The Benja-man Is Verbose

  Okay, the record didn’t throw me quite so much anymore.   But it’s still one to process – not necessarily a good thing meaning there’s endless depth or anything, more like there are good bits and less interesting bits and I’m trying to sort out where they fit together.   I’ve already tried to draw a distinction between songs that are about melody and songs that are about vibes, and especially vocally, the National tend to be going heavy on the vibes.   It’s a valid approach to what I’m so crudely calling “indie rock,” but there has to be momentum that makes the listener’s head not on an exquisitely crafted atmosphere, or else I’ll be bored by it.     The actual nature of the vibes here varies from track to track.   Certainly “Cardinal Song,” which I kinda hated on first listen and kinda dug on second listen – although I’m still a little unnerved by its self-defeating protagonist being referred to as “you” and the lyrics being structured like advice - makes it sound like the wall

So, the National seemed to have a formula.  And without really changing their basic indie-rock setup (I guess there are more keys, and they add a viola on a few tracks), they're breaking with what I thought was their formula.  I am very very confused by Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers .  I did actually say out loud "what am I listening to?"  (I was in the gym, so I did try to say it quietly, at least.) I was not thrilled to hear opener "Cardinal Song" seemingly leaning into everything that The National did wrong.  With all the talent you have, you're going to lean into the mumbling without a discernable tune and doing the giving bad advice thing, about how it's important to manipulate "her" into wanting you?  After just one listen, I have no idea if the borderline-misogyny is ironic or not.  The bigger issue was that I was thinking "Cardinal Song" was just a singularly unappealing song to me musically.  But then it kept going.  And went in