This album resonates with resigned beauty captured by evocative music and articulated superbly by the deep rich voice of Matt Berninger. The songs tell of love and hate and that fine line that divides and joins our relationships. Despite the mostly bleak subject matter, there is something that is strangely uplifting about the album - almost life affirming, much as Willard Grant Conspiracy seem to have acheived with their musings on death on Regard the End. The alt-country-tinged "90-mile water wall" is at variance musically with the pounding drums, throbbing bass and screaming guitars and vocals of "Murder Me Rachael" but they convey their messages superbly.
The last track, "Lucky You" rounds off an excellent album probably best enjoyed alone, late on in the night in a mood-lit room with some fractured memories and a large glass of Macallan.........perhaps not for everyone then, but if that feeling has ever got to you, you'll enjoy this.

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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An album for people who hate people, 21 Nov 2003

By A Customer

In short, if you like Lou Reed's Berlin album, Replacements and Bill Hicks then this is the album for you. No happy songs, no optimistic songs, just pure despair, failed relationships and hatred. But, it's melodic and sung exactly as these types of songs should be sung. For the intrigued, depressed and recently divorced, press Play.

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7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Grand National, 8 Dec 2003

By	"birryboy" - See all my reviews

I'd never heard of The National before being turned onto them by a like-minded friend; let's just say I owe him for the recommendation. Big time.

Because Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers is worth buying for Cardinal Song and 90 Mile Water Wall alone, with repeated listens revealing that nearly all the other songs on it are fantastic too.

There's a fire in these songs that burns with the ferocity of prime American Music Club, and the soul of Lambchop and Tindersticks. To make comparisons is a bit unfair though, because The National pull off the uncommon trick of wearing their influences proudly, but still sounding original. And despite the bleak lives painted in the lyrics the music on this album is full of eyes-skywards melodicism and quiet inventiveness. That this is sustained over the full length of the album is invigorating indeed, and they even manage to hit a peak over the last few tracks, a rare pleasure in my experience.

Matt Berninger's voice is beautifully suited to this material, and the playing and arrangements consistently match up with the moods conjured, with gorgeously woozy strings on several tracks.

If any of the above appeals, then get hold of this forthwith. Easily in the top ten new albums this year.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Best of the National - buy it!
The National have a great back catalogue and to me this is their best album.

Published 10 months ago by Mr. Jon Whyte

3.0 out of 5 stars Not perfect but still worth a listen
Based on the strength of reviews on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com I decided to give this album a try. Whilst there is no denying that there are some excellent tracks on it, my... Read more

Published on 14 Feb 2005 by vince124

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