Sleep Well Beast
by The National
  • Record Label: 4AD
  • Release Date: Sep 8, 2017
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
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  1. The Independent (UK)
    Sep 7, 2017
    60
    Sleep Well Beast, like all The National’s albums, occupies troubled territory. These are songs about the fleeting impermanence of joy, compared to the lingering bruise of despair, and how hard it is to live in this unfairly weighted emotional space. It’s a struggle embodied in Matt Berninger’s enervated, murmurous baritone.

Awards & Rankings

35
#35 Best Album of 2017
68
#68 Most Discussed Album of 2017
25
#25 Most Shared Album of 2017

User Reviews

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User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 175 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 154 out of 175
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 175
  3. Negative: 10 out of 175
  1. Edjackson
    Sep 9, 2017
    10
    There's a moment in the life span of every great band in which they have to decide to get bored and play safe, be satisfied with theirThere's a moment in the life span of every great band in which they have to decide to get bored and play safe, be satisfied with their achievements and stop, or get uncomfortable and keep progressing. Sleep Well Beast is a strong statement revealing that The National is still up to excel itself and develop a body of work so wide like they never did it before. The album full of electronic sounds, two great guitar solos, amazing lyricism and skillful dynamics surprised me reminding me a bit of "Ok Computer" meant to me in 1997. Melancholy, feelings of longing, uncertainties of the known love and professional life, or the biased purposes of parties make evident here and much more. Definitely 10/10 if that's possible to quantify.… Full Review »
  2. kevin3stacks
    Sep 8, 2017
    9
    The National have been so consistently brilliant all the way through their nearly 20 year career. it's no surprise that Sleep Well BeastThe National have been so consistently brilliant all the way through their nearly 20 year career. it's no surprise that Sleep Well Beast immediately sounds like some of their best work. It is very much a National album but they also experiment with rich results! Radiohead vibes can be heard oozing all over this album. Nice electronic sounds come in to play along with the band's instruments. Beninger is on form. lyrics are great. There's everything to love about this.… Full Review »
  3. NeutralMilkH
    Sep 8, 2017
    10
    This is a track-by-track album review, my final score is based on the average of the scores of all of the songs. Remember, this is just myThis is a track-by-track album review, my final score is based on the average of the scores of all of the songs. Remember, this is just my lame opinion, lol.
    Nobody Else Will Be There: A song that crackles and fizzles as the piano swoons subtly over the course of the song. Berninger sounds truly desperate as he attempts to reach new lows in his pitching. As the awkward synths enter the song, the song has already established its rhythm. (10/10)
    Day I Die: In contrast to the introductory song of the album, Day I Die starts off with a pulse of energy as the drums are allowed to bang out alongside the electrifying guitar chords. Berninger puts his heart into it despite it being broken making this song one of the best anthems of the whole entire album. (10/10)
    Walk it Back: A simple song with synths and a vocal delivery resembling a speaking manner rather than that of singing notes. The song slowly builds up but remains unpredictably stable throughout. (10/10)
    The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness: It's powerful **** I don't think I really have to talk about this one. (10/10)
    Born to Beg: Set to an extremely settled drum beat, this song is yet another sweet addition to the catalog of this album and lets the twinking sounds make statements without overstaying their welcome and ending the track in a way that I can only describe as "beautiful" because I know nothing about synonyms. (10/10)
    Turtleneck:It appears to be that this album is going back and forth between quiet tracks and loud tracks, however, this track is by far the loudest and most out of control, yet extremely well-blended and mixed without coming across as stupidly over-the-top or too clean as it is the shortest track. (10/10)
    Empire Line: In an environment of extremely intricate sounds, Berninger sings slowly to the quick and upbeat synths and small beats of the song, yet you can't help but wait and listen to what he has to say. This song breaks the pattern of the odd-numbered songs being quiet as it finds itself in between being loud and quiet which is a fitting way to start the second album. WHINY SYNTHS! (10/10)
    I'll Still Destroy: One of their most insanely electronic songs on the album, it strolls along at an extremely frenetic pace, almost reminds me of Radiohead's "Kid A." It quickly gets toned down as Berninger brings humanity into the song over time as the song beautifully improvises and even changes into a rock song with a "xylophone?" Also, the long, voiceless ending is worth listening to (10/10)
    Guilty Party: Electronic drums get partially offset a piano that sounds almost "church-ish" that strolls through the song and helps build momentum for the odd strings and vocals to come until the drums ultimately become more powerful and human, ever so slightly (so much subtle **** happens in this song, that it's going to require re-listening sessions.) (10/10)
    Carin at the Liquor Store: For a nice change of pace, the piano starts out alone with Berninger's stable voice and romantic lyrics. The song intensifies whilst retaining a sense of vulnerability. (10/10)
    **Could this be a perfect album?**
    Dark Side of the Gym: An extremely modern electronic song that reminds me of something by Lorde or Klangstof... more of the latter... the beat actually does reflect the "innocence" of a gym whilst the strings remind me of when Wii Sports is rewarding... I'm missing the point completely seeing as how this song is about the first time "Matt" met "Whatever the name of his wife is." It nicely crescendos into an emotionally packed ending covered in classical strings that become genuinely inhumane... didn't know it was possible, lol. (10/10)
    Sleep Well Beast: As the final track of the album, it peacefully puts the album to sleep (well, that's a really ****ty pun.) Of course the song intensifies ever so slightly, almost as if to reflect the idea that even beasts have nightmares... I connect titles and instrumentals with each other too much... but still... the **** ambiance of this song is too hard to resist.

    Final Score: 120/120 or 10/10
    **PERFECT ALBUM**
    In conclusion, Berninger comes off with some of his most sincere and subtly powerful vocals whilst the role of the guitars remain restrained until they are needed to make a song anthemic and give it the meaningful edge it needs. As for the synths, they maintain a presence throughout the record and provide a cutting backdrop. The pianos and strings are always beautiful and end most of the songs in grand fashion. This is probably one of the National's best albums... I wouldn't know because I've only listened to Boxer... But seriously, this record manages to be flawless yet reflect a theme of vulnerable love at the same time, that's pretty impressive... so go listen to this album, I think you will enjoy at least one of these songs considering the fact that I managed to enjoy every aspect of all of them, and if you hate it, that's okay, but if you write a review, it better make sense.    … Full Review »
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