User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 303 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 275 out of 303
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Mixed: 13 out of 303
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Negative: 15 out of 303
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JeffSJun 8, 2010This is a brilliant album that - pardon the cliche - just gets better with each listening. In its understatement, it becomes almost overwhelmingly power. It is honest, evocative and quite possibly the most haunting (and haunted) album I have ever heard.
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AdrianKMay 20, 2010The third great in album in a row. exceptional music carried by great vocals. Additionally this album grows with every listening.
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MartinTJun 9, 2010Perfect album. Brilliant for breaking up to. Or buying for a new friend.
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DavidMay 15, 2010Just beautiful music and what a great voice - bought the CD having heard only Runaway and no song disappoints. Too early to say what songs are stand outs - just listen to the entire album and savour a band totally in the zone.
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longtimereaderMay 17, 2010This album is just OK. I know that the National makes growers (Alligator is a favorite of mine), but this one just comes off as too mopey. It seems like these guys are giving up on interesting melodies and giving into berringer and the drummer- i want a more balanced effort.
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MattGMay 18, 2010
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KeithSMay 19, 2010Rich, dark, sombre and beautiful. Brilliant.
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HappyEnchiladaMay 23, 2010After the first couple listens I had this ranked behind Alligator and Boxer, but it's broken through to where I wouldn't argue with anyone calling it their best. Rather than rank it, though, I'm happier thinking of Alligator/Boxer/High Violet as equal components of a superb triple album. Highly recommended.
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RobTMay 23, 2010The National's best album yet! Really enjoyable and it gets better with every listen.
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AlejandroGMay 25, 2010Great!
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CBEJun 1, 2010More of the same. But when 'same' is brilliant, who can argue? Not as immediate as Boxer but the subtlety pays off in the long run. Find myself humming these melodies on my walk home. Lemonworld is the revelation for me- perfect.
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MattJun 18, 2010Good album, but not as good as Boxer or Alligator. I find this album not as edgy as the other ones.
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NickJ.May 16, 2010More expansive, complex and consistently dark than Boxer. Only time will tell if it's as good.
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VitoV.May 16, 20103rd masterpiece in a row.
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AdamwMay 19, 2010Like all of their previous albums, this one gets better and better with each listen. it's a masterpiece except for the last song.
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kevinoMay 19, 2010Slow burner. Not as instantly accessible as Boxer. But ultimately maybe more rewarding. England maybe their best song ever.
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BKKahnMay 24, 2010Without a doubt, the National's most beautiful album!
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JoshFMay 26, 2010This album is actually much better than it's getting credit for. Even though it's (as of right now) rated below Boxer, I think High Violet is better because of its darker and more cohesive mood. Every song on this album is strong, and they all get even better the more you listen and discover all of the fantastic subtleties. Easily one of the best albums of the year so far.
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BrockMay 27, 2010Simply the best album I've heard since The XX's debut. That was only a year ago but there has been a lot of albums since.
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DunksJun 1, 2010The Delusions of Adequacy review says it all: "...remarkably rendered by a band that might just be the very best we have today." I totally agree with this statement. Absolutely amazingly talented band. I had been waiting for this album for quite a while but always knew that it was going to be a great album. Definitely my favourite band and i listen to a lot of different stuff.
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JohnRJun 13, 2010Live with this album for a week or two and it'll be lodged in your brain from the moment you wake up. Far better than Boxer and maybe the equal of Alligator. If I had to single anyone out, it'd have to be the drummer but this is a band at the peak of its powers.
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M.SondersJun 15, 2010Upon first listens youll love songs like anyones ghost, bloodbuzz ohio, afraid of everyone, but with repeated listens you get sucked into every other song making first listen forgettables the most deep and moving songs on the record!!(see terrible love, little faith, conversation 16).. PLUS i just saw them at bonnaroo and it was F*CKING UNREAL!!!
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FabianoS.May 14, 2010Brilliant! The best album of the year.
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MatthewE.May 15, 2010Somber and thoughtful yet simple, this is another great album from The National.
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FrankB.May 16, 2010As usual, The National burrows in and reaches places in the consciousness that are rarely reached. Give it some time and wait for the reward!
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billboardMay 16, 2010The vocals are still solid. the arrangements are decent. the drums are probably the most improved part of the band. however, its not as engrossing or touching as previous albums. basically, its no sad songs for dirty lovers, but itll do.
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MikeA.May 17, 2010Yeah, so it occupies the same space as Boxer, but when it's executed so well, who cares?
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TomBMay 18, 2010Album of the year. Hands down. The term "masterpiece" is thrown around so often it loses its potency, but this is the first 10 out of 10 album I've heard in a long time. This is a masterpiece.
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DKMay 18, 2010Better than Boxer, imo. Anyone's Ghost and Runaway don't measure up for me, but everything else is bloody brilliant.
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IanPMay 19, 2010hands 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'.
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JamesBMay 25, 2010While it tends to get bogged down in a few spots (I'm thinking particularly of Little Faith and Runaway, which, although decent songs, are somewhat boring), overall it is another great album from The National.
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JeffPJun 16, 2010Who gave these guys permission to write songs about my life, anyways. I keep hearing "It takes an ocean not to break" and "I still owe money to the money to the money I owe" and the phrases won't go away. Not party music but it is a supreme listening experience.
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Aug 11, 2010
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Oct 25, 2011Enjoyed this much more than I did "Boxer", but unlike other National albums i found this album to be more immediate than its predecessors which were growers.
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Jul 25, 2011A quantum leap from Boxer and Alligator, and the best record of 2010 -- a year with a lot of great records. It's hard for me to understand the reviews trashing this but touting Boxer. Boxer was a nice record, but this is miles ahead of it. Check out the 4 new songs on the "expanded edition." Wake Up Your Saints and You Were a Kindness, in particular, are both brilliant.
