The National — Music Videos

A baritone within an intricate band

The National developed a distinctive form of American indie rock around Matt Berninger’s low voice and the interlocking playing of Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, Scott Devendorf and Bryan Devendorf. Their songs often place an intimate, unsettled narrator within an arrangement that grows through repeated figures and small rhythmic changes. Guitars and keyboards may provide a setting rather than an obvious lead, leaving the rhythm section to carry much of the music’s forward motion.

Two melodic entry points

Bloodbuzz Ohio appeared on High Violet in 2010, with a persistent drum pattern and a broad vocal melody that gathers weight as the arrangement develops. I Need My Girl followed on Trouble Will Find Me in 2013, using a circling guitar figure and a comparatively exposed vocal space. The recordings offer different views of the group’s ability to make repetition feel emotionally active rather than static.

Changes under the surface

Listen for a new instrumental layer entering quietly, or for a drum accent that alters the feeling of a familiar phrase. Berninger’s restrained delivery often leaves room for the listener to sense uncertainty and tension in the surrounding music. The National provide a rewarding connection between detailed ensemble writing and songs that remain grounded in a recognizable human voice.