5 new releases we love: Resilient disco pop, experimental hip-hop, and more

The National, I Am Easy To Find
[4AD, May 17]
“The National treats its guests like members of the band—as on opener ‘You Had Your Soul With You,’ when their vocals often eclipse Berninger’s—the rousing catharsis of its best work still roars in muscular tracks like ‘Rylan’ and ‘Where Is Her Head,’ both of which strike spirited climaxes on par with beloved cuts like ‘Sea Of Love’ and ‘All The Wine.’ The best moments, though, are perhaps the most understated: the thrumming, sepia-toned ‘So Far So Fast’ is as inspiring as it is existential, while the overcast electronica of the title track finds Dessner painstakingly layering drums and horns over a penetrating base of chirping birds and buzz-sawing synths. The National’s never been afraid to dial things down, but it’s rarely sounded as vulnerable as it does here—song after song, Dessner’s vibrant, moody arrangements serve to reflect Berninger’s precarious balance of hope and frustration.”
ICYMI, read our featured review of I Am Easy To Find right here.