pfffft, i a bet a bunch of people on this thread go into other threads and stan for fuckin' kanye
― Kate (rushomancy), Friday, 24 July 2020 16:30 (four years ago) link
tfw u realize you've mixed up The National with TV on the Radio for 15 years
― Larry Elleison (rogermexico.), Saturday, 25 July 2020 20:38 (four years ago) link
this band sounds like a glass of milk being poured
― lumen (esby), Saturday, 25 July 2020 20:40 (four years ago) link
any tracks in particular?
― Larry Elleison (rogermexico.), Saturday, 25 July 2020 21:07 (four years ago) link
The entirety of I Am Easy to Find, except it doesn't actually taste like milk.
― pomenitul, Saturday, 25 July 2020 21:13 (four years ago) link
― lumen (esby)
no, that sounds like something i'd actually want to listen to
for instance, here is the sound of an egg being fried for 12 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3_7yhf1GiM
i certainly can't recommend the record on gustatory grounds
― Kate (rushomancy), Saturday, 25 July 2020 22:00 (four years ago) link
Why are they called The National? It's always rubbed me the wrong way.
― pomenitul, Saturday, 25 July 2020 22:04 (four years ago) link
National Front was taken haha
― this has been the best year fuiud (rip van wanko), Saturday, 25 July 2020 23:35 (four years ago) link
Oh I do think this is exactly what happened, it looks like both these bands came out around the same time and were from New York and made a bunch of indie-ish records I never heard, I did not exactly think they were the same band but maybe I thought one was a side project or offshoot of the other.
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Sunday, 26 July 2020 00:23 (four years ago) link
Amazon has an incorrect tracklist for the Belle & Sebastian album out Friday. I thought it was somebody's parody titles but googling tells me this is for the new album by The National (based on them playing two of these songs live). Have they announced a new album yet or should I start a new-album detective agency?
1 Once Upon A Poolside (feat. Sufjan Stevens)2 Eucalyptus3 New Order T-Shirt4 This Isn't Helping (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)5 Tropic Morning News6 Alien7 The Alcott (With Taylor Swift)8 Grease In Your Hair9 Ice Machines10 Your Mind Is Not Your Friend (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)11 Send For Me
― erasingclouds, Monday, 9 January 2023 15:58 (one year ago) link
Obviously Belle & Sebastian and the National have merged into one group, Belle & Sebastional.
― birdistheword, Monday, 9 January 2023 17:45 (one year ago) link
The Boy With The Alligator Strap
― Evan, Monday, 9 January 2023 18:07 (one year ago) link
looking forward to future dad rock staple, New Order T-Shirt
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Monday, 9 January 2023 19:56 (one year ago) link
anyway, they are playing bottlerock in napa in May so I assume they have a new album on the way and that tracklist looks likely. glad to see Phoebe all over it.
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Monday, 9 January 2023 22:38 (one year ago) link
glad that "weird goodbyes" apparently isn't on it because it wasn't very good
― ufo, Monday, 9 January 2023 22:41 (one year ago) link
Phoebe seems to be everywhere.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 9 January 2023 23:04 (one year ago) link
There might still be other songs on the album (even "Weird Goodbyes"?). Somebody pointed out, given the way this leaked, that the 11 track limit might match the number of tracks on the B&S album this appeared under by mistake, not the full number on The National album.
― erasingclouds, Tuesday, 10 January 2023 17:20 (one year ago) link
1 Once Upon A Poolside (feat. Sufjan Stevens)2 Eucalyptus3 New Order T-Shirt
wtf
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 10 January 2023 17:24 (one year ago) link
“once upon a poolside” has got to be the most national song title of all time
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 10 January 2023 17:29 (one year ago) link
If you'd said "By the Poolside I Sat and Wept," maybe.
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 10 January 2023 17:32 (one year ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdU0qwZKLfU
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Wednesday, 18 January 2023 18:03 (one year ago) link
leaked tracklist was accurate. album is 47 minutes long (thank god) (even though i liked the last one's sprawl)
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Wednesday, 18 January 2023 18:04 (one year ago) link
not as good as their past two lead singles but it's decent
― ufo, Wednesday, 18 January 2023 21:41 (one year ago) link
why do you feat. Phoebe Bridgers but With Taylor Swift?
― corrs unplugged, Thursday, 19 January 2023 17:22 (one year ago) link
Maybe she co-wrote the song with them, and the others are just featured on songs that the band wrote?
― Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 19 January 2023 17:24 (one year ago) link
yeah possible
― corrs unplugged, Thursday, 19 January 2023 17:39 (one year ago) link
https://shop.americanmary.com/products/new-order-t-shirt
this is so stupid i have to get it
― 龜, Thursday, 23 February 2023 17:14 (one year ago) link
that’s great, definitely buying for my partner
― not too strange just bad audio (brimstead), Thursday, 23 February 2023 17:20 (one year ago) link
love the t-shirt
really wish I loved the song but it's so nothingy
can't hate, it's just got no melody, nothing to latch onto
― corrs unplugged, Tuesday, 28 February 2023 08:52 (one year ago) link
Album out Friday. NME (lol) has said it's their best in a decade and given it five stars. Have really liked the two more recent songs they've released from it though https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSywJt3VlUM
― groovypanda, Wednesday, 26 April 2023 16:45 (one year ago) link
Of all the bands I'd totally expect to just keep putting out good albums it's this one.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 26 April 2023 16:48 (one year ago) link
A nice note is that Matt sliding the SM7 down on the mic stand at the end of the video is just faintly, barely audible enough to confirm that the video you're watching is a factual document of the final vocal performance
― flamboyant goon tie included, Wednesday, 26 April 2023 17:12 (one year ago) link
Their last one was the best to my ears; having female harmonists and co-vocalists leavened the preppy male angst.
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 26 April 2023 17:23 (one year ago) link
this is probably their most mellow, middle-of-the-road, unexciting album yet
― ufo, Friday, 28 April 2023 08:41 (one year ago) link
which is a shame after the last two were a little more interesting and had some of their strongest material (there's definitely a case for i am easy to find as their best)
― ufo, Friday, 28 April 2023 08:56 (one year ago) link
Yeah. Shame that all the guest vocalists are strictly on backing duties, especially after the last album. At least Taylor gets a few lines to sing on her own I suppose unlike Phoebe.
― groovypanda, Friday, 28 April 2023 09:50 (one year ago) link
taylor's appearance is prominent enough but it's weird that the others get a feature credit for some backing vocals, especially compared to the last album where more prominent guest vocalists didn't
― ufo, Friday, 28 April 2023 10:13 (one year ago) link
ppl describing the new national album as “mor” gets me excited about it, actually
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Friday, 28 April 2023 13:24 (one year ago) link
it just feels like they're spinning their wheels here, there's nothing that comes close to "you had your soul with you" or "the system only dreams in total darkness" or anything
― ufo, Friday, 28 April 2023 13:37 (one year ago) link
The System Dreams in MOR
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 28 April 2023 13:38 (one year ago) link
Not every fan of the national is a divorced guy who owns an npr t shirt but every divorced guy who owns an npr t shirt is a fan of the national— eve6 (@Eve6) April 28, 2023
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 28 April 2023 17:27 (one year ago) link
I am so dead-center in the National’s supposed demographic (but married and no NPR t-shirt but I listen the shit out of NPR) but I just can’t get with the National. A little too close to home maybe.
― tobo73, Friday, 28 April 2023 22:00 (one year ago) link
Tuned out for no partic reason after Boxer, which I loved. Thinking of dipping back in but no sure where to start
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Saturday, 29 April 2023 12:52 (one year ago) link
trouble will find me!
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Saturday, 29 April 2023 14:13 (one year ago) link
yeah that's the only really good post boxer album for me
― corrs unplugged, Saturday, 29 April 2023 14:33 (one year ago) link
go backwards imo, alligator as good as boxer, sometimes better
two first have some jams
― corrs unplugged, Saturday, 29 April 2023 14:34 (one year ago) link
I read the New Yorker profile, then I read a Washington Post profile, and clearly they are in the promo zone, because the overlap was remarkable.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 29 April 2023 15:49 (one year ago) link
I tried a pink rabbit thanks to The National.
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 29 April 2023 16:09 (one year ago) link
yeah that's the only really good post boxer album for me― corrs unplugged, sobota, 29 kwietnia 2023 16:33 (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglinkgo backwards imo, alligator as good as boxer, sometimes bettertwo first have some jams― corrs unplugged, sobota, 29 kwietnia 2023 16:34 (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink
― corrs unplugged, sobota, 29 kwietnia 2023 16:33 (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink
― corrs unplugged, sobota, 29 kwietnia 2023 16:34 (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink
I think the run from Alligator to High Violet is pretty stellar. Trouble Will Find Me is good, too, but could maybe use a trim?
― ˈʌglɪɪst preɪ, Saturday, 29 April 2023 16:24 (one year ago) link
I thought the last one, I Am Easy To Find was excellent. As Alfred mentions, the guest vocalists give a fresh spin to their sound.
