The National – Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers

Growing up Catholic in Cincinnati apparently qualifies as more of a condition than a circumstance. To judge from Cincy native Greg Dullis work with the Afghan Whigs (sordid tales of debauchery and destruction infused with a lingering guilt) and now fellow Ohioan Matt Berningers world view as frontman for the National (ditto, but laced with trace quantities of drink, doubt and devotion), a life spent in the shadow of WKRP while under the influence of the pope seems to leave one destined for a lifetime of recovery.

On the Nationals sophomore release, Berninger starts where his quintets debut left off: Jesus Christ you have confused me, he growls like Tom Waits on Cardinal Song. He continues: Cornered, wasted, blessed and used me/Forgive me girls, I am confused/Stiff and pissed and lost. This is a band unafraid to wear its damage on its sleeve, as single-minded in its pursuit of peace through confession as are the pews full of the faithful on Ash Wednesday.

The National are also a drinking persons band, specializing in the woozy soundtrack often sought during a particularly bleak bender while running through misery lists and waves of cocktails in some dimly lit scuzzball sanctuary, surrounded by brethren and/or total strangers. Thirsty, Available and Fashion Coat are salve for the self-medicating, with Berninger raggedly shouting Liquor me up! while his band alternately rocks jaggedly or sways in a velvet union of cocktail jazz and twangy sympathy. (See fellow down-and-outers the Replacements Nightclub Jitters for details.)