Galen and Alex accompany The National on a huge leap between albums, discussing 2003’s “Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers.” One of the band’s principal members described this as an “experimental album,” and the Cosmic America team dives into which new sounds the band carries forward and which sounds the band leaves behind on this album. Though it didn’t receive the attention that the subsequent albums received, “Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers” is a highlight of the band’s catalogue and a must-listen for fans of The National.

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