Skip to main content

IN REVIEW: Matt Berninger - "Serpentine Prison"

 


Matt Berninger's commanding baritone is probably one of the most distinctive voices in rock over the last twenty years; through his main gig with The National, whose eight records and counting have garnered a swell of fan and critic support, he's achieved elder statesman status with a discography that one can put up there with any modern band. So as to say, he's yet to release an embarrassing batch of songs; the worst thing you can say is that an album or two have been underwhelming (or, put another way, not up to the lofty standards brought forth by his best work).

After twenty years with The National, the prospect of a Matt Berninger solo record was intriguing to me, since the only work he's done outside of The National that I'd familiarized myself with was EL VY, the side project launched in 2014 with Menomena's Brent Knopf; their lone record, Return to the Moon, found Berninger brazenly forging into the playful and humorous. Coming from a singer known for a band that's understated and occasionally maudlin, it was a breath of fresh air.

As it turns out, EL VY sets no precedent for Serpentine Prison; rather, these songs sound more in step with some of his greatest influences. There's a lot of Nick Cave in the arrangements, which the lush production from Booker T. Jones effectively brings out; it's all very tasteful and never bothers for wild detours, opting instead for a slow and safe sonic journey.

That might be disappointing for some fans to hear, and the barrage of ballads admittedly makes Serpentine Prison an experience you have to be in the mood for rather than get sucked into; still, there aren't any outright mistakes here. The cynical view is "National Lite", and Berninger has to know there's at least a little merit in that argument. The important distinction is, he shouldn't care; Serpentine Prison is a vision followed through on, a bleak one to be sure, but one that's also beautiful.

October 16, 2020 • Concord
Highlights Distant Axis • One More Second • Take Me Out of Town

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Year in Rock 2025

  Alright, I've got some explaining to do.   By now anyone who's visited this blog is well aware of how infrequently I've used this space in recent years; aside from the occasional fertile year of content, I really haven't posted all that often over the last five years or so. There are many reasons for this, which have already been outlined in previous apology posts; but, essentially, it boils down to my own laziness and the cold reality that blogs are, like Refused (again), fucking dead. So, I wouldn't hold my breath for a triumphant return to reviews, or even semi-regular posts, but:   a) I feel like Year in Rock posts have always belonged here and, even though I've experimented with different methods of presentation recently and been satisfied, the "blink and you missed it" unveiling via Facebook stories this year was perhaps ultimately a disservice to the records I lauded. After all, cramming the list into short videos isn't too far off from ju...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year in Rock 2016: Solo Artist Nominees

Artists who stand alone, who put their name on their album jackets and assume full responsibility for the art they give to the world, exhibit a kind of bravery that I've always admired. It takes courage to stand on that proverbial stage in solitude; this year's nominees faced varying degrees of challenges, but they all shared the desire to stare down the criticisms and expectations of every other individual they shared the air with and exclaim, "Don't worry. I've got this." Your Year in Rock 2016 nominees for Solo Artist Recording of the Year are:
Post a Comment
Read more

Year in Rock 2024

  So, how weird is it to post a Year in Rock 2024 write-up a year late? Honestly, this is just for posterity; with a post to wrap up 2025 possibly posted by the time you see this, I couldn't stand the gap that would otherwise be present. I'll have more to say, but will wait until the Year in Rock 2025 post to say it. Instead, I'll just dive right in with the list. This will be the least exciting Year in Rock post you've ever seen.   25. The Smashing Pumpkins - "Aghori Mhori Mei" 24.  Japandroids - "Fate & Alcohol" 23. Pearl Jam - "Dark Matter" 22. Cheekface - "It's Sorted" 21. Kim Gordon - "The Collective" 20. High Vis - "Guided Tour" 19. Acid Mammoth - "Supersonic Megafauna Collision" 18. Microwave - "Let's Start Degeneracy" 17. IDLES - "TANGK" 16. Jerry Cantrell - "I Want Blood" 15. Chat Pile - "Cool World" 14. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard ...
Post a Comment
Read more