because there weren't many rocking songs on there that jumped out at you like "mr. november" or "abel"..
after months of listening to this album though, it's all i can seem to listen to, sometimes for a week..
i just posted their 2007 white sessions recording on my blog, as well as an acoustic mini-set from the gideon coe radio show.. check it out here Trendwhore.ca
The self-titled isn't that great, but it's not bad. Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers is a keeper though. I like it much better than Boxer if less than Alligator.
Posts: 3949 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
Yeah, I would agree with the Lunatic. Sad Songs is a great album. I wish I had heard it when it first came out, before hearing Alligator and Boxer. 90-mile Water Wall is perhaps one of their best songs ever. Their Self Titled, not so much. There are a few good songs (Theory of Crows is great), but it's mostly just a history lesson on how far the band has come.
Boxer is still my favorite release of the year.
---------------------------- I'm the operator with my pocket calculator.
It's really quite simple, berk. According to this you have The National's tremendous album ahead of Andrew Bird's album. Mark really doesn't care for Boxerat all and well...Well, you know the rest.
----- I go to sleep and think you're next to me.
Posts: 5760 | Location: Texas | Registered: 27 December 2005
6/8 usually has a bit of a 'swing' feel, but Berninger paces the vocals very straight, and there is a little tension that I never noticed until I tried to play guitar and sing while my son played the keyboard. It makes for a much more interesting song than it might seem to a more 'casual' listener. Many of the songs on the album have elements like that, whether interesting time signatures, or funny chord progressions that, imo, really add up.
