Matt BerningerSerpentine Prison is a name that might make one think that Matt Berninger, the quick-witted baritone frontman of indie rock royalty The National, has decided to go down a gothic or industrial route for this, his first solo foray. However, the decidedly sinister name’s venomous notion ends up sounding more like a slow acting poison on this calm, steady collection of bohemian tinged folk songs.
In the world of carefully put together alternative pop, there’s not a lot of stones left unturned by Berninger and his band over the last 20 incredible years - and this tradition of exploration is continued here, albeit occasionally dipping into areas of bluegrass and experimental jams.
For anyone looking for something that sounds like Boxer-era National, a "golden age" that some wish the band would return to, the closest you’ll get here are the occasional sweeping string arrangements and tongue-in-cheek lyrical punches (who else but Berninger can start off an album with a track called My Eyes Are T-Shirts?). Serpentine Prison is Berninger left to his own creative devices and, once you're used to his voice in a different world, things are quite enjoyable.