― groovypanda, Saturday, 29 April 2023 17:12 (one year ago) link
yo la tengo and wilco are definitely much more interesting bands with much higher highs and yo la tengo put out one of their very best albums just this year
the national are kinda frustrating because they seem capable of making something really compelling and great but never quite get there beyond the occasional track here and there. very good at being fine, decent enough, etc. though
― ufo, Wednesday, 11 October 2023 23:36 (eleven months ago) link
yeah I was going to say I was actually surprised by that YLT album, it kind of somehow regained all that magic that I'd loved and felt kind of disappeared with Summer Sun. I also think the National might still again make another album as strong as High Violet. But they also might turn into U2.
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Wednesday, 11 October 2023 23:46 (eleven months ago) link
Just heard the track they did with Taylor Swift ("Alcott"), I kinda dug it.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Monday, 30 October 2023 23:05 (ten months ago) link
still can't say I love the last two albums (or even three or four) as much as anything prior but I saw them last night in SF and they remain one of my favorite live acts. 29 song set, even things I didn't love or wasn't super familiar with were great.
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Saturday, 11 November 2023 18:56 (ten months ago) link
"I was afraid, I'd eat your brains/ cause I'm evil"
Anyone interested in a proper National tracks and albums poll?
― Indexed, Monday, 3 June 2024 15:59 (three months ago) link
I'd probably only be voting for the first 5 releases but would be interested in following and seeing what people's favorites from the last 5 releases are
― corrs unplugged, Tuesday, 4 June 2024 06:53 (three months ago) link
i have this very firm memory when i was a college dj and i went to a show The National headlined. the opener was Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and a good 40% of the room left after they played. at the time i laughed but now i keep thinking they may have been right.
― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Tuesday, 4 June 2024 07:03 (three months ago) link
I signed up to do this but will never get around to it. I will vote if you do it.
― Bee OK, Wednesday, 5 June 2024 03:03 (three months ago) link
at the time i laughed but now i keep thinking they may have been right.
Matt Berninger lyric.
― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 5 June 2024 09:19 (three months ago) link
here's a top 12
you had your soul with youthe system only dreams in total darknessi'll still destroy youguilty partydark side of the gymabout todayall the winewasp nestsecret meetingfake empireempire lineso far so fast
a bit hard to care beyond that though - they're just not that good, frustratingly middle of the road, they rarely lean into their most interesting ideas
― ufo, Wednesday, 5 June 2024 14:10 (three months ago) link
I made the mistake of listening "Tropic Morning News" last Saturday and I can't get the damn chorus out of my head. Help!
― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 5 June 2024 14:13 (three months ago) link
i haven't spent much time with the last two at all. first two pages was very underwhelming and laugh track was more solid than i expected but didn't have anything to make me want to come back to it
i wish they could write songs as good as "you had your soul with you" consistently. sleep well beast is probably their best album but it could really do with a few tracks cut from it. cherry tree is too often overlooked as a release although it doesn't have the extended "about today" which makes the song
― ufo, Wednesday, 5 June 2024 14:20 (three months ago) link
i think what they're generally missing is a bit of jaggedness so when they throw that in on "you had your soul with you" and "the system only dreams of total darkness" everything comes together wonderfully
― ufo, Wednesday, 5 June 2024 14:31 (three months ago) link
Yes, I did enjoy early in their career when he'd slip into a bit of mania, but some of their more subdued, prettier tracks contain jaggedness in their lyrics, e.g., "Daughters of the Soho Riots," "Slow Show."
I've always been an Alligator/Boxer guy but recently revisited High Violet and Trouble Will Find Me and found both to be better than I'd remembered. There are moments on those records where each band member's gifts are on full display but come together and meld into something on another level from their earlier work. Devedorf's unique drumming in particular is an absolute force propelling High Violet.
― Indexed, Wednesday, 5 June 2024 17:55 (three months ago) link
trouble will find me is their boxer of the nü-era
― 龜, Wednesday, 5 June 2024 17:59 (three months ago) link
it's still their best
― ivy., Wednesday, 5 June 2024 18:00 (three months ago) link
for me it's alligator or boxer, I'd probably take sad songs over trouble will find me buttrouble will find me >>> high violet
― corrs unplugged, Wednesday, 5 June 2024 18:01 (three months ago) link
loved seeing the thread bumped with this lyric, "conversation 16" is probably my favorite national song
― ivy., Wednesday, 5 June 2024 18:03 (three months ago) link
Counterpoint: they haven't recorded bad or mediocre albums.
― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 5 June 2024 18:16 (three months ago) link