Hammerfall - Take The Black

Game of Thrones session four episode nine was one hundred percent about the wildling attack on the wall and their battle with the men of the Night’s Watch. It was a great episode. Jon Snow got to stand up and take command of the battle and there were some great parts with Sam as well. Also important characters died. I really like the third book “A Storm of Swords” for a lot of reasons but one of the reasons was Jon’s character arc. In the first two books “A Game of Thrones” and “A Clash of Kings” Jon was not a particularly interesting character, he was involved in some really neat world building moments, mostly exploring and explaining the north, but Ned Stark’s bastard himself was not as engaging as many of the other characters. Characters like Ned, Rob, Stannis, Jamie and Tyrion had complex situations to deal with, and were forced to make really challenging moral choices where as Jon Snow only ever had one option, do the right thing. In “A Storm of Swords” things got complicated for Jon and his chapters were fantastic as a result. He had divided loyalties between the Night’s Watch and his wildling love interest Ygritte. We got to see the wildlings as people, likeable people with empathic objectives and we had to compare that to the noble duty of the men at the wall. I liked the choices Jon makes and I like his plight, he’s a great character, maybe even the main character?

Great battles and dark magic in the icy north are perfect settings for metal music. In fact the entire “Song of Ice and Fire” series is so loved by metal musicians that there are dozens of songs about the Game of Thrones, notably Blind Guardian and “War of the Thrones” which you may remember from here: http://colinkellymusicinreview.blogspot.ca/2012/06/blind-guardian-war-of-thrones.html

The most common storyline from “A Song of Ice and Fire” metal musicians tend to write songs for is Jon Snow’s. Most of the songs are about Jon, the wall, the north, the others, or the men of the Night’s Watch, or all the above, and again why not? Everything about the north wall of Westeros is pretty metal when you think about it, warriors dressed in black battling ice zombies is very metal.

Sweden’s Hammerfall being on the forefront of modern metal were among the best who contributed to the growing catalogue of metal songs inspired by the imagination of George R. R. Martin. Off of their fifth album “Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken” the song “Take the Black” is an obvious “Game of Thrones” inspired track. The title “Take the Black” is a common expression in Westeros describing when a man chooses to join the men of the Night’s Watch, of course you already know that assuming you have not been living under a goddamn rock. There are many characters that have challenging moments and interesting circumstances that force them to pause and consider making the hard but noble choice to dedicate their lives to protecting the realm from the horrors beyond the wall. Taking the black can be seen as a desperate escape for criminals and the unwanted, but it also can be an expression of empowerment.

Lord Eddard Stark’s bastard Jon Snow did not have to take the black, he chooses to do so because it was a noble and heroic thing to do. Jon was at least partially inspired by his uncle Benjen who also took the black to serve the realm, as did Jeor Mormont who was Lord of Bear Island before taking the black. So when Hammerfall’s lead singer Joacim Cans roars the title “take the black” it feels like a call to arms, or a beckoning to glory and not some submission to banishment.

In fact the chorus of “Take the Black” is the charming hook and most badass moment of the entire song;

“Ain't no reason for the rhyme,
Take the Black - Ready to attack,
Take the Black.
Face to face you bide your time,
Take the Black - Ready to attack.”

Not only is the chorus very fast and powerful but it is also the only coherent connection to George R.R. Martin’s “Song of Ice and Fire” series in the entire song. The verses of “Take the Black” are rather generic for a metal song and open for just about any interpretation, but this hardly matters. The connection to “Game of Thrones” is established with the title and chorus and if that is where the inspiration ends we are no poorer for it. “Take the Black” while perhaps only slightly about Jon Snow or the men of the Night’s Watch, is still a very good metal song.

The trick to a good metal song, in my opinion anyway, is pacing; or rhythm if you prefer the proper terminology. So the secret of any high energy metal song is fast drums and cooperative bass and rhythm guitar. Too many metal songs are a hurried mess of competing sounds, when a more methodic, or intelligent, approach is needed. “Take the Black” is a powerful, fast paced, heavy metal song, but it is also well paced, which in my opinion makes it a great metal song. The flow and rising action of the melody take us on an adventure and gets our hearts pumping, and fuck yeah.

I really like the ending to this song, they play the amazing chorus one last time and let a single guitar note linger a lengthy while into near silence before exploding back into the chorus once more. One last big fuck yeah before the track is truly over. It leaves you wanting more, which in turn makes you listen to the song again, and again, and again; and I bet you will.

