Advanced Search Beta »
Basic Search Fields
High Violet - The National
High Violet Image
Metascore
85 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 36 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.6 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 164 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Summary: The band and Peter Katis produced the Brooklyn-based rock quintet's fifth full-length album.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. Sputnikmusic
    100
    The National should give faith to anyone who has become disillusioned with indie music, anyone who misses a time where it didn't seem like all the musicians thought they were better than you and you could actually relate to the damn words they were singing. High Violet is another batch of cement to further supplement The National's already unshakable concrete career.
  2. Delusions of Adequacy
    100
    It's exceptionally crafted, it's gorgeously composed and it's remarkably rendered by a band that might just be the very best we have today.
  3. Clash Music
    60
    Bleak as you like, but strangely cathartic in many places, it's absolutely the worst album to soundtrack your Christmas lottery win. For the rest of us dour wageslaves, it's perfect.

See all 36 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 54 out of 58
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 58
  3. Negative: 2 out of 58
  1. mickaneso
    10
    A beautifully crafted, artistic, understated album. The National claim that they sometimes can change around a song up to 50 times, such is their desire to perfect the music they make. It definitely shows on this album with subtle instrumentation blending together to form gorgeous melodies in which Mr Berningers haunting baritone vocals accompany. A small minority of people claim this album has been falsely hyped by hipster mags and music elitists but don't believe it for a second. This is often the problem when an album understates itself the way this does, people are too quick to toss it a side.… Expand
    • 3 of 3 users said yes
  2. IanP
    4
    hands down the most overrated band around right now. these songs are flat. the only complexity is the atmospheric production, otherwise you could pretty much call this 'mumblecore the band'.… Expand
    • 3 of 13 users said yes
  3. Flat
    0
    I didn't like Bauhaus the first time around...and at least they had a better drummer. Mumblecore? Yes, that's about right. If this is "the best we have today" then the bar has been lowered drastically.… Expand
    • 2 of 12 users said yes

See all 58 User Reviews

Related Articles

  1. Best of 2010, Music

    The Best Albums of 2010

    The Best Albums of 2010 Image
    Published: January 11, 2011
    Spoiler alert: Kanye West had the best-reviewed album of 2010. But which other releases impressed critics last year? We run down the 40 highest-scoring albums, and also examine the best releases of the year in various categories.
    More »
  2. Best of 2010, Games, TV, Movies, Music

    Metacritic Users Pick the Best of 2010

    Metacritic Users Pick the Best of 2010 Image
    Published: January 10, 2011
    Our users have spoken, the votes have been tallied, and we have your picks for the best of 2010 in movies, games, TV, and music. Don't expect another victory for Kanye West or The Social Network; Metacritic users had something else in mind.
    More »
  3. Best of 2010, Music

    2010 Music Critic Top Ten Lists [Updated Jan. 7]

    2010 Music Critic Top Ten Lists [Updated Jan. 7] Image
    Published: December 6, 2010
    Throughout the next two months, we'll be tracking the year-end Top Ten lists published by various music sites, magazines, and more. Find out which albums are currently in the running for best album of the year.
    More »
  4. Music

    May's Best New Music

    May's Best New Music Image
    Published: May 25, 2010
    What made our list of the best-reviewed albums from the past month? The debut LP from Janelle Monáe, and the latest from The National and LCD Soundsystem, for starters.
    More »

Recommended Products

  1. Boxer - The National

    • Release Date: May 22, 2007
    Boxer Image

  2. Alligator - The National

    • Release Date: Apr 12, 2005
    Alligator Image

  3. Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers - The National

    • Release Date: Sep 2, 2003
    Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers Image

Current Music Releases

Full List »
  1. Tago Mago [40th Anniversary Edition] - Can
    Metascore: 99
  2. Live in Europe 1967: Best of the Bootleg, Vol. 1 - Miles Davis
    Metascore: 99
  3. Siamese Dream [Deluxe Edition] - Smashing Pumpkins
    Metascore: 96
  4. The SMiLE Sessions - The Beach Boys
    Metascore: 96
  5. National Treasures: The Complete Singles - Manic Street Preachers
    Metascore: 95
  6. Satan Is Real/Handpicked Songs 1955-1962 - The Louvin Brothers
    Metascore: 94
  7. Achtung Baby [Super Deluxe] - U2
    Metascore: 93
  8. Some Girls [Deluxe Edition] - The Rolling Stones
    Metascore: 93
  9. Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down - Ry Cooder
    Metascore: 92
  10. Unto the Locust - Machine Head
    Metascore: 91
  11. Quadrophenia [The Director's Cut] - The Who
    Metascore: 90
  12. Rio [Live] - Keith Jarrett
    Metascore: 90
  13. What Were You Hoping For? - Van Hunt
    Metascore: 90
  14. Bitch Magnet - Bitch Magnet
    Metascore: 90
  15. Charity Starts at Home - Phonte
    Metascore: 89
  16. Nevermind [20th Anniversary Edition] - Nirvana
    Metascore: 89
  17. Journey of the Deep Sea Dweller, Vol. 1 - Drexciya
    Metascore: 88
  18. Bad as Me - Tom Waits
    Metascore: 88
  19. The Singles - Goldfrapp
    Metascore: 88
  20. Undun - The Roots
    Metascore: 88
All Current Music »