threesunrises
Well-Known Member
None left. Sorry. Was told they sold a couple yesterday
The National
- Thread starter mdmost
- Start date
bdm105
Well-Known Member
Definitely a gamble but not a bad idea. I don't think the regular will reach online in Portland where I'm scheduled to go
Bennnnn
Well-Known Member
I haven’t been able to step away from the new record for more than a couple days at a time. I think it’s great, albeit a different kind of album. I think they have changed up their sound. You can hear it on SWB and IAETF. The new one is more dialing back down to older core sounds, but matured? Or something like that. I think it’s way better than people are giving it credit for, but I think some of the reasons it doesn’t hit hard at first is the production.
A lot of these songs have incredible details, but they feel muted a little bit. It works when you’re listening closely, like all the pretty sounds on New Order T-Shirt. But other times it should be hitting you in the face but it doesn’t. Like the climax of This Isn’t Helping should be much more cathartic sounding than it is. Or even the drums that come in at the end of Alien. Why aren’t they even more pronounced? Yet in spite of those little issues I have with the album, I think it delivers on being a nice breath of air away from the larger, more moody and lightly experimental past two albums. It feels at ease, yet it turns up the tempo enough throughout the keep it engaging. The sequence at the end is a bit too down tempo to close it all out, but other than that I think it works really well.
And considering the difficulty it took to make this music, especially for Matt’s writing and even singing, I think they found themselves on a nice roll once they started recording. Like this is an album as a process, if that makes sense. It’s them piercing themselves back together as a band in real time almost. If a second album is coming sooner than they’ve ever done before, I think it’ll be even better than this one. They’ll have been recording it feeling more together as The National than when they started recorded FTPOF.
A lot of these songs have incredible details, but they feel muted a little bit. It works when you’re listening closely, like all the pretty sounds on New Order T-Shirt. But other times it should be hitting you in the face but it doesn’t. Like the climax of This Isn’t Helping should be much more cathartic sounding than it is. Or even the drums that come in at the end of Alien. Why aren’t they even more pronounced? Yet in spite of those little issues I have with the album, I think it delivers on being a nice breath of air away from the larger, more moody and lightly experimental past two albums. It feels at ease, yet it turns up the tempo enough throughout the keep it engaging. The sequence at the end is a bit too down tempo to close it all out, but other than that I think it works really well.
And considering the difficulty it took to make this music, especially for Matt’s writing and even singing, I think they found themselves on a nice roll once they started recording. Like this is an album as a process, if that makes sense. It’s them piercing themselves back together as a band in real time almost. If a second album is coming sooner than they’ve ever done before, I think it’ll be even better than this one. They’ll have been recording it feeling more together as The National than when they started recorded FTPOF.
tvham
Well-Known Member
Thanks for checking!
swamp
Well-Known Member
This album is pretty much the pinnacle of the approach they’ve been exploring on SWB and IAETF.
And, IMO, it’s the fitting end of a really masterful trilogy of records—they dove deep on a specific texture (SWB), they spread out wide and experimented more than they’ve ever done before (IAETF), and now they’re applying what they learned on that journey to classic National songs.
In the end, I think some people will hear a band that is relaxed and working together masterfully without any one instrument, voice, or sequence needing to take center stage to deliver energy and feeling. And others will hear a version of the National that’s missing the usual standout elements.
And, IMO, it’s the fitting end of a really masterful trilogy of records—they dove deep on a specific texture (SWB), they spread out wide and experimented more than they’ve ever done before (IAETF), and now they’re applying what they learned on that journey to classic National songs.
In the end, I think some people will hear a band that is relaxed and working together masterfully without any one instrument, voice, or sequence needing to take center stage to deliver energy and feeling. And others will hear a version of the National that’s missing the usual standout elements.