I guess the moral of the story is “Game of Thrones” is awesome; Swedish metal is awesome; so it follows that Hammerfalls “Take the Black” is awesome. That is some math you can share with your friends about at parties.

Keep on rocking in the free world.

- King of Braves

Take the Black

Blind Guardian - Imaginations From The Other Side

I was swamping for a veterinarian supplies warehouse when I met Driver Nick. For those of you who don’t know “swamping” is when you tag along with a driver and help make the deliveries. After listening to his iPod and talking about music for a while Driver Nick made the recommendation of Blind Guardian - “Nightfall in Middle Earth” to me. After listening to the album a few times I gave Driver Nick this commentary;

“Remember in the end of “The Silmarillion” when the two remaining sons of Feanor finally obtain the two remaining Silmarils and they decide to take one each. Maedhros, being the elder, chooses first, and as he chooses the red Silmaril of earth, the earth opens up and swallows him, leaving poor Maglar alone with the blue Silmaril of the ocean. Maglar being the sole surviving member of his family is overcome with grief and discards the blue Silmaril into the ocean and wanders the coast in sadness and apparently his sorrowful song can still be heard. I thought the album should have probably ended with some interpretation of Maglar’s song.”

Maedhros falling into the earth.

Maglar casts the last Silmaril into the ocean.

To which Driver Nick responded, “You have a good memory.”

Thank you Driver Nick.

At my high school reunion the first thing anyone said to me was my old friend Jeremiah, who jumped out his seat yelling “Blind Guardian rules!” or something similar to that. I had recently written my Music In Review for Blind Guardian – “War of Thrones” and Jeremiah had read it and was excited to talk at length about the German power metal band. Jeremiah is a pretty cool guy.

I was in a t-shirt store in Kensington when I noticed they had shirts for Edguy and Blind Guardian. I purchased an Edguy - “Vain Glory Oprea” and a Blind Guardian – “Nightfall in Middle Earth” t-shirt. I also started a conversation with another patron who was wearing a Blind Guardian shirt for the 2010 tour. All in all it was a pretty good day.

At the Black Label Society concert, before the show, some enthusiastic drunk kept yelling at me how awesome Blind Guardian is because I was wearing my Nightfall t-shirt, which was nice. He seemed nice. After the show a security guard with a Germen accent came up to us and rambled something about not hanging around too long since they were closing the concert hall (the show had been over for a total of five minutes) he then complimented me on my good taste in regards to my shirt. It is clear to me this gentleman only spoke to us as an excuse to talk about Blind Guardian. In fact everywhere I go people have been complimenting me on my Blind Guardian shirt. When I was buying mead for new years with my friend Mr. Johnson another stranger was half introducing himself to me through the t-shirt.

I am starting to realize that Blind Guardian has become something of a cult band over here in North America. Not a lot of people know about Blind Guardian but those who do absolutely love them, so much so whenever they identify another fan they are forced to exclaim their love in one form or another. I am a little late to the party since I only discovered Blind Guardian a little over a year ago but I get it. I really do.

I think the primary reason Blind Guardian is so loved because they dared to be what they are. They dared to be nerds... sort of. I have never considered being well read a characteristic linked to “nerdiness,” but whatever. Evidently the song writers behind Blind Guardian are rather well read especially in regards to fantasy literature, I have already made that point clear talking about J.R.R. Tolkien’s work reference in “Nightfall” and George R.R. Martin’s in “War of Thrones.”

http://colinkellymusicinreview.blogspot.ca/2013/01/blind-guardian-nightfall_7.html

http://colinkellymusicinreview.blogspot.ca/2012/06/blind-guardian-war-of-thrones.html

But Blind Guardian go far beyond just referencing the two greatest fantasy writers ever, they reference just about damn near everything!

People who are passionate about art, in whatever form it may be, love connecting that passion to other mediums, in this example literature to music, and Blind Guardian more than any other band ever has supplied fans with a soundtrack to their favorite books. This is seen perhaps best in the song “Imaginations from the Other Side” from the 1995 album of the same name.

Corum Jhaelen Irsei

“Do you know if Merlin did exist?
Or Frodo wore the ring?
Did Corum kill the gods?
Or where's the wonderland?
Which young Alice had seen,
Or was it just a dream?
I knew the answers,
Now they're lost for me.”

