Reading Time: 2 min read

4 out of 5 stars

The National, Sleep Well Beast ยฉ 4ADThe National returns with โ€œThe System Only Dreams in Total Darkness,โ€ the promo single for its seventh studio album, Sleep Well Beast.

The National have been M.I.A for four years! In May 2013, the indie rock collective released Trouble Will Find Me, an album that debuted at no. 3 on the Billboard 200.ย  Now, they return with Sleep Well Beast, which arrives September 8, 2017.ย  Ahead of their seventh studio album, The National drops a unique single, โ€œThe System Only Dreams in Total Darkness.โ€

โ€œThe System Only Dreams in Total Darknessโ€ opens enigmatically, with synthesized, harmonic vocals.ย  A few seconds in, the groove anchors down the single.ย  Keyboard, electric guitar, bass, and drums make up the backdrop which lead vocalist Matt Berninger paints over.ย  Perhaps heโ€™s not the most commanding baritone, but his tone of voice fits this particular record perfectly.ย  He isnโ€™t content to reside in his lower register; he ascends and packs more punch dynamically as well.

What is the premise of the lengthily titled โ€œThe System Only Dreams in Total Darkness?โ€ Sam Sodomsky of Pitchfork asked the band in an interview.ย  The response: โ€œItโ€™s an abstract portrait of the weird time weโ€™re in.โ€ย  That explains the odd vibes of the record.ย  On the first verse, Berninger seems disappointed and arguably, deceived:

โ€œMaybe I listen more than you think / I can tell that somebody sold you / We said weโ€™ve never let anyone in / We said weโ€™d only die of lonely secrets.โ€

That deception continues on throughout the chorus section:

โ€œThe system only dreams in total darkness / Why are you hiding from me? / Weโ€™re in a different kind of thing now / All night youโ€™re talking to God.โ€

The second verse comes off similar to the first, with Berninger surprised by the condition of things.ย  Like the first verse, this is approached like a relationship, even though the relationship is more metaphorical than literal.ย  One final wrinkle adds to the record โ€“ something of a post-chorus or bridge: โ€œI cannot explain it / Any other, any other wayโ€ฆโ€ Itโ€™s not deep lyrically, but clearly, The National want the listener to question exactly what are they getting at.

Final Thoughts

All in all, The National return respectably with โ€œThe System Only Dreams in Total Darkness.โ€ย  The song is well-produced overall, while the concept makes the listener think. Is this an award-winning record? Maybe, maybe not, but The National has something working here.

The National โ€ขย Sleep Well Beast โ€ข 4AD โ€ข Release: 9.8.17
Photo Credit: 4AD
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the musical hype

the musical hype aka Brent Faulkner has earned Bachelor and Masters degrees in music (music Education, music theory/composition respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and a freelance music journalist. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.

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