The National Expands High Violet Just In Time For Holiday Shopping

Arguably, this has been the year of The National (unless Kanye decides to charge the stage and steal the award away from them). Tons of press and accolades have been thrown their way in response to their album High Violet. Just in time for the holiday season, 4AD has rolled out the expanded edition of the LP, adding another 8 tracks on a separate CD. The new material includes an string-laden, rocking alternate version of "Terrible Love", 3 live tracks, 2 b-sides from High Violet and 2 brand new studio tracks. The album release is November 23 or today (if you are reading it today, that is).

Look to "You Were A Kindness" and "Walk Off" for must-have tracks. Both are aching and lovely using a sparse recording and emotive piano that would have fit into High Violet much better than "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks". "Sin Eaters" is an insistent dirge featuring great percussion and an interesting left turn around the 2 minute mark. "Wake Up Your Saints" is an upbeat number with a handclaps and honky tonk piano. It is an odd number and would never have fit on the album, but not without redeeming value.

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Purchase The National - High Violet (Expanded Edition) here.

The National - You Were A Kindness


The National - Walk Off


The National - Sin Eaters


The National - Wake Up Your Saints


Bonus: The guys made a promo video for the new release, explaining all of the tracks on CD 2 and resolving my personal issues with the reissue money grab that so many artists & record labels abuse these days. Definitely chuckleworthy.