The National - Sleep Well Beast

Sleep Well Beast is the seventh studio album by American indie rock band The National, released in September 2017 via 4AD Records.

The National, for those who are just coming in, is comprised of two sets of brothers - Bryce and Aaron Dessner, Scott and Bryan Devendorf - and Matt Berninger (plus shadow member Padma Newsom).

Their new studio album was mainly recorded at Aaron Dessner’s new home studio, and the new material finds them in a more experimental mode this time around.

The album kicks off with a sombre piano based overture “Nobody Else Will Be There” before we move into familiar territory with “Day I Die” with guitars and drums back in force. “Turtleneck” provides drama with its rushed tempo and sweeping chorus and guitars, contrasted by the more gentle “Walk it Back”.

The album is beautifully put together and closes with the title track “Sleep Well Beast” where they appear to be gazing further into the future, both departing from familiar territory and then returning to it, continuing to try different things with their music, whilst staying true to their core sound.

The album has received critical acclaim with music critics, and the rating aggregator site Metacritic has compiled an aggregate score of 85 out of 100 indicating “universal acclaim”.

The album has reached #2 on the US Billboard 200, #1 on the UK and #2 on the Australian Albums charts.

Check out the tracks:  “The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness”; “Guilty Party”; “Carin at the Liquor Store”; “Day I Die”; and “I’ll Still Destroy You”.

This limited edition double album 2LP record set is on translucent blue vinyl housed in a gatefold sleeve with digital download code, pressed in the US.