Much as I admire the ambition and sonic sweep the National often bring to their music, I must admit that nothing they do hits me in the solar plexus quite like those instances when they strips things down and have lead singer engage in some directly stated wallowing. “Eucalyptus,” the band’s new single, is decidedly in that mode, depicting a romantic breakup through the divvying up of shared belongings. For the indie-inclined of a certain generation, sorting out who got to keep the Cowboy Junkies album was a true hardship. I’m glad that agony is getting its musical due.

First Two Pages of Frankenstein, the new album from the National, is scheduled for release in late April.