In just this one verse we get mention of the magician Merlin from Arthurian lore, Frodo Baggins the hobbit from “The Lord of the Rings,” Corum from the fantasy series of the same name written by the gentleman who gave us the “A Princess of Mars” and the rest of the John Carter saga (I had to look that one up), and of course Alice from “Alice in Wonderland” and “Beyond the Looking Glass.” The rest of the song makes references many other works some of which I can identify and others I am not so sure. 

The song “Imaginations from the Other Side” as far as I am concerned is about growing up and losing the beautiful illusion that such stories are more than just mere tales. As we grow up there is an uncomfortable growing disconnect from the powerful emotions these stories give us, because the truth is, as strange as it may sound, there is something very real in fantasy. There is a reflection of reality in every well written fantasy, no matter how farfetched the concept. The ideas of what could be, would be, or should be, resonates in all of us. Though many may never realize it, often because of we want to appear all grown up, we identify with wizards, hobbits, sword fighters, scarecrows, tin men, and cowardly lions. A part of us is in our imaginations.  A part of the self is captured in fantasy. 

Blind Guardian has drawn upon this seemingly without effort. They dared to be what they are, and what they write about is the very human element in the multiple worlds of mythology. This is way Blind Guardia is so loved by their fans they have drawn a parallel from their art directly to their inspiration, it is something we all do all the time only Blind Guardian had the courage to run with it. Anyone who loves what Blind Guardian loves ends up loving what they are doing, for nearly every song is a double dose of mythology, the inspiration and the expression co-existing in perfect harmony.

“Out of the dark,
Back to the light,
Then I'll break down,
The walls around my heart.
Imaginations from the other side.”

Until next month keep on rocking in the free world.

- Colin Kelly

Remix from "Memories of a Time to Come"

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - 1812 Overture

I am a big fan of reading classical literature if no other reason than it assists in understanding references and small nuances in modern literature. For example I am reading Sir Walter Scott’s “Ivanhoe” right now, and I am learning of many tie ins from British history and folklore to George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series. The winner of the joust and melee at the tournament has the right to name the queen of love and beauty, before the Norman invasion England referred to itself as the seven kingdoms, servants to the lords wear chains around their neck, proving one’s innocence with trials by combat, the laws of hospitality, and lots of knights doing good deeds while incognito, also Robin Hood and Friar Tuck show up but are never named (well they are eventually). The last bit about Robin Hood has nothing to do with “A Game of Thrones,” I just thought it was neat, then again Robin Hood and his outlaws and their loyalty to King Richard Coeur D'Lion is similar to Lord Berric and his band of not so merry men and their loyalty to King Robert Baratheon.

The tie in here is that I can discover the same kind of references and nuances in classical music. If you remember way back to November 2010 when I talked about Johan Sebastian Bach I made a big deal about how his works would later inspire a seeming majority of European conductors and song writers, but perhaps a more modern example, and perhaps a more relevant example of profound influence on others can be see within the works of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Paul Duncan is based off Tchaikovsky.

When I began to read about Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s life one detail strongly stood out to me, and that was his lifelong depression stemming from being separated from his mother. Tchaikovsky was forced to leave   home in order to study music and evidently he missed his mother badly, and anxiety led to depression when   his mother passed away not long after his leaving, consequentially this haunted him for the rest of his life. This   detail of Tchaikovsky’s life reminded me a lot of fictional character Paul Duncan. Naoki Urasawa’s “Pluto” is a manga that completely retells the Astro Boy story arc “The Strongest Robot in the World,” as a murder mystery where the laws of Isaac Asimov robotics apply. “Pluto” is awesome, but it would take an entire essay just to explain how so and just how much. What is relevant here is that I now know that chapters 4-6 “North #2” parts 1-3 which involve the character Paul Duncan who is a depressed, brilliant, eastern European, musician whose agony revolves around the abandonment of his mother at an early age is likely inspired by the life of Tchaikovsky. Fortunately the powerful robot North #2 is there to help him out. 

