IAETF is very hit or miss, IMO. Some great songs, but definitely my least favorite album they’ve made since I started listening to this band.
SWB is easily my favorite post-Boxer record, and I Am Easy to Find is imo their best post-Boxer song. I don't find IAETF all that spotty outside of the interludes, which I'm not a fan of for the most part.
I think if IAETF was 10 tracks, it could’ve been their best album. As it is, i have it very low on the rankings. Some tracks i absolutely love, but then a lot of tracks i skip pretty much every time.
I randomly threw on IAETF a few days ago. Still think it’s my second or third favourite from them. It really amazes me how much they pushed their sound on the last two albums when they’ve been around so long and easily could have just settled into churning out more records like HV and TWFM for the rest of their career.
Sleep Well Beast is the national record that has grown the most for me. Wasn’t a fan when it came out but now it’s probably #3 for me
Yeah I like both HV and TWFM but man what a breath of fresh air SWB was after 2 albums that stick a little too close to the formula for my taste.
Sleep Well Beast is what got me into them, then I really loved IAETF a whole lot. haven’t given much else more than a casual listen.
high violet isn’t my least favorite of theirs but it kinda feels the most overrated idk why. there’s a handful of incredible songs but as a whole it never clicked for me
HV is their most immediate record and, IMO, immediacy isn’t what makes the National great. It’s just a little too loud and some of the songs are just a little too light...like overproduced sketches of what could have been great songs. One comparison I always think of is Runaway and I Need My Girl. The former is repetitive and meandering and feels overly maudlin; the latter has more layers and, although it’s just as sappy/maudlin, feels brighter and more interesting because of the extra attention, confidence, and thought it received. My theory is maybe 4AD put extra pressure on the band to capitalize on the expectations and anticipation they had built up with Alligator and Boxer. They did a really smart revert back to a more subtler presentation with TWFM, which had similar songs to HV but felt more self-assured and less intense. I think SWB was on another level and their biggest “leap forward” since Boxer. I also think they sound more live and human than they have on any record, even though the songs themselves are a bit electronic and colder. I think the artistic choice to do explore a darker, sometimes sparse, sometimes slower color (even for them) had the natural effect of limiting its immediacy and getting some of their wider audience to skip it. They said a while ago that the next album is supposed to be a rocker. If they can bring the SWB/IAETF thoughtfulness and skill to some louder, more energetic songs, maybe they’ll top SWB for me. Although I find Turtleneck to be a bit forced so we’ll see.
I think it’s strength is the lyrics, young Matt knucklehead swagger, and how awesome of a surprise and leap forward it was from their previous stuff when it came out. I think if people go to it after the fact, it can lose its specialness. It also never sounded that great recording/production wise to me. But it was awesome live when their set was mostly those tracks.
Sleep Well Beast High Violet Trouble Will Find Me Boxer Alligator I Am Easy to Find Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers Self Titled Absolutely stunning discography. Sad Songs would be a lot of bands best record.
Sleep Well Beast is my favorite. Something about the vibes just really do it for me and the length of it feels perfect. I love this band but most of their albums I feel like could be 2-3 tracks shorter.
High Violet Boxer Sleep Well Beast Trouble Will Find Me Alligator I Am Easy to Find Sad Songs Self-Titled
Trouble Will Find Me Alligator Sleep Well Beast Boxer High Violet I Am Easy to Find Sad Songs Self-Titled