Where’s the peanut butter?!

The National played at Neumo’s on Saturday and were completely stunning. The first song in their set was Start a War from their last album, Boxer. I wasn’t very familiar with their music before the concert but during the show I told my friend, John, that The National are like a Joy Division whose music is broadly more enjoyable: layered, melancholy, and desperate but much less anxious (American Music Club or Morphine might be closer comparisons). From the first song I was riveted and when they closed with Abel (or was it About Today?) I knew I would be completely hooked and I’ve had trouble listening to anything but them since the show. Here’s that first track - go buy their music.

Start A War - The National

We expected something, something better than before. We expected something more.
Do you really think you can just put it in a safe behind a painting, lock it up and leave?
Do you really think you can just put it in a safe behind a painting, lock it up and leave?
Walk away now and you’re gonna start a war.

Whatever went away I’ll get it over now. I’ll get money, I’ll get funny again.
Whatever went away I’ll get it over now. I’ll get money, I’ll get funny again.
Walk away now and you’re gonna start a war.

We expected something, something better than before. We expected something more.
We were always weird but I never had to hold you by the edges like I do now.
We were always weird but I never had to hold you by the edges like I do now.
Walk away now and you’re gonna start a war.

Whatever went away I’ll get it over again. I’ll get money, I’ll get funny again.
Whatever went away I’ll get it over again. I’ll get money, I’ll get funny again.
Walk away now and you’re gonna start a war.
Walk away now and you’re gonna start a war.