Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers

Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers
Studio album by The National
Released	September 2, 2003
Recorded	Excello; Gretchen's Kitchen; Tarquin Studios
Genre	Indie rock, alternative rock
Length	44:54
Label	Brassland
Producer	Nick Lloyd, Paul Heck, Peter Katis
The National chronology
The National (2001) Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers (2003) Cherry Tree (2004)

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	78/100[1]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Alternative Press	[3]
Drowned in Sound	9/10[4]
Pitchfork Media	8.4/10[5]
Q	[6]
Rolling Stone	[7]
Uncut	[8]

Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers is the second studio album by indie rock band the National. It was released in 2003 on Brassland Records. This is the first album on which the band worked with Peter Katis, who would produce the band's next albums Alligator and Boxer.

The album is the first to feature guitarist and mult-instrumentalist Bryce Dessner as a full member.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by the National. 

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Cardinal Song"	6:18
2.	"Slipping Husband"	3:22
3.	"90-Mile Water Wall"	3:44
4.	"It Never Happened"	4:37
5.	"Murder Me Rachael"	3:45
6.	"Thirsty"	3:48
7.	"Available"	3:20
8.	"Sugar Wife"	2:21
9.	"Trophy Wife"	3:32
10.	"Fashion Coat"	2:02
11.	"Patterns of Fairytales"	3:43
12.	"Lucky You"	4:22

Credits

The National

• Matt Berninger - lead vocals
• Aaron Dessner - guitar, keyboards, bass, vibraphone, programming
• Bryce Dessner - guitar, keyboards, vibraphone, programming
• Scott Devendorf - bass, backing vocals, guitar
• Bryan Devendorf - drums, backing vocals, percussion

Technical personnel

• Produced by Nick Lloyd.
• Co-produced by Paul Heck and Peter Katis.
• "Murder Me Rachael" produced by Peter Katis and Paul Heck; recorded and engineered by Peter Katis.
• Basic tracks recorded by Hugh Pool at Excello.
• Additional recording and engineering by Nick Lloyd at Gretchen's Kitchen, and by Dan Long at Hedgewear.
• Mixed by Peter Katis at Tarquin Studios.
• Mastered by John Loder at Abbey Road.
• Design by Distant Station Ltd.

Additional musicians

• Padma Newsome – viola, violin, orchestration
• Nick Lloyd – piano, keyboards
• Luke Hughett – vocals on "Thirsty"
• Nate Martinez – guitar on "Cardinal Song"
• Steve LoPresti – French horn and mellophone on "Sugar Wife"

References

1. "Reviews for Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers by The National". Metacritic. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
2. DiGravina, Tim. "Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers – The National". AllMusic. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
3. "The National: Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers". Alternative Press (176): 124. March 2003.
4. Anonymous, Adam (November 4, 2003). "Album Review: The National – Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
5. Stosuy, Brandon (October 14, 2003). "The National: Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
6. "The National: Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers". Q (211): 104. February 2004.
7. Kot, Greg (October 30, 2003). "The National: Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers". Rolling Stone (934). Archived from the original on March 5, 2004. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
8. "The National: Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers". Uncut (79): 133. December 2003.