The National

It has been reported that this summer The National and Modest Mouse will support R.E.M. on tour to promote their latest album Accelerate, which hits stores April 1.

Modest Mouse is a palette thing, you simply either have a taste for it or you do not. Outside of their hopelessly accessible Good News for People Who Love Bad News, Modest Mouse possesses the unique ability to craft obtuse, nearly inscrutable songs that, nevertheless, appeal to the masses.

The National, on the other hand, should provide a perfect foil to the alt-rock-lately-leaning-towards-adult-contemporary R.E.M.

With frontman Matt Berninger's rich baritone drenching already melancholy songs in an even deeper shroud of obsidian fog, it will contrast nicely with Stipe's trademark robotic murmur covering more diverse topics such as deceased comedians and passenger trains.

The National's eponymous debut showed promise, but it was evident the band had not found its footing yet. With sophomore outing Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers, however, the band found solid ground with a teary-eyed outlook on relationships and life itself.

But mostly relationships.

This leering love life outlook was expounded upon in spades with the subsequent release Alligator. The record would finally earn the band critical accolades and a major tour. Just when it appeared as if the band had reached its artistic peak, along came Boxer in 2007.

"Fake Empire" alone is worth the purchase price of The National's fourth LP. A cautiously quiet piano begins the song and, in its brief three minute span, expands into something progressively tense.

Piercing single "Mistaken for Strangers", which finds the band punishing their guitars more than ever, contains one of the catchiest choruses of last year.

The album garnered high praise, including a Best Album nod from Paste Magazine. Demos from the recording sessions are floating around the 'net, countless live bootlegs abound, and many tracks culled from the record have found their way into television spots - namely the NBC program Life.

Try out a track from each album below, buy a record or two, then head over to their myspace for the latest tour dates. You will not regret it.

"Cold Girl Fever" from The National (2001)

"Cardinal Song" from Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers (2003)

"Daughters of the Soho Riots" from Alligator (2005)

"Apartment Story" from Boxer (2007)