The National: "Driver, Surprise Me"

“Driver, Surprise Me” is one of two new tracks included on the expanded edition of The National’s already perfect Alligator, and neither disappoints. From the start, Matt Berninger’s jarring lyrics are on display: “Put the pervert in a suit / take him out and light him up / get him out of your system / and warm your brand new bones.” While you’re trying to puzzle that out, the simple four-note backing riff gains teeth and a second guitar. Bravado intact, Berninger continues with the metaphors littering “All the Wine” and “Mr. November”: “I’m brand new / reinvented / without a scratch / daisy fresh and arrow straight.” It’s good to hear his lyricism intact, but better to witness the band turning a quiet song into a loud one and back again. The National played this song in the encore of its Los Angeles performance last week, and if the band is that confident about all its new stuff, its next album should be a monster.