thread for i am easy to find, the 2019 album by the national and film by mike mills

this album is a swimming pool and "so far so fast" is the deep end

The female vox are essential: they dilute the by now rote male angst.

See, I can't shake the feeling they just serve to validate it rather than dilute it.

this album is a swimming pool and "so far so fast" is the deep end

― american bradass (BradNelson),

With her father in that pool!

i do kinda wish they'd kept the sax from the early live version of "so far so fast", it sounded wonderful

https://pitchfork.com/features/song-by-song/the-national-i-am-easy-to-find-interview/

This one is... a lot! There are references to the Strokes, R.E.M., “alt-right opium,” and punching Nazis. There are also several abrupt interruptions that splice in a choral arrangement of “Noble Experiment” by ’90s indie-rock group Thinking Fellers Local Union 282. How did this one originate?

MB: What was the name of the instrumental you sent me, Aaron?

AD: “Everything to Everyone.” [laughs]

MB: That must be what happened—I took it as an invitation. I was walking around this little Danish town north of L.A. that was totally empty and listening to this instrumental on repeat. The music was so addictive. I opened up an email to myself and started writing. The original version is about 10 minutes long and it’s got 17 more stanzas.

How did it get edited down?

MB: It was a good example of our collaborative process with Mike. I told him, “The thing that’s really good about this is its length—its maximalist approach.” And he said, “Totally, I understand.” And two days later, he sent it back with 17 stanzas cut out and that cover of “Noble Experiment” in the middle. It was an example of him listening and understanding what I wanted and then having a better idea.

Do you remember any of the verses he cut?

MB: Yeah, I have them right here. “I’m giving 20s to schizophrenic missing mothers in my neighborhood/Leaning in the door/You’re always asking, ‘Why not ask for more?’” I refer to my Wiccan masseuse, who I also get weed from. Little Caesar’s gets mentioned—I must have been hungry.

“I’m giving 20s to schizophrenic missing mothers in my neighborhood/Leaning in the door/You’re always asking, ‘Why not ask for more?’” I refer to my Wiccan masseuse, who I also get weed from. Little Caesar’s gets mentioned—I must have been hungry.

It's telling that it took a second to realize the second half of this is no longer lyrics but perfectly in character for his lyrics.

wouldn't have minded keeping that L Cohen reference. he's always lurking anyway,

For really superficial reasons, Quiet Life reminds me of Night Shift by the Commodores.

great interview with carin besser on contributing lyrics to the last few records https://thecreativeindependent.com/people/writer-carin-besser-on-composing-lyrics-for-the-national/

this will take a while for me to digest but Not in Kansas is probably the most National-y epic I can imagine.

Listened today a few times. Kind of washed over me. A bit corporate and boring though. Trying too hard to be worthy but the songs just aren't there. I can imagine any of these songs sounding good at the start of an Apple presentation, you know the bits where you see the audience before Tim Cook walks onstage.

vnp

I love how this album continually seems to allude to Cohen's Ten New Songs.

I am very happily surprised by how great this is

Rylan, you should try to get some sun
There's a little bit of hell in everyone

listening for the first time now, and all the arrangements of gorgeous--'the pull of you' in particular is jaw-dropping. and bryan devendorf is probably the best drummer in contemporary rock ('quiet light' and 'where is her head' stand out here). i think the prevalence of female vocals makes a lot of sense, considering carin besser's heavy contribution to the lyrics. she's credited as the sole lyricist on 'you had your soul with you' and 'hey rosey,' and is credited as a contributor on a few others.

listening for the first time now, and all the arrangements of gorgeous all of the arrangements are gorgeous

this album is really good, though for me it tails off after the halfway mark or so, after the uptempo songs. the drumming on the first 5 or 6 tracks is really, really impressive

“not in kansas” sounds like okkervil river covering leonard cohen, and I’m here for it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQU2XwNhHFk

live performance really exposes what an exquisite song this is

Excellent show in Cardiff last night. On for about two hours and played over half the new album plus two from Cherry Tree! (Wasp Nest, About Today)

Fantastic version of Bloodbuzz Ohio too with this crashing wall of sound coming in after the chorus

Really like this although the drums sound programmed which seems an odd choice for this band

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6BQ8aD1AZI