threesunrises
Well-Known Member
Finally downloaded it and listening now. It's gonna be on Spotify in a few hours so why not?
The National
- Thread starter mdmost
- Start date
Bennnnn
Well-Known Member
Yeah honestly I’ve gotten tired of critics in general. If they don’t like it, it doesn’t really matter. I have read many opinions from fans online and they are all over the place. To me, knowing what went into making it and what it’s about, it sounds like a deeply personal album. I’m coming at it from a certain angle in the hopes of appreciating it more. I don’t think any single has been bad, but I do like some more than others.
Bennnnn
Well-Known Member
My red copy shipped today too. Not sure when anything is officially arriving yet.no word on my turquoise one either.
Oldwhitelincoln11
Well-Known Member
I got the red indie already. It’s a good album. Much improved over the last one. Very pleased.
wokeupnew
Well-Known Member
Interesting list. Not the songs I’d expect from IAETF but not bad
Bennnnn
Well-Known Member
That is a different kind of list than I've seen before. Appreciate Humiliation making an appearance, I love that song. Hairpin Turns is kinda a curveball choice, but I gotta say I have really come to love a lot about that track. Nice that at least Fake Empire isn't number 1.
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tvham
Well-Known Member
Terrible Love is way too low for my liking!
whatwhatsaywhat
Well-Known Member
had a couple of listens it's...fine
My Neighbor Brotoro
Active Member
A shipment from Anacortes, WA popped up in my Informed Delivery packages list. I'm assuming that's the Magnolia exclusive, since their address for merchandise returns is located there.
swamp
Well-Known Member
It’s Magnolia. Just for a shipping notice from them.
Bennnnn
Well-Known Member
Ok, so as genuinely excited as I was, a lot of the negative talk online made me slightly worried. But I shouldn’t have been! This is a really good album. Based on how so many people described it, I expected it to be inert, one note. But it’s really not that at all. It’s like people saying Sleep Well Beast was too slow or samey or something, when it’s like…I guess people could say that about the record but it’s pretty unfair and untrue. Just like on that one, there is plenty going on musically, even on the mellower songs. But there are also 3 tracks that amp up the energy a bit - in the moody National way. Eucalyptus, Tropic Morning News, and Grease In Your Hair (maybe the biggest surprise of the album for me - I just wish it was longer). Those songs are enough to keep things pretty varied throughout.
As for the mellow songs, some are mired in depression - evoking that feeling really beautifully, while others are very nostalgic (New Order T-Shirt is the best example of this). Ice Machines was such a highlight of the new songs they played last year. I’ve listened got the bootleg I had so many times so I can’t help but be a little disappointed in the studio version. The forward momentum is gone for something much dreamier, slower. The lyrics are still some of my favorites on the album though, it’ll take getting used t this version.
Much had already been said about The Alcott everywhere else online. I’m just sick of the way people talk about Taylor Swift and her connection to The National. It’s so dismissive and gatekeeper-y. That said, as a fan of both, I don’t think this is the strongest work by either of them. In fact, I think Coney Island on Taylor’s album Evermore is a much better song. Matt sounds so much better on that one. This one will probably grow on me though. But ya know, as far as duets go, it’s not the worst thing Matt has done with another artist.
As I reflect back on the album it’s hard to say yet how the whole of it works, but I gotta say I am not disappointed at all. There is plenty of stuff I love about this band all over the record. I was nervous I may have overplayed the singles but god they work really well when you listen through the whole album. As far as openers and closers go, the ones on this record seem very purposeful, like they are connected. But they’re also two songs that I’ll need more time with. But hey, so much of the fun of this band for me is how songs I used to not like wind up becoming some of my favorites months or years later. Hell, I just started really loving Hard To Find about a year ago, even though I always considered it a pretty weak closer. Send For Me kinda recalls SWB, but much more open musically and emotionally. I like that about it.
Still one listen in, so these are just early thoughts as I’m slowly waking up.
As for the mellow songs, some are mired in depression - evoking that feeling really beautifully, while others are very nostalgic (New Order T-Shirt is the best example of this). Ice Machines was such a highlight of the new songs they played last year. I’ve listened got the bootleg I had so many times so I can’t help but be a little disappointed in the studio version. The forward momentum is gone for something much dreamier, slower. The lyrics are still some of my favorites on the album though, it’ll take getting used t this version.
Much had already been said about The Alcott everywhere else online. I’m just sick of the way people talk about Taylor Swift and her connection to The National. It’s so dismissive and gatekeeper-y. That said, as a fan of both, I don’t think this is the strongest work by either of them. In fact, I think Coney Island on Taylor’s album Evermore is a much better song. Matt sounds so much better on that one. This one will probably grow on me though. But ya know, as far as duets go, it’s not the worst thing Matt has done with another artist.
As I reflect back on the album it’s hard to say yet how the whole of it works, but I gotta say I am not disappointed at all. There is plenty of stuff I love about this band all over the record. I was nervous I may have overplayed the singles but god they work really well when you listen through the whole album. As far as openers and closers go, the ones on this record seem very purposeful, like they are connected. But they’re also two songs that I’ll need more time with. But hey, so much of the fun of this band for me is how songs I used to not like wind up becoming some of my favorites months or years later. Hell, I just started really loving Hard To Find about a year ago, even though I always considered it a pretty weak closer. Send For Me kinda recalls SWB, but much more open musically and emotionally. I like that about it.
Still one listen in, so these are just early thoughts as I’m slowly waking up.
threesunrises
Well-Known Member
My CT is still processing at the UPS hub in Hamilton, NJ - it says it will be delivered today.
Green Spotify is out for delivery. My lyric tee is still "moving through network" with expected delivery today, but I won't be surprised if it doesn't come. I may drive to the PO and ask them for it if it doesn't!
wokeupnew
Well-Known Member
Something that I don't like about this album is the song titles including (feat. [artist]) from a purely aesthetic and organizational point of view. Taylor's song is much more of a duet, so that's worth mentioning. I'll give them that one. But the other 3 I don't feel it's needed. They didn't have half the songs on IAETF labeled as (feat. [artist]) so idk why all of a sudden 4 songs havve it.
whatwhatsaywhat
Well-Known Member
better for streaming algorithms
wokeupnew
Well-Known Member
Bennnnn
Well-Known Member
Agreed, especially Sufjan. He’s barely there! He was more a feature on some HV tracks