The National indie rockers from Cincinnati, Ohio, currently based in Brooklyn, New York are composed of two pairs of brothers: twins Aaron (guitar and keyboard) and Bryce Dessner (guitar) and Scott (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums) alongside Matt Berninger (vocals). The band's lyrics, which have been described as "dark, melancholy and difficult to interpret", are written and sung by baritone Berninger.
Musically The National has been compared to Joy Division, Leonard Cohen, Wilco and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. The name of the band was chosen because it "didn't mean anything" and was "benign and meaningless".
To date they have released 6 Albums:
- The National (2001)
- Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers (2003)
- Alligator (2005)
- Boxer (2007)
- High Violet (2010)
- Trouble Will Find Me (2013)