The National Health

About

England’s Maxïmo Park delivered three strong albums before <i>The National Health</i>; the first, <i>A Certain Trigger</i>, set a high bar. Album number four serves up a number of impressive tunes that sound both more mature yet youthful in their exuberance. Morphing from early punk-rooted influences into something strikingly original and contemporary, <i>The National Health</i> has thrilling moments of surging outrage, guitars fully ablaze (“Banlieue,” “Waves of Fear”), bursts of A Certain Trigger–flavored post-punk fervor (“National Health,” “Wolf Among Men,” “Write This Down”) and, of course, a handful of wistful, heart-on-sleeve swooners (“Unfamiliar Places,” “Reluctant Love”) delivered by Paul Smith’s endearingly romantic voice. The raging piano bounce of “Take Me Home” keeps the tune out of the latter category, though it’s full of puppy-eyed longing that might sway many a lass. “Hips and Lips” roils with a foaming blend of snarling keys and spitting guitars that feels truly exciting. <i>The National Health</i> finds the boys in shockingly tip-top shape, as they work out frustrations about both the status of their country and their own intimate lives.

via Apple Music

The Clerk says

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