I was lucky enough to sneak a last minute ticket to see The National on the last night of their UK tour this week. I couldn't quite put the experience into words when I left the theatre. I've seen them live several times before and when they perform, it feels like everything is tantalisingly close to falling apart. The drums race and tumble while Matt Berninger paces the stage like a caged animal, a storm of creative energy, his voice rumbling. But just at the exact right moment, everything pulls back together, the music lifts, the guitars kick in and it makes your heart soar. They are one of those bands that feel like your own little secret, like a boyfriend who really gets you, even in a room full of 4,000 people who are all singing along.

The National released their seventh album Friday called "Sleep Well Beast." Many critics are calling it their best yet and one of the best albums of the year. In a special performance recorded live just a few miles from their studio at the Basilica Hudson, The National performs "The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness."