"The National's Frankenstein: A Review of the First Two Pages"

The National's latest album, "First Two Pages of Frankenstein," takes a gentle approach with light touches and a focus on taking stock. The album features topflight guest artists, including Sufjan Stevens, Phoebe Bridgers, and Taylor Swift, but their contributions are mostly vocal coloration. The album's sound and lyrics offer a fantasy of escape but settle for perpetual transit, with nagging questions about staying current and the brain they once shared.