Sleep Well Beast

Nearly 20 years into the band's career, The National have reached a status attained only by the likes of Radiohead: a progressive, uncompromising band with genuinely broad appeal. Produced by multi-instrumentalist Aaron Dessner in his upstate New York studio (with co-production from guitarist Bryce Dessner and singer Matt Berninger), <i>Sleep Well Beast</i> captures the band at their moody, majestic best, from the propulsive “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness” to “Guilty Party”, where Berninger’s portraits of failing marriage come to a sad, gorgeous and surprisingly subtle head.