For the first half of September, I’ll be selecting my Top 15 favorite songs from The National. A band that has rarely let me down — both in the recording studio and in concert. #FaveArtistTop15
I’ve always been a rhythm guy. I love a well crafted bass line. The simple grooves. And the complex stuff, too. I appreciate an unexpected drum part. Intros. Solos. Fills. All of it. And, generally, when I listen to music, the rhythm section is usually flaunting itself in the foreground. I often notice their intricacies even before I know the lyrics or guitar parts played over the verses. So when I first heard “Squalor Victoria”, I was simply blown away.
Since their solo album, Bryan Devendorf’s drums have always been a standout element of The National. What I love about his percussion style is his knack for the simple. He makes it sound so good. Every drummer has made a name for him or herself in their own way. Neil Peart owned technique and complexity. Bonzo owned sheer power. What Devendorf has done is make simplicity a desirable thing. On “Squalor Victoria”, his drums are the hero, but he’s using a beat that sounds like the stuff of teenaged basement jams. It’s infectious and mesmerizing, especially in a live setting.
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