The National – Bloodbuzz Ohio
At a time when I was on a proper downer, permanently disengaged, full of misplaced rage, a sense of self-loathing and malevolence – to the point of physically being dragged out of bed every morning and literally forcing myself to do basic tasks on my worst days – this was the song that snapped me out of it and made me think ‘just try and take control and you’ll be fine’ on more than one occasion. It had a far greater immediate effect on me than any other remedies for being stuck in a funk have had in my lifetime – and what’s more, it still works now. Singing along takes me back to when I first heard it and my heart soared. It was very early spring – about five weeks before the record came out, I recall. For a band I loathed six years ago to have had such a positive impact on my emotional health and wellbeing is cause for celebration.

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