I listened to them and they weren't as good as Steve Reich, p insufferable
― sonic thedgehod (albvivertine), Saturday, 19 April 2014 13:08 (ten years ago) link
The documentary is great. I literally both laughed and cried during it. I wonder if people who don't have brothers would enjoy this movie as much as I did.
― très hip (Treeship), Sunday, 27 April 2014 03:29 (nine years ago) link
Good show in the rain last night!
― the glimmer man (Sufjan Grafton), Sunday, 27 April 2014 03:31 (nine years ago) link
drinking pink rabbits?
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 27 April 2014 22:24 (nine years ago) link
should have. Too much wine mixed with beer = worst hangover.
― the glimmer man (Sufjan Grafton), Monday, 28 April 2014 03:16 (nine years ago) link
no rain on sunday night, and also not sold out so it was probably a little less crowded. this was the best of the three shows of theirs I've seen.
― akm, Monday, 28 April 2014 23:01 (nine years ago) link
"Mistaken for Strangers" is one of the most honest and affecting movies I've seen in a long time.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 21 June 2014 03:03 (nine years ago) link
Really?
― i reject your shiny expensive consumerist stereo system (Scik Mouthy), Saturday, 21 June 2014 03:55 (nine years ago) link
thought it was crap tbh
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 21 June 2014 07:12 (nine years ago) link
Why? I thought it was a relatively unique glimpse of what it's like to live in the shadow of a successful older sibling, who happens to sing in a popular band. I found it interesting to watch the two work through their issues via the erstwhile band doc. Tom's incompetence is both funny and sad, but there are aspects of his personality that the movie hints at rather than hits you over the head with (problems with alcohol and depression), traits he may happen to share with his big bro, who respectively channels those things into the National. There's a nice theme of finding what you're good at and focusing on that; lots of people are sort of charmed or envious of Tom's guilelessness and general happiness, but because he's not as overtly successful as Matt, he has trouble seeing those traits as attributes, which leads to failure paralysis. A lot of narrative pieces sort of luckily fell into place here - an ostensible doc about a band with three sets of brothers, made by the one brother not in the band - though I suspect the project was probably saved by Berninger's wife, who knows a thing or two about editing. Regardless, a lot of accidental insight, like Tom literally clutching on to Matt's mic cord for dear life as Matt hurtles forward, Tom dragging behind ...
I dunno. I just found it , like I said, honest and affecting. I watched it with my wife, who doesn't listen to the National and usually doesn't like rock docs and even as the movie made itself clear, found it sort of painful to watch, but was ultimately surprised by its poignancy.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 21 June 2014 12:50 (nine years ago) link
That description is not helping.
― Herbie Handcock (Murgatroid), Saturday, 21 June 2014 19:12 (nine years ago) link
i thought it was great.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 21 June 2014 19:15 (nine years ago) link
Josh, your description makes me want to see the movie now.
― banjoboy, Sunday, 22 June 2014 17:55 (nine years ago) link
Yeah, I like The National but really had no interest in seeing this until I read Josh's description.
― intheblanks, Sunday, 22 June 2014 18:43 (nine years ago) link
fuck this band
there are so many glimpses of good things and then it's just npr
― mookieproof, Sunday, 15 September 2019 03:29 (four years ago) link
okay
― Larry Elleison (rogermexico.), Sunday, 15 September 2019 03:37 (four years ago) link
hey it's a baritone
― mookieproof, Sunday, 15 September 2019 04:02 (four years ago) link
Mistaken for Strangers was good. I didn't love it but it's solid and good.
New national album is good. I also don't love 100% of it but it's good.
I love seeing the National live. They're reliably entertaining and energetic and for a 'rock band' frontman who sings mopey songs Matt is really gerat on stage and his crowd-wandering stuff is always fun.
― akm, Sunday, 15 September 2019 14:29 (four years ago) link
― Our Borad Could Be Your Trife (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 15 September 2019 14:33 (four years ago) link
npr: there are so many glimpses of good things and then it's just chris thile
― akm, Sunday, 15 September 2019 14:46 (four years ago) link
npr: there are so many glipses of good things and then it's just kai ryssdal
I was under the impression that Brooklyn was some kind of artistic hotbed in the 00s, kind of a bummer that one of their most successful exports is a plain ole meat and potatoes moody rock band with bad singing Sorry!
― brimstead, Sunday, 15 September 2019 22:32 (four years ago) link
This is maybe gonna sound weird but my whole life I thought this band had both black and white members and I just looked at a picture of them for the first time ever and.... they're all white! OK I don't really know how I formed this misapprehension.