Famous, rather infamous, works of Tchaikovsky include “The Nutcracker,” “Swan Lake,” and many people’s favorite the “1812 Overture.” A great many Christmas songs were inspired by and reworked from, “The Nutcracker,” and this includes multiple tracks from nearly every Trans Siberian Orchestra album. I hardly know anything about ballet, but I do know that “Swan Lake,” is considered one of the most important/best/something, and who could forget Darren Aronofsky’s film “Black Swan?” a film that basically gave someone an excuse to tamper with and perform Tchaikovsky’s work. Lastly the “1812 Overture;” so many songs are inspired by the “1812 Overture;” in fact any song with the word “Overture” in the title that is not actually the overture to a larger piece of music, you can pretty much guarantee is in some way, shape, or form, a tribute to Tchaikovsky.

Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” has been used in many movies and television shows (45 times according to IMDB, http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006318/), but perhaps most memorably in the opening and closing scenes for “V for Vendetta” were explosions of government buildings are accompanied by the “1812 Overture,” which I think was outlawed in that movie for literally no reason.

The “1812 Overture” has something of an interesting lore surrounding it. Americans in their American ways began to believe that the Overture was written about their victory over the British in 1812, which all of us Canadians know is bullshit since we (British subjects that would eventually became Canadians) drove them back and burned down their white house in that war, quite the opposite of a victory if you ask me. Oh America, why so America? Meanwhile the “1812 Overture” in actuality is about the Russian victory over Napoleon in the same year. If you listen closely you can actually hear references to the French and Russian national anthems within the “1812 Overture;” “La Marsillaise,” and “God Save the Czar,” which is fascinating. What makes this even funnier is that the American national anthem is about their defeat by the British in 1812; their flag still being there after their capital building is destroyed is meant to be a declaration of American resolve and is admittedly bad ass.

There was a long period of time where people often said that the epoch of music had been obtained. More than one generation thoroughly believed that Tchaikovsky was the climax to all music, and that nothing would ever rival it. I suspect people said the same thing about Beethoven for a long period of time after his death, but Tchaikovsky passed away in 1893 and people are still referencing him as the last and greatest of the greats in my lifetime and that says a lot about the strength of his lasting power. They call is classic music for a reason, this kind of music has already stood the test of time and “1812 Overture” is a true masterpiece. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is immortal, his music will live forever, it changed us; it probably changed everything.

Until later this month keep on rocking in the free world.

- Colin Kelly

Blind Guardian - War of Thrones

Since I am on a big “A Song of Ice and Fire,” kick right now, I may as well run with it. I said it a little while ago and I stand by this bold statement, “George R.R. Martin has done it, he has given us the next ‘Lord of the Rings’” it feels odd to quote myself, but whatever. The popularity of this books series is huge, and rightfully so it is excellent, and evidently progressive metal and rock musicians took notice a while ago.

The book series “A Song of Ice and Fire” began 1991 when the first book “A Game of Thrones,” was published, and it appears metal musicians have been written songs about the series for about half the period of time between then and now.

As you must know I am not the only amateur music critic out there on the internet blogging, in fact I am really just an insect within the swarm. As I search for new music I often end up at one of my colleague’s sites and listen to what they are recommending. When I typed “songs about ‘A Game of Thrones’” this is what I found;

http://skyatlantic.sky.com/news/10-songs-inspired-by-game-of-thrones

I would like to thank Sky Atlantic, for their fine work, and the kick ass knowledge I now have of these songs. To sum up their ten songs in a brief effort, Hammerfall – Take the Black, is great, John Anelio - George R. R. Martin Is Not Your Bitch, is entertaining, and the heavier versions of the televisions’ themes were interesting. Also worthy of note is how the majority of the songs were about the Nights Watch and Jon Snow. There is a lot of fantastic imagery north of the wall and Snow is probably the series’ primary protagonist so it understandable that song writers would be drawn to that. Lastly, the presence of Blind Guardian, a German power metal band who more or less write songs exclusively about fantasy literature, no fantasy based metal music list would be complete without them.

Blind Guardian have written songs about Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, Arthurian lore, and J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, most notably the album “Nightfall,” which is a concept album about “The Silmarillion,” which I freaking love. In the example on Sky Atlantic they show us the song “A Voice in The Dark,” which is about Bran Stark’s dreams of falling and the three eyed crow. It is a decent song, but on the Blind Guardian album “At The Edge of Time” there is at least one more song about “A Song of Ice and Fire,” titled “War of the Thrones,” which in my opinion is a far superior song, and not mentioned on Sky Atlantic list of “A Game of Thrones,” songs.

