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High Violet

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Not to be confused with The High Violets.
Untitled

High Violet is the fifth studio album by The National, which was released on May 10, 2010 in Europe and on May 11, 2010 in North America via 4AD.[1] The band produced the album themselves with Peter Katis, whom they worked with on their previous albums Alligator and Boxer at their own studio in Brooklyn, New York, and at Katis' Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, Connecticut.[2] The sculpture on the album cover was created by artist Mark Fox, and is called The Binding Force.[2]

On March 10, 2010, they performed opening track "Terrible Love" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

The album's first single "Bloodbuzz Ohio" was made available for download on the band's website on March 24, 2010. The song was also released on 7" vinyl (with the exclusive B-side "Sin-Eaters") on May 3, 2010.[3]

On April 19, 2010, a low-quality version of the album was leaked onto the internet in its entirety.[4] Subsequently, the band announced that the album would be streaming on The New York Times' website from April 23rd until April 27th,[5][6] then on NPR's website until May 11th.[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic87[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk(90%)[9]
BBC(very positive)[10]
Drowned in Sound(9/10)[11]
Financial Times[12]
The Independent[13]
The Guardian[14]
musicOMH[15]
One Thirty BPM(78%)[16]
Pitchfork(8.7/10)[17]
Q[18]
Spin[19]
The Times[20]
[21]
Uncut[22]

High Violet was released to overwhelmingly positive critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 based on reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received a favorable score of 87, based on 20 reviews.[8] Sputnikmusic awarded the album 5 out of 5, stating "High Violet is another batch of cement to further supplement The National's already unshakable concrete career," also calling the album "their third masterpiece in a row."[23] Drowned in Sound gave the album a 9 out of 10 rating,[11] and the BBC hailed the album as "the New Yorkers' finest disc to date...a potential album of the year."[10] Pitchfork Media's review stated that High Violet is "the sound of a band taking a mandate to be a meaningful rock band seriously," and gave the album a score of 8.7 out of 10.[17]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Matt Berninger and Aaron Dessner, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Terrible Love" 4:39
2."Sorrow" 3:25
3."Anyone's Ghost"Berninger, Bryce Dessner2:54
4."Little Faith"Berninger, Carin Besser, A. Dessner4:36
5."Afraid of Everyone" 4:19
6."Bloodbuzz Ohio"Berninger, A. Dessner, Padma Newsome4:35
7."Lemonworld"Berninger, B. Dessner3:23
8."Runaway" 5:33
9."Conversation 16"Berninger, Carin Besser, A. Dessner4:18
10."England" 5:40
11."Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks"Berninger, Carin Besser, A. Dessner4:12

Singles

  • "Bloodbuzz Ohio" (May 3, 2010)
    • 4AD (AD 3X22), 7" vinyl and digital download
    1. "Bloodbuzz Ohio" – 4:36
    2. "Sin-Eaters" – 3:40

Release history

Country Date Label Format Catalogue #
Worldwide May 10, 2010;
May 11, 2010 (United States) 		4AD CD CAD 3X03 CD
Limited CD (with foil-stamped slipcase and special poster) CAD 3X03 CDX
2LP (standard black vinyl) CAD 3X03
Limited 2LP (violet-coloured heavyweight vinyl) CAD 3X03X
Japan May 26, 2010 Beggars Japan/Hostess Entertainment CD (two bonus tracks) CAD 3X03 CDJ/BGJ-10082

Credits

  • Produced by The National.
  • Additional production by Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, and Peter Katis.
  • Recorded between March 2009 and January 2010 in Aaron's garage (Brooklyn, NY) by Peter Mavrogeorgis, Brandon Reid, Aaron Dessner, and Bryce Dessner.
  • Additional recording at Tarquin Studios (Bridgeport, CT) by Peter Katis, and at Kampo Studios (NYC) by Patrick Dillett.
  • Second engineer: Greg Georgio; assisted by Keith Nelson.
  • Additional vocal recording by Christian Biegai (Berlin, Germany).
  • Mixed by Peter Katis.
  • Additional mixing by Greg Georgio.
  • Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound (NYC).
  • Orchestration by Bryce Dessner and Padma Newsome, except "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks" and "Lemonworld" by Nico Muhly.
  • Cover sculpture by Mark Fox.
  • Photography by Keith Klenowski.
  • Design by Distant Situation Ltd.
Additional musicians
  • Tim Albright – trombone
  • Hideaki Aomori – clarinet, bass clarinet
  • Michael Atkinson – French horn
  • Thomas Bartlett – piano, keyboards
  • Mads Christian Brauer – electronics and filtering
  • CJ Camereri – trumpet, coronet
  • Greg Chudzik – double bass
  • Rachael Elliott – bassoon
  • Alex Hamlin – baritone saxophone
  • Marla Hansen – vocals
  • Maria Jeffers – cello
  • Bridget Kibbey – harp
  • Thom Kozumplik – percussion
  • Benjamin Lanz – trombone
  • Rob Moose – violin
  • Nico Muhly – celeste
  • Dave Nelson – trombone
  • Padma Newsome – violin, viola
  • Richard Reed Parry – double bass, electric guitar, piano, vocals, backing vocal arrangements (on "Conversation 16")
  • Kyle Resnick – trumpet
  • Nadia Sirota – viola
  • Alex Sopp – flute, bass flute
  • Laurel Sprengelmeyer – vocals
  • Sufjan Stevens – harmonium, vocals, backing vocal arrangements (on "Afraid of Everyone")
  • Jeremy Thai – French horn
  • Justin Vernon – vocals

References

  1. ^ "New National Album: High Violet". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
  2. ^ a b 4AD - The National reveal further details for High Violet
  3. ^ 4AD - The National - Download Free MP3 of the new single, 'Bloodbuzz Ohio'
  4. ^ http://www.leaksallday.com
  5. ^ Tumblr Blog Post
  6. ^ The National Agenda - NYTimes.com
  7. ^ First Listen: The National, 'High Violet'
  8. ^ a b "High Violet". Metacritic. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  9. ^ [[cite web|url=http://absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1691462 |title=AbsolutePunk review}}
  10. ^ a b "BBC review".
  11. ^ a b "Drowned in Sound review".
  12. ^ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (8 May 2010). "The National: High Violet". Financial Times. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  13. ^ Gill, Andy (7 May 2010). "Album: The National, High Violet (4AD)". The Independent. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  14. ^ Simpson, Dave (6 May 2010). "The National: High Violet". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  15. ^ "musicOMH review".
  16. ^ Isquith, Elias (10 May 2010). "The National - High Violet". One Thirty BPM. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  17. ^ a b Gaerig, Andrew (10 May 2010). "The National: High Violet". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  18. ^ "Q review".
  19. ^ "Spin review".
  20. ^ Paphides, Pete (7 May 2010). "The National: High Violet". The Times. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  21. ^ Kaya, Burgess (8 May 2010). "The National: High Violet". The Times. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  22. ^ "Uncut review".
  23. ^ "Sputnikmusic review".
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