Carin at the Liquor Store

How this song sits on each sensory axis

A dynamic range of 4/10 is within the normal pop-mix band. There is variation between verse and chorus, but it's the kind of variation most listeners encounter routinely.

Sudden changes: none. Transitions are musically signaled — nothing will surprise you if you're only half-listening.

Texture: smooth.

Predictability is high — the song telegraphs what it will do next. A sensory-sensitive listener can usually guess where it's going without close attention.

Vocal style: dynamic vocals.

Where this sits in The National's catalog

We have 63 songs from The National in the library. Of those, 15 are rated Safe, 47 Moderate, and 1 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 4/10 sits below the artist average of 5.8, making it the #57 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.

Other tracks from Sleep Well Beast

We have 9 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.

• The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness — moderate DR 7
• Day I Die — moderate DR 7
• Nobody Else Will Be There — moderate DR 6
• Guilty Party — moderate DR 6
• Born to Beg — moderate DR 5
• Dark Side of the Gym — safe DR 4
• Sleep Well Beast — moderate DR 7
• I'll Still Destroy You — moderate DR 6

2017 context

Released in 2017. We have 461 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.0/10. This track is quieter / less dynamic than the year average. Explore more from the 2010s.

Explore by mood and tradition

Why this rating

We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.

Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-13. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.

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