The National - Trouble Will Find Me

A masterclass in atmospheric, high-stakes indie rock.

By the time Trouble Will Find Me arrived in 2013, The National had moved beyond "indie famous" into the realm of modern legends. Their sixth studio album is a sprawling, self-assured masterpiece that captures the Ohio-raised, Brooklyn-based quintet at their most creatively unified. Building on the momentum of High Violet, this record trades grand anthemic sweeps for something more intricate, rhythmic, and deeply immersive. It is a collection of songs that feel like an internal monologue, balancing Matt Berninger’s wit and weary baritone against the Dessner brothers' complex, shifting arrangements and the Devendorfs' legendary "clockwork" rhythm section.

From the propulsive, interlocking guitars of "Don’t Swallow the Cap" to the haunting, orchestral beauty of "Pink Rabbits," Trouble Will Find Me explores the nuances of anxiety, devotion, and the passage of time with devastating clarity. The album features a rich cast of collaborators—including St. Vincent, Sufjan Stevens, and Sharon Van Etten—who add subtle textures to the band’s most refined sonic palette yet. It is an album that doesn't just invite you in; it surrounds you. For many fans, this remains the definitive statement of the band’s identity: sophisticated, darkly humorous, and emotionally resonant.