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Friday, 24 July 2020 14:30 (three years ago) link
yeeaahhh me neither
― this has been the best year fuiud (rip van wanko), Friday, 24 July 2020 16:29 (three years ago) link
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 (three 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 (three years ago) link
this band sounds like a glass of milk being poured
― lumen (esby), Saturday, 25 July 2020 20:40 (three years ago) link
any tracks in particular?
― Larry Elleison (rogermexico.), Saturday, 25 July 2020 21:07 (three 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 (three 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 (three years ago) link
Why are they called The National? It's always rubbed me the wrong way.
― pomenitul, Saturday, 25 July 2020 22:04 (three years ago) link
National Front was taken haha
― this has been the best year fuiud (rip van wanko), Saturday, 25 July 2020 23:35 (three 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 (three 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
as the free-fall advancesi'm the moron who dances
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Wednesday, 3 May 2023 16:54 (eleven months ago) link
Good post! My favorite National song is still "England," which gestures toward a faraway land he may not even want to reach ("Afraid of the house, stay the night with the sinners/Afraid of the house, cause they're desperate to entertain" is a chilling refrain).
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 3 May 2023 16:58 (eleven months ago) link
Was worried I wouldn't get into the new one, but then they slot "Eucalyptus" second and I'm all in.
Has any band name-dropped as many real bands as the National?
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 18 May 2023 22:13 (eleven months ago) link
probably the hold steady
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Thursday, 18 May 2023 22:14 (eleven months ago) link
Along with that, Brad totally otm re: this run:
the only songs where i notice they're progressing through chords are the piano-based ones, otherwise i feel like their songs are sinuous tours through melody and counterpoint and syncopation (especially whenever devendorf, one of the greatest drummers alive, is driving the song as if he's the real lead guitarist).anyway i'm listening to trouble will find me right now and it's still clearly their masterwork,
anyway i'm listening to trouble will find me right now and it's still clearly their masterwork,
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 18 May 2023 22:15 (eleven months ago) link
Hold Steady or ... Gaslight Anthem, maybe?
They were, predictably, really good tonight. But they're always good live. Good span of stuff, maybe nothing from "I Am Easy to Find," but nice tastes of pretty much all their other stuff. First of four shows, so I assume they will shake it up here and there.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 19 May 2023 04:34 (eleven months ago) link
I'm liking this album, sure it's one note but comfort food. I have only heard it a couple of times so it can go either way.
― Bee OK, Wednesday, 14 June 2023 06:19 (ten months ago) link
the more you listen the less it's one note. it's sneaky. it's good. half of it is great. the hooks take their time getting under your skin, but once they're in they're in.
in retrospect, high violet suddenly seems frantic and overstuffed.
― poster of sparks (rogermexico.), Tuesday, 4 July 2023 05:20 (nine months ago) link
The appeal of this band seems to be “divorced dads” but more extensively it is “white folks who find comfort in their mediocrity being writ large and celebrated”
― Nursenaries III: Health Is Wealth (flamboyant goon tie included), Tuesday, 4 July 2023 06:40 (nine months ago) link
“white folks who find comfort in their mediocrity being writ large and celebrated”
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 4 July 2023 11:55 (nine months ago) link
Mm that came off harsh and it wasn’t meant that way. I really like The National, Boxer especially, and when I think about “why” I like them, it strikes me that they appeal to me in an adjacent way to music that strives for compositional ambience— Satie, Eno, SOTL— but in The National’s case they are purveyors of a kind of cultural ambience, I guess
― Nursenaries III: Health Is Wealth (flamboyant goon tie included), Tuesday, 4 July 2023 17:31 (nine months ago) link
The appeal of this band seems to be “divorced dads”
Is that really the demographic in the band's own country? Over here in Eastern Europe, the fans of the The National I have met have been almost invariably hipsters in their twenties, including a lot of female ones.
― Melomane, Tuesday, 4 July 2023 17:40 (nine months ago) link
I really don't hear any more "white folks, amirite?" in the National than I do in most indie rock. But I do hear the compositional ambience complement, as their music is often so gorgeous/rousing/dynamic/moving that I doubt many people make an effort to consider why and how it gets that way. I can think of few more invisibly complicated time signature tricks than in "I Should Live in Salt," for example, but unlike most bands that might operate in that realm, I don't get the feeling the band started out with the intent of making it tricky. It's just what worked best. (See also, maybe: "Turn It On Again" by Genesis)
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 4 July 2023 17:40 (nine months ago) link
otm!invisibly complicated time signature tricks might make for a thread, words by neil young comes to mind
― corrs unplugged, Tuesday, 4 July 2023 18:25 (nine months ago) link
"Tropic Morning News" is my jam. What an ear worm.