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Mar 16, 2011Overrated indie band. Obscure music for sad emo hipsters does not make for good music. The music is mediocre. The hype for this band is awful and pushed by cooler than thou hipsters all over the place.
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Feb 20, 2011A wonderful little album that mixes alt-country, indie-rock, even a bit of atmosphere for an interesting mix of music. I don't think I could describe this music to a friend, except to say it's like a Midwestern version of Arcade Fire, but perhaps instead I would just say it's fantastic, worth a listen for anyone that enjoys indie rock.
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Sep 1, 2010It is incredibly dull. I bought it without thinking - partly based on the hype and partly based on some nostalgic memory of what a great song Fake Empire was and is. Unfortunately nothing here gets close and their performance at Glastonbury just confirmed that they have had their 15 minutes already.
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Sep 7, 2010
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Oct 21, 2010This album is the most charming of those in The National's discography. The poetry is strong, speaking to the awkward middle-aged socialite in all of us. Though the formula they follow can sometimes have uninteresting results, High Violet does its best to keep us listening by reminding us of just how imperfect we are.
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Dec 29, 2010
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Nov 21, 2010I downloaded this album back in june, and promptly put it on my ipod. Until about a week ago i had completely forgotten about it, and had never listened to it all. So about a week ago, i was at work listening to my ipod on shuffle, and the song "little faith" came on. I didnt even know who i was listening to, but i loved it! Since then i've been listening to this album non-stop.
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Sep 20, 2010The National just keep getting better and better. They haven't put a foot wrong in the whole album. Every song is just perfect. A must listen for everyone.
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Sep 30, 2010To call this album haunting seems to be an understatement - this album gets better, and darker, with each listen. The best new album I've heard in a while..
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Oct 6, 2010I 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.
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Oct 10, 2010
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Oct 16, 2010Certainly not as strong as Boxer or Alligator, but not necessarily more mainstream either. The album only really gets going halfway in after Bloodbuzz Ohio, with a series of fairly obvious and undistinguished melodically songs. Admittedly Bloodbuzz Ohio is a great single, and what follows it is more immediate, but its not enough to make me rate the album higher than this.
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Oct 20, 2010Hands down the best album of the year! Hauntingly beautiful. It transcends most rock albums of our day. For those that call it overrated,flat ,mumblecore (nonsense) or whatever. Please shake your head, put on the headphones, crank it up and hit repeat.
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Nov 5, 2010
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Nov 12, 2010
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Mar 18, 2011High Violet is one of a kind. Matt Berninger sings all of his emotions. He feels sorrow, he feels pain, he felt heartbroken. His vocals are amazing. The lyrics are really well and the musicianship is fantastic. The drumming is another thing. Some of the best drumming I've heard in awhile. All In All, The National are definitely a band to be reckoned with. A-
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Nov 29, 2010album of the year - no one even came close. sure it's sad, but it's funny too. matt berninger's lyrics just keep getting better. this album may take some getting used to and isn't appropriate for party situations, BUT for anyone who understands that this life is bittersweet (fans of "no country for old men" as an example) "high violet" is essential.
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Feb 1, 2011Inspiring song consistency, and filled with great emotion...all through the use of hushed vocals and instrumentation. The content is so dense it took me a few listens to gain a full appreciation of the work put into this brilliant album.
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Jan 11, 2011respect for the national, its even better than Boxer. the music is so calm and understanding, one of the best albums of 2010, cant wait for their next album
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May 28, 2017They just keep on putting out music with an extravagant and incredible quality.
What more can be said, beautiful from head to toe. You get submerged in every song, deeply and it's fabulous. -
Apr 21, 2011Matt Berninger's delightfully melancholy voice goes perfectly with the moody and gorgeous songs on this album. Although it seems to lack the cohesive force that "Boxer" had, the album is exceptional when each song is taken into consideration. The sounds are apocalyptic, gloomy, and creative. An exceptional work from an exceptional band.
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May 21, 2011
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Jul 10, 2011Beautiful, very evocative of something sour and bitter without ever getting dull.
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Jan 26, 2012A solid output from The National. In some ways it's more consistent than it's predecessor (The Boxer) mainly in it's sound which is a bit lighter. However I miss the atmosphere of dark, almost bleak atmosphere of Boxer.
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Jun 17, 2017
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Jan 26, 2012This album is flawless. Every track plays like a dark hymn for a frightened generation of lovesick vagabonds. The National are one of the best groups around, and this is their best album in my opinion.
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Apr 23, 2012
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Apr 12, 2013Not as good as 'Boxer': this one is more various, but the melodies are too predictable...
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Jun 25, 2013A very good album. Not incredible, but very good. Picked it up on vinyl and I've listened to the digital versions and I would reccomend splurging for the vinyl. The vocals become much more haunting like that. This album has a lot of ups and very few downs, but fails to really tell a story.
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Sep 25, 2021This album is so touching and dramatic and so beautifully put together. It mixes in dark stories with grand moments and doesn’t get dull at all.
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Oct 6, 2022
Awards & Rankings
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Dec 20, 2010The National's latest is easily up there with the very best indie-rock records of the year.
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Its charms are subtle, its grip soft and easily shrugged by those who choose to pay it only passing attention. Live with it a while, though, and High Violet rewards patience with songs that colour one's waking existence, becoming vivid night-time narratives when curtains are drawn.
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An easy grandeur is present throughout, as is a sense they are following an increasingly individual, carefully textured path. It is a wild, vivid romance that The National make their own, and on High Violet it sounds just as striking, just as wild, just as vivid as ever.