For over 20 years, The National has been releasing material for our enjoyment. The Ohio-based five-piece has proven to their worldwide fan base that they are not just a great recording band, but also a wonderful touring band. With clear Democratic political leanings, they have often given their support to candidates in the last four primaries, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

"The Eucalyptus" has a fairly straightforward concept. The song is essentially a list of things that a couple is dividing up, with the most common line in the lyrics being "you should take it." The word "Eucalyptus" refers to a plant that may hold personal value, but it is not referenced much throughout the song itself.

Because of the simplistic composition of this track, we are able to hear the flow of the melody and the detail and skill within the delivery that have ensured that The National has been a staple for a long time. The instrumentation is unusual in that the guitars are quite distorted, yet they provide a soft backing to the main melody. The drums are very low in the mix, which allows the overall texture of the song to flow. In essence, this is a well-crafted song that uses a style that has been successful for The National for many years. Yet, it still sounds fresh and familiar at the same time.

Author: Phil Arnold

Phil Arnold is a musician, producer and music reviewer from Devon, in the South West of England. Whilst not writing music reviews, Phil also writes and records under the name of Ugbrooke.