The second album by The National will give you exactly what the title says, so no letdown there (unlike obviously all the relationships of the people who wrote these songs). Love is a trial, a dangerous bad thing to happen to anyone. The world is dangerous, confusing, and in the end you'll be hurt badly. The National dress these miserable concepts into finely wrought melodies, gloomy arrangements ranging from simple acoustics to bigger band songs complete with female back-vocals and string-sections. Yes, it is Americana, but of the grown-up-and-very-urban kind. For fans of Calexico, Wilco, and Johnny Cash.