Silver Springs

~ SERPANTINE PRISON ~CONCORD RECORDS ~ 2020 ~

Matt Berninger,

feat.Gail Ann Dorsey

Silver Springs

Fans of The National can attest to frontman Matt Berninger’s convoluted writing style, which can be interpreted as poetic or bombastic.  Instead of “Do you miss me,” Berninger asks “Am I the one you think about, sitting in your fainting chair drinking pink rabbits?” Pink rabbit, by the way, is a hard-to-find cocktail mixed with Campari, Mezcal, pineapple juice, and lime.  Pretentious or delicious, you decide. 

On Berninger’s latest solo record, Serpentine Prison, he embraces Americana and trends toward a more populist style.  On Silver Springs, he describes a fake plastic town, a place for the try-hards and the superficial.  If you’d prefer to kill time and mingle among the dandelions, “they’ll never understand you in Silver Springs.” 

Gail Ann Dorsey trades verses with Berninger in this laid-back tune, and helps him shed a layer of his bougie style, all while maintaining the beauty of Berninger’s lofty arrangements. 

The lyric “Don't try so hard,” describes Berningers's whole solo album succinctly--its simplicity is a welcome contrast to what fans expect from The National.

As heard by: Paige Walter

1.05.2021