I started Mental Jukebox nearly three years ago at the beginning of the pandemic. During this time, I’ve discovered new music, rediscovered old favorites and I’ve met passionate music fans around the world. And when things opened up, I kept on blogging. This month, the jukebox goes deeper. The term “deep cut” has multiple meanings. It can refer to lesser known album tracks from well-known artists. It can also refer to tracks from lesser known artists. This month, I’ll be featuring both types. #DeepCutsFeb
Music is pretty much everything to me. All the best moments in my life have involved music in some way. It would be hard to imagine life without it. It would be hard to imagine life without The National. And it would be equally difficult to imagine The National without their breakthrough album, Boxer. The band had started to come into their own on the preceding LP, Alligator. But Boxer swayed with an incredible confidence. The back half of the album is no stranger to the spotlight. “Apartment Story” was one of the album’s singles, and “Start A War” appeared on the band’s setlists for a few years – even as the opener. But there’s a lesser heralded track that deserves mention here on Mental Jukebox: “Guest Room”.
Interesting thing about the “Guest Room”. It has all the elements that make The National a great band. The song kicks off with Bryan Devendorf’s trademark stuttering drum lines. Meanwhile, Aaron and Bryce do their thing on guitar creating atmospheric sounds with an intricate series of harmonics, chords and arpeggios. And Berninger is, well, Berninger. Waxing everyday poetic and singing so cool and so low on the outer edges of a bass range. My, how much I love this song and this band.
“They’re gonna send us to prison for jerks. for having vague ideas of the way to turn each other on again.”