For the first half of September, I’ll be selecting my Top 15 favorite songs from The National. A band that has rarely let me down — both in the recording studio and in concert. #FaveArtistTop15

The National occasionally thrives in mid-tempo land. But they’re best known for leaning toward one end of the spectrum — in a slow world of ballads and introspective tracks and in a loud, fast world of aggression and emotion. It had been a while since they really nailed the latter. You have to go all the way back to the Boxer album to hear elements of fits and bursts. But with “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness”, they found a new rhythm and a new way to bring on the rock.

Aaron Dessner’s guitar solo about halfway through the track is one of the band’s most memorable guitar moments to date. It’s pure rock & roll — but it’s accompanied by the quirky, unexpected instrumentation we crave and expect from The National, like the periodic guitar twitches and echoey harmonics. “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness” is clear proof that The National has turned a corner and found a way to evolve their sound while staying true to their persona. Just like all great bands do.

“I can’t explain it any other, any other way.”