The National - First Two Pages... & Laugh Track Album • Page 35

I mean, it’s a good song. But at this point it pretty much just feels like a National algorithm to me. Idk what to tell people. They have a very high floor, but the ceiling seems to get a little lower with each record. Big fan of “Tropic Morning News”, but they’re pretty much just holding serve now.

this is a completely fair critique, and people getting upset that others want a little more need to chill a bit.

 

I mean, this is album 9 for them now. People who are "expecting more" are probably going to be disappointed. Can't exactly see them reinventing their sound at this point in their careers. They're more than likely past their peak at this point.

 

Right, but they can still be critiqued for it. That’s how it works. They’re a band that’s probably past their prime and they put out records that are imo slow diminishing returns on a sound they perfected 6 albums ago. It is what it is, it’s still good and enjoyable. They just aren’t going to put out an In Rainbows at this point, but I’m lying if I said it isn’t what I’m hoping for each time.

 

All I said was “I don’t know what some of you want from this band” that’s pretty chill.

 

SWB was in rainbows for me, it really might be as simple as 9 albums is a lot

 

Haven’t really read each reply, just a quicj speed read.

 

I like this band

 

Same

 

They switched it up last album and a lot of people don’t like that one so idk

 

I never said people can't critique them for anything. I just said the drum samples on one (1) song is inoffensive

 

also I think we're getting two albums since Weird Goodbyes has a 'future home' outwith the FTPOF era so

 

Blocked and reported

 

controversial take but I agree

 

it’s fine I don’t have feelings

 

I think the bigger issue here is that I personally wish they had done the percussion sound a little differently on the 5th track off their 9th album which is the song they happened to release first as a single.

 

I'm sorry the bigger issue here is that they didn't do what you, specifically, wanted on their first single from album nine

 

It’s a pretty song. It’s not a bad song. But it’s just kind of there. I felt the same way about the first single.

 

Yes, exactly.

It was getting a bit tense back there and I thought I'd lighten the mood a little bit.

 

"Facts (The National) don't care about your feelings (we, the piteous fans)." - Benjamin Shapiro, Esq.

They're my favorite band but, yeah, at this point, I don't expect each album to somehow keep getting better. I'm just kind of thrilled that they're content and confident enough to release a low key song like this. This band has only made good and great albums. I'll take that.

 

I want to hear the whole album at this point. I like the songs fine at first blush, but this band has earned the benefit of the doubt and I know they'll probably hit me harder in the context of the album.

Definitely more understated fare, but I also really love the last album and all the crazy shit they did on it, so

 

Maybe I just feel the way I do because their last album didn't move the needle for me so I'm just resigned to the idea that they're going to release just solid material moving forward. I'm hoping for me, but my expectations have been lowered. They had a great run from Alligator to SWB and I will always have those five albums to hang my hat on.

 

Idk, these first couple singles have been the most The National and I have been on the same wavelength in a decade. An album with these two tracks and the collabs they’ve announced is probably gonna be a pretty good time, imo.

 

It seems like the band is threading the needle on this one. Both singles are at such an extreme level of straight-forward chill that this album is either going to feel like the band didn’t push things enough or it’s going to be some kind of genius, self-assured vibe that slowly wraps its hands around your skinny throat before you even realize it’s been grabbed.

 

I'm very much into this song

 

What's the last National song that absolutely floored you? Where Is Her Head hit me pretty hard when I first heard it. Still does. But if we're not counting that album, I'll Still Destroy You was something special for me.