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Godardian
Member
i just love this thread...every varying opinion. somewhat similar to a question on the subreddit asking about your favorite Ntl song, reading through the answers was great for me because they were so different than the answers in my head and confirmed that you can come at this band and these songs from many different eras, places in your life, and levels of expertise, emotion and maturity. no interpretation or feeling is more wrong or right. appreciate all of your contributions.
mdmost
Well-Known Member
I really like the new album. I haven’t stopped listening to it outside of a few days. I think it hits me at the right time coming out of the Covid haze. It also has a good touch of nostalgia (New Order T-Shirt) which can be a good and bad thing as we all get older. I think it's a much tighter album than IAETF, which I also enjoy but is more of a challenge to get through. I put this one more as a compliment to SWB as it touches a bit on the same themes of isolation and feeling of unease. Is it TLFM or Boxer, no. But it's pretty damn solid. I actually find myself skipping past/mentally checking out on the slower numbers like This Isn't Helping and Your Mind Is Not Your Friend. But Once Upon A Poolside is a damn fine song.
Bennnnn
Well-Known Member
Yeah the two Phoebe assisted songs are still probably my least favorites maybe, but they have grown on me still since my first listen. This Isn’t Helping especially has a lot of nice moments in it. But I don’t love love it.
threesunrises
Well-Known Member
This Isn’t Helping is so much better live.
Another fun show tonight, we got Demons and Abel! I’m sad we’re going home tomorrow since they played another new song! They’re dropping another new album one song a night!
Bennnnn
Well-Known Member
I’d love to see Demons live. I only recently found out a lot of people don’t like that song and I was genuinely confused. It’s often been one of my favorites off of TWFM. Also, I’ll Still Destroy You! I love that song.
threesunrises
Well-Known Member
Was so psyched to get I'll Still Destroy You... I honestly didn't realize that so many people love it as much as I do.
We last saw Demons in 2013 - had only seen it twice before last night - in Brooklyn at Barclay's and The Mann Center in Philly. From what I recall, they were never happy with the way they performed it (it's an odd time signature) I love the song, and was ecstatic when they played it. And yes, I went absolutely berserk when they stated Abel - had last seen it at Homecoming in 2018, and screaming Matt nailed it last night!
Bennnnn
Well-Known Member
Question unrelated to the performance… I saw some pictures of the merch booth but can’t make out most of the designs. What was on the hats? I can’t figure it out.
Also I think the only time I’ve seen Abel live was in 2010 on the HV tour.
threesunrises
Well-Known Member
I wish I'd taken a pic - it was a spiral on a grey hat and I think there was bluish one as well. I liked them a lot, but we dropped so much $$ on this trip and merch at the pop up, and I didn't want to wait in the merch line at the venue. If I can find a photo, I'll post it here.
Our first Abel was in 2008 (when they opened for R.E.M) and have seen it a few times since, the last was Homecoming in 2018 until Chicago
threesunrises
Well-Known Member
They dropped another new song last night, Deep End. It sounds great! Wish we could have been there to see it, and what might be played tonight. The new new album (whenever it comes out) sounds like it's going to be great.
threesunrises
Well-Known Member
spilledleche
Well-Known Member
Last night was probably my favorite time I’ve seen them in a really long time, maybe since the Boxer era. All the new songs were fantastic live and the crowd was super into EVERYTHING. Was also very surprised how many people knew the words to all the newer songs. Also didn’t know England was everyone’s favorite song now. Seems like a special tour.
mdmost
Well-Known Member
So I'm noticing a pattern so far with this tour. I know people aren't big Taylor Swift fans but I think she rubbed off on Aaron on this tour. At her shows, she does her normal set but towards the end before the final set, she does 2 surprise songs back to back. It's usually a deep cut for her biggest fans. Feels like The National are doing that as well. Some of these are done very infrequently. They haven't done Murder Me Rachel and Demons since 2014. I'll keep track of it because that's such a fun thing to look forward to.
Infrequent songs played so far:
Humiliation, Murder Me Rachel
Demons, Abel
Baby, We'll Be Fine, Sorrow
Infrequent songs played so far:
Humiliation, Murder Me Rachel
Demons, Abel
Baby, We'll Be Fine, Sorrow
Bennnnn
Well-Known Member
I already have three National hats…I don’t need another one…but I like the simplicity of the spiral design.
Bennnnn
Well-Known Member
I don’t know how much they’ve changed up their sets in the past, but I remember when I saw them in 2019 they busted out Secret Meeting and it was incredible. I’m excited to see what other old songs they pull out on this tour.