The National

The Brooklyn-by-way-of-Cincinatti rock quintet The National have just published Alligator, their third, and so far best, album. In their move to Beggars' Banquet they have not lost, but rather improved, their formula: powerful and immediate 80's-influenced guitar rock songs, packed with raw emotion, epic violins and beautifully obscure lyrics, yet subdued by the overwhelming, majestic baritone vocals of lead singer Matt Berninger. Check out the video for the album's first single, 'Abel.'