I love The National. I think it’s mostly because they sound like the band I would have wanted to sound like if I had formed a band in my thirties after quitting my job, if I’d had the nerve. And the talent.
Anyway, I’m rambling. This new song is incredible. Long may they reign.
The National
I’m a latecomer to them – this will be the first new album released since I took them up – but I think they’re great.
Yes, same here. Thanks for posting; didn’t know this was out.
Love the phrase ‘took them up’ – like hang-gliding or crown green bowls.
Ahem https://theafterword.co.uk/the-national-are-back/
They are great, and that song’s a cracker. Hoping to get tickets to see them in September, thankfully they still seem to be in reasonably-sized venues.
Oops! I’m a rare visitor to these shores so I missed your post!
I would also love to see them but I have spent my annual “rock tickets” allowance on Steely Dan!!
Haha, no problem – it disappeared pretty quickly so it’s nice to see them getting some more love!
Like the new track. Was slightly disappointed with their last album.
New single is fabulous – hopes are now officially high for this new album.
A band that has pretty much passed me by…..until I heard this track on the radio. It’s brilliant. The album is getting great reviews….I feel a purchase coming on.
It’s really good. I’ve been a bit surprised it hasn’t had more attention here. Funny thing about The National is that I would have pegged them as the epitome of rock music by and for men who are …no longer in the first flush of youth, shall we say*, but the twenty something women I work with all think they are great**.
*they are the music equivalent of a Jonathan Franzen novel. I mean this in a good way.
**can’t imagine this is going to be the last time I misunderstand young women.
Been listening to it a lot this week, still trying to make up my mind.
I have to admit that my initial reaction was mild disappointment that they’d gone down the well travelled “hope you enjoy the new electronic element to our sound” route, coupled with a slight fear that they might be sort of turning into U2.
It has grown on me the last few days though, so who knows where we’ll end up. The whole experience is sort of reminding me of the Japandroids record.
I was a bit underwhelmed by ‘Carin at the Liquor Store’ so passed on the album, although I have everything they’ve done. But I may well purchase now, given the above comments (although not sure I want the equivalent of a Jonathan Franzen novel- too long and over-hyped?) 😉
I was trying to get at a sense of New Yorkian faux bohemianism, an Important American Novel about a college professor in a midlife crisis, that kind of thing.
I should say that I love Carin… so maybe our opinions will differ on this album.
I’m going with Michael Chabon.
I was going to say him (currently reading Moonglow, dontchaknow), but he’s just more…fun than the vibe I was going for. Telegraph Avenue for one should be required reading for all on this site.
I’m QUITE liking “The System…” but only quite. Will give the album a go later on based on this thread.
I do love The National but Alligator/Boxer/High Violet still feel like their imperial phase. They’re unbeatable live, though.
Love the National – not so crazy about the last album although it did have a couple of great tracks [in fact the second half was better than the first, from ‘Graceless’ to ‘Hard to Find’ which is a stunner]. This one sounds more like it to me. With reference to young ladies enjoying them, they are my eldest daughters favourite band – she’s 29
mine too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAurxQ7n7jU&t=1s