The National Band • Page 6

I was thinking yesterday, I hope there's another Cherry Tree/Virginia/High Violet Bonus Tracks Edition this time around.

 

"walrus dick jewelry for everyone in America"

 

Joyce Manor covers The National’s “Mistaken For Strangers”

very cool

 

never listened to JM but that was quite good

 

I'm always struck by how mean Matt'a lyrics could be. "You wouldn't want an angel watching over you / surprise surprise they wouldn't wanna watch" is just wilting.

 

you sure have wilting on the mind today, huh

 

their album cody is one of my favorites from this year. it's only 26 minutes, check it out!

 

Well. New album is about to be weird as fuck. Good.

 

it's either going to be really good or really bad, hah

 

I feel like it'll be the kind of album that most people hate but I love lol which tbh is probably what they need to become not lame.

 

yeah i can see that. i can see the 4.0 on pitchfork already

 

PAVEMENT?? IS THAT YOU???

 

It's kinda crazy that they're writing faster stuff like this. Matt's voice really struggled with the older, more energetic stuff when I saw them live this summer and it's pretty clear in this video too. I'm very excited to hear a studio version of this song though.

 

Yeah, I think Matt sounds like he's struggling in that video to keep up, but that's definitely got my attention

 

it will be good

 

Even Steven Malkmus got bad at being Steven Malkmus eventually.

I don't listen to this band as much these days, but what I still enjoy of their catalog is not the older rowdier material to which that live vid seems to harken back. I'm really not interested in a record that rehashes the mental space of Sad Songs or Alligator, which seems to be what they're gearing up for. Maybe it's just my personal past experience with those records, but I heard Alligator for the first time in a few years in December and some of it made me wince. On-the-nose sexual frustrations of the barely post-adolescent male don't really resonate with me too much anymore.

However, I would love another record from them like HV with its broad and measured strokes, and warm-sounding dread. That one and Boxer still hold up for me.

 

I listen to the last 5 very regularly. Sad Songs deserves to sit alongside the rest imo. It's got some great material.

Alligator and High Violet are tied for my favorites and they both contain my two favorite songs by the band (Conversation 16 and City Middle).

I'm so excited for this next record. While they've done a good job of mixing things up a little bit between records, i look forward to a big departure and weirder song ideas.

 

I love this band so much sometimes it actually hurts. Alligator is a top album for me and sometimes I think All of the Wine is a top 5 song of all time ever.

Their last album was nothing super amazing, but I'm pretty excited for the new album, especially if it's got some more energy in it like some of the live videos seem to hint at.

 

Still need to listen to HV. Love Alligator, and Boxer.

 

Trouble will find me is their best album though.

 

Trouble Will Find Me and Alligator are both the best National albums, for very different reasons.

 

High Violet is my favorite.

 

I just cycle through Boxer, Trouble Will Find Me and Alligator. All I know is HV or the two early records aren't my number 1.

 

Boxer