Matt Berninger Strikes an Emotional Chord on Solo Debut
The National frontman uses his characteristic brooding to his advantage on Serpentine Prison
One of indie rock’s most brooding frontmen—Matt Berninger of The National—has made a career out of making loneliness sound nuanced. Lyrically, he has always embraced his proclivity for overthinking—and his songs are all the better for it. Since the release of the group’s eponymous debut album back in 2001, Berninger has shown how deeply he relishes detail; every glance, every kiss, every argument and every breakup is laid out with such dexterity that listeners could easily mistake his pain for their own.
After 20 years of success with The National, he has finally opted to release a solo record, Serpentine Prison. As expected, it shines a new light on the artist. Although his devastating baritone has guided the group for two decades, stripping it down for Serpentine Prison provides a different kind of decadence that only he—as both a vocalist and songwriter—could seamlessly pull off. The most satisfying part of Serpentine Prison is that it’s not a continuation of The National’s incredible discography. Berninger has always been a skilled lyricist, but on this project he zeroes in on personal relationships with much more intensity.
Opening track “My Eyes Are T-Shirts” emphasizes how complex and contradictory love can be. Berninger insists that his “tongue’s a bible in a drawer of a desk,” unable to handle the lashings that an unpredictable lover will eventually dish out. However, he acknowledges how vital that relationship is. The barreling acoustic guitar on “Distant Axis” prompts the singer to lament the painful nature of longing with a wistful chorus and simple lyrical approach. “Loved So Little” shows how well Berninger can narrate a story even through his self-deprecation.