“War of the Thrones,” is a song from the perspective of Jon Snow. The song does a good job of capturing both the isolation Snow feels while hearing news of his former family and friends going to war, a war that he cannot be a part of. Also the song describes the desolation of north of the wall very well. The first line, “nothing will ever grow here,” I believe is one of the first things Jon Snow’s observes about the winter wastelands in the book in those exact words. There are lyrics about grey shadows and endless battle and suffering, and all that good stuff.

What I really like about Blind Guardian in their songs there is a sense of ambiguity, and through this a stronger sense of poetry. All the songs the other metal songs about “A Song of Ice and Fire,” are rather specific, making very direct if not blunt references to the book. They call characters and locations by name, and describe in full detail events that take place in the novel series. While by contrast Blind Guardian songs create strong images about the world of Westeros without going into specific details, it feels more natural, like this is how someone who actual lives there might describe what they are seeing and feeling. Musicians who write step by step mentions of their lives are few to none, it is far more effective poetry to draw simple ideas that build to a great whole, Blind Guardian do that here, and in every other song of theirs’.

I could break down every line for you, or I could just let you study the lyrics yourself;

"Nothing will grow here
Icy fields - blackened sorrow
Legacy of a lost mind
Feed my void
What you're waiting for

I'm too late
It is more than a game
The river reveals
Now I'm in between these lines
I cannot escape it seems
Sail on, my friend

All I ever feel is
All I ever see is
Walls they fall
When the march of the Others begins

All I ever feel is
All I ever see is
Rise and fall
When the War of the Thrones shall begin

While I sit there in silence
Come and talk to me
I can't free my mind
It is all I'm begging for

While I sit there in silence

Will it ever end?
Will I find what I'm longing for?
Will I ever walk out of shadows so grey?
I'm condemned, I am hallowed
Icy fields they won't hurt anymore

Will you walk with me?
Any further
There at world's end
It's me
I sing

I cannot escape it seems
Sadly I sing

All I ever feel is
All I ever see is
Walls they fall
When the march of the Others begins

All I ever feel is
All I ever see is
Rise and fall
When the War of the Thrones shall begin

Away
Watch the river it flows
Now and ever
I cannot believe in more
And now my time will come
Carry on

Will I ever learn from the past?
Will I fade away?
Will I ever stay where the shadows will grow?
There is luck at the gallows
I will free my mind
Soon it will show

Let it rain
There'll be no spring
My dream is a mirror
It reveals a matter of lies

All I ever feel is
All I ever see is
Rise and fall
When the War of the Thrones will begin

All I ever feel is
All I ever see is
Rise and fall
When the War of the Thrones has begun

Leave a fee for the tillerman
And the river behind"

There are a lot of lyrics in this song, but you see what I mean, if you have read the books you can probably piece together the specific references, however if you have not read the book you are still left with your mind able to experience what this world is like and understand the fears and hopes of those who live there. Blind Guardian guides you to grasp the feelings and setting of this world even without knowing all the fine details within supporting it all.

If there is one way into my heart, it is music like this, powerful rock ballads about epic fantasy. I love it. What a great song, what a fantastic world we live in where bands are ballzy enough to write music like this.

Until next month, keep on rocking in the free world.

- Colin Kelly

The National - The Rains of Castamere

And who are you, the proud lord said,

That I must bow so low?

Only a cat of a different coat,

That’s all the truth I know.

In a coat of gold or a coat of red,

A lion still has claws,

And mine are long and sharp, my lord,

As long and sharp as yours.

And so he spoke, and so he spoke,

That lord of Castamere,

But now the rains weep o’er his hall,

With no one there to hear.

Yes now the rains weep o’er his hall,

And not a soul to hear.

And so he spoke, and so he spoke,

That lord of Castamere,

But now the rains weep o’er his hall,

With no one there to hear.

Yes now the rains weep o’er his hall,

And not a soul to hear.

The National - Sorrow

“A Game of Thrones” Season 2 - Episode 9 – Blackwater, ended with a nice rendition of “The Rains of Castamere.” “The Rains of Castamere,” is one of many poems contained within the book series “A Song of Ice and Fire,” written by genius George R.R. Martin, also it is just about the only poem I bothered to pay much attention too whilst reading the series. I could on and on about “A Game of Thrones,” (Go Stannis!) but that’s not what this is about, this is about the band that performed “The Rains of Castamere,” for the television series.

