Diving into The National's High Violet without any real expectations can have some glorious side-effects. "I'm Afraid of Everyone" begins with a helpless dirge, with hopeful choirs, then sorting itself out with the pressures of youth and wistful substance-yearning. The contrasts are alarming and yet pleasant. I take from it a sense of rainy-day submission with a keep on keeping-on motivation. And if you've just been drenched by the storm and acid, "England" drags you under shy-sun rays just peeking out through the Tower Bridge. (Man, I just realized this song mentioned rain after my rainy-day analogy of the previous tune, am I a warped psychic? or just a psyched wizard--stay tuned.) I feel like I really enjoy this song because I miss London and Brits in general a jolly-heap. I'm crazy about Earl Grey mornings and Big Ben striking my hours away until midnight, when he turns off his lights. I confess I haven't a clue as to what Matt Berninger is on about here, save maybe angels and sinners, but I just had a fit of sinister cravings over heavenly Jaffa cakes so now I need to book a plane there asap.
Perhaps in "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks," the name says it all, but still, you've got to listen to the ending to really know how much beauty The National is really capable of. "I'll explain everything to the geeks." Come on ! It doesn't get any better than that !
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