Skip to content
Elly Roberts reviews
Beggars Banquet
- May 2007
- Rating: 2/10
New York based quintet The National, who merge folk-psychedelia with a hint of Americana, follow impressive Alligator with Boxer.
Formed in 1999, brothers Aaron Dessner (g/b), Bryce Dessner (g), ScottDevendorf (g/b), Bryan Devendorf (d) and friend Matt Berninger (v).
Written over 13 months at their homes in Brooklyn, its a departure from itspredecessor. Like many albums of its ilk, these guys dont make instantly appealingmusic, so time; much time is needed to embrace it.
Berningers emotionless baritone can be very off-putting. Remorseful, therestoo much of a dreary drone like quality for my liking. Comparisons withLeonard Cohen and Warren Zevon have been leveled.
Following a gentle piano opening Fake Empire it turns into a neat shuffleat the midway point, building to a half decent, kind of, crescendo. Thumpingdrum rolls greet us on Mistaken For Strangers a rambling rocker withBryan Devendorfs stick being the highlight: an average track at best, thoughit will probably sound more impressive live.
More averageness follows on the steady shuffle of Brainy. Further in thesame goes for Apartment Story. Heavy loaded strings and intense drumscarry the enigmatic Squalor Victoria, a pretty drab and pointless effort.
Thankfully, and way too late, Green Gloves is the most interesting trackyet to appear. Acoustic guitar with add-on instruments help it plod away nicely,with string drenched Slow Show marginally better, though it has littlereal direction which is common in their compositions.
The only highlight, Start A War opens beautifully (melodies at last)as the acoustic guitar, drums and bass offer an ominous finale, which disappointinglynever comes. Last three songs, Racing Like A Pro, Ada, and Gospelhave their moments, but finish off a disappointing album.
Hard work.
Weblinks:thenationalboxer.com /americanmary.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Fake Empire
2. Mistaken For Strangers
3. Brainy
4. Squalor Victoria
5. Green Gloves
6. Slow Show
7. Apartment Story
8. Start A War
9. Guest Room
10. Racing Like A Pro
11. Ada
12. Gospel
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.