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 4 July 2023 18:54 (nine months ago) link
first 5 tracks + “your mind is not your friend” all good to great
― poster of sparks (rogermexico.), Saturday, 8 July 2023 06:05 (nine months ago) link
Surprise new album Laugh Track out midnight tonight
― groovypanda, Sunday, 17 September 2023 14:08 (seven months ago) link
Our new album Laugh Track is out on Monday at Midnight ET pic.twitter.com/Zk0ZxD912H— The National (@TheNational) September 16, 2023
― groovypanda, Sunday, 17 September 2023 14:09 (seven months ago) link
― groovypanda, Sunday, 17 September 2023 14:10 (seven months ago) link
I wonder if the title "Laugh Track" is ironic?
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 17 September 2023 15:56 (seven months ago) link
i liked frankenstein more than most but *this* is the national record i've been waiting for
― ivy., Monday, 18 September 2023 15:11 (seven months ago) link
the song with rosanne cash is out of this world
― ivy., Monday, 18 September 2023 15:40 (seven months ago) link
These guys are not only a great example of dad rock, they are its apotheosis.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Monday, 18 September 2023 15:42 (seven months ago) link
specifically a hip aging urban dad though?
― Evan, Monday, 18 September 2023 15:49 (seven months ago) link
An aging suburban dad who is so unhip he's come back around to being hip again.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Monday, 18 September 2023 15:56 (seven months ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB5YkmjalDg
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 18 September 2023 15:58 (seven months ago) link
Yeah, that Rosanne Cash song is the sort of thing I was hoping for more of on Frankenstein when they announced all the guest vocalists xps
― groovypanda, Monday, 18 September 2023 21:35 (seven months ago) link
I'm just glad Phoebe Bridgers is getting some work.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 18 September 2023 21:55 (seven months ago) link
finally got around to the new one and it's actually pretty decent, though still maybe a little long .pleasantly surprised after how much of a bore first two pages was. there's a nice looser, jammy quality to it but the songs are stronger too so they don't just meander away into nothing like they're very capable of doing
― ufo, Wednesday, 11 October 2023 13:31 (six months ago) link
I've liked everything this band has done, outright love at least four of their records, and thought they were as good as they've ever been when I saw them play a few months ago, and yet ... I haven't gotten around to either this new one or its predecessor.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 11 October 2023 14:00 (six months ago) link
very similar to my trajectory with other dad rock staple Wilco (and YLT to extent).
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Wednesday, 11 October 2023 14:23 (six months ago) link
Heh, re: Wilco, there are at least four records I haven't heard. I also haven't heard any of Tweedy's solo records, or the Tweedy "Sukierae" album! Yo La ... I'm not sure I've spent much time with anything from "Summer Sun" on, but I have given each album a couple of listens and don't recall any of them being particularly bad.
This is actually part of a broader philosophical discussion I've had with myself re: prolific or consistent bands: how much time *should* I spend with them? There are 17 or so Yo La Tengo albums. That's a lot! There are as many Wilco and related albums. That's a lot, too! The National only have 10, and that includes the first couple that no one really counts, but 10 is a lot, too! So right there we have three bands I like that between them have released no less than 13 albums I absolutely love, and even then I don't know how often I get around to listening to those 13 albums, despite being longtime favorites of mine. It's honestly kind of frustrating, especially when you factor in the steady drip of new releases, or podcast episodes, or John Zorn dropping 900 albums onto Spotify.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 11 October 2023 14:44 (six months ago) link
and that includes the first couple that no one really countsSad Songs... is a great album. Have spent a lot of time listening to that one.
― groovypanda, Wednesday, 11 October 2023 18:48 (six months ago) link
It is good! But it's kind of overshadowed, imo.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 11 October 2023 18:55 (six months ago) link
finally ilm will be about the music we aren't listening to
― ivy., Wednesday, 11 October 2023 19:05 (six months ago) link
I'm not listening to over 99.99% of music right now.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 11 October 2023 21:26 (six months ago) link
I like both of these two national albums fine, but they are a little dull compared to Boxer, Alligator, and High Violet. But there's nothing bad on them at all, definitely. That's def where Wilco landed to me sometime around Ghost...I listen to the records, they're good, they don't stick with me, whether that's the fault of the album or just my jaded ears, I don't know. At least they aren't making albums I think suck.
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Wednesday, 11 October 2023 21:31 (six months ago) link
and like, I'm still going to go see the National live on this tour, even though they are playing a place I hate. Because they are phenomenal live, even when they play things I don't love.
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Wednesday, 11 October 2023 21:32 (six months 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 (six 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 (six 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 (five 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 (five months ago) link