I knew the voice was familiar when I heard it the first time and I probably should have put my finger on it right away, but I was so caught up with “A Game of Thrones,” the series and the characters I was not thinking about it. The voice was Matt Berninger, and the band is The National. That National has been around since 1999 but I only recently discovered them. I like The National, but I like them a little more now after hearing them perform one of George R.R. Martin’s poems/songs, which is a totally awesome thing to do.

This is not the first time I have stumbled into a song by The National in the media of film. I stumbled upon The National whilst watching the first true mixed martial arts movie “Warrior.” Joel Edgerton plays a Rich Franklin caricature (teacher/fighter) and Tom Hardy plays his brother, a Brain Stann caricature (U.S. mariner/fighter). They participate in a tournament featuring real life mixed martial artist like Nate Marquardt and Anthony Johnson, also professional wrestler Kurt Angle plays a Fedor Emelianenko caricature. If you knew all the names I just mentioned you get a hundred cool points. Anyway “Warrior” is an okay movie, at the end when the brothers must fight each other and the dramatic end to the fight approaches the soulful The National song “About Today,” plays. It is probably the best moment in the movie.

However as charming as The National has been with songs like “The Rains of Castamere,” and “About Today,” there is a third song I would prefer to divert your attention too, “Sorrow.”

The National are a very melancholy band... oh god I finally used that word in a review, “melancholy,” which of course is just a fancy way of saying “sad.” The National are a very “sad” band, so a song title like “Sorrow” fits them like a glove. I watched a live performance of theirs on youtube.com where lead singer Matt Berninger felt the need to explain to the crowd that he was not, in fact, a manic depressant. However after some good natured teasing from his fellow band mates Berninger settled for admitting he was a slight manic depressant.

I have heard other critics compare The National to bands like Leonard Cohen and Joy Davison. I think every music critic likes to compare every band to Joy Division. Joy Division wrote some morbidly sad songs, and Leonard Cohen had an unearthly talent for summing up painful emotions in short sentences, and I must concur that general feelings of tolerating unhappiness is present in all three examples but as far as sound is concerned I would dare say The National have more in common with their indie British counterpart Editors.

If you remember all the way back to April you will recall me reviewing Editors and having some very nice things to say about them. The National has a few things in common with Editors, both are high quality Indie rock bands, both have solid acoustic melodies, and both have strong front men with manly voices. Matt Berninger does not quiet have the deep pitch of Editors Tom Smith, but he does sing like a man, proper and strong, admittedly this may be an intangible compliment. Despite the absolutely desperate things he sings, Berninger never really sounds weak; there is always a cold complacency in this tone. I believe this strong accepting voice of depressing truth is no better felt than in “Sorrow.” Perhaps saying The National is like Editors is an unfair statement, The National formed three years prior to Editors.

I really like the lyrics so here they are;

"Sorrow found me when I was young,
Sorrow waited, sorrow won.
Sorrow that put me on the pills,
It's in my honey, it's in my milk.
Don't leave my hyper heart alone,
On the water,
Cover me in rag and bones, sympathy.
Cause I don't wanna get over you.
I don't wanna get over you.

Sorrows my body on the waves,
Sorrows a girl inside my cave,
I live in a city sorrow built.
It's in my honey, it's in my milk.
Dont leave my hyper heart alone,
On the water,
Cover me in rag and bones, sympathy.
Cause I don't wanna get over you.
I don't wanna get over you.

dont leave my hyper heart alone,
On the water,
Cover me in rag and bones, sympathy.

Cause I don't wanna get over you.

I don't wanna get over you."

Those are sad lyrics. I especially like the lines “It’s in my honey, it’s in my milk,” that strikes up some very haggard visuals. Sorrow takes away the joy from everything, even nourishment, even flavor. Perhaps even better than that is the simple but effective line of “I don’t want to get over you,” that is such an endearing line. It takes strength to love when heartbroken, and the nation that someone would cling to loving someone even when their gone, that is just so romantic, it also so very sad, but it is romantic. It’s a heavy song, but it is a good one.

To sum things up, The National is a powerful melancholy/sad indie rock band, “Warrior” was a mediocre movie, everyone should be watching “A Game of Thrones” by now, Stannis Baratheon is the one true king, and until later this month keep on rocking in the free world.

- Colin Kelly