The National

Laugh Track is far more uptempo, immediate and punchy, even if the album serves as a companion piece to FTPOF. It's also more organic in sound which means less drum machines and more wizardry from Bryan on the kit! I'm also glad "Weird Goodbyes" finally has a proper home 🏡. Highlights for me are "Crumble" feat. Rosanna Cash along with the previously released "Space Invader" and "Turn off the House. Agreed 💯 that "Smoke Detector" is very 🐊 sounding!
 
I love the quote from Aaron about the drumming:

"It's not because we don't enjoy sitting in a room banging around ideas. It's just that it wasn't that productive, so we developed a fairly elaborate way of building songs in which [drummer] Bryan [Devendorf] had a very important but compartmentalized role," he says. "This time we had the desire to make something that was more alive so that Bryan's playing would drive more."


I hear that 100%. I love Bryan and I think he shines all over this album. I also don’t think there’s a weak spot yet. With FTPOF I felt a little disappointed with a couple of tracks. I love the album as a whole, but it is a different mood. Laugh Track is what I needed. It’s just hitting all the right spots. Also the weirdness of Space Invader and Smoke Detector are really unlike anything they’ve done before. The way they broth sprawl out is just amazing. I guess they kinda played around with that on So Far So Fast, but it works even better here.
 
Are black and pink the only vinyl versions available to the general public right now? Surprised the vinyl is a little spendy. Pretty sure I paid like $25 for FTPOF.
 
dbarila said:
Are black and pink the only vinyl versions available to the general public right now? Surprised the vinyl is a little spendy. Pretty sure I paid like $25 for FTPOF.
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Yes. Pink is the indie exclusive to my knowledge. Yeah pretty crazy how it is $20 more for an extra disc.
 
wokeupnew said:
I think I'd rather they hold it until next year, I'm not a huge fan of bands releasing more than one album in a year (Beach House is the only exception)
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I think I get this concept in theory, but if you as an artist/band are in a creative peak...which clearly this group seems to be...I don't know if I see the harm in churning out music while the iron is hot. especially a band like The National whose song-writing is often so personal and intimate...I could see a track like Hornets or Space Invader not meaning what they do now to Matt by next summer.
 
Bennnnn said:
God I love Hornets a lot. I know it's one of the ballads here, but it's beautiful. I had a bootleg of a live version from a show in May, but this recorded version beats it completely. The horns on it are amazing. But I love the lyrics, and the warmth of sound.
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I think Hornets 🐝 is my favorite. The second half of the record is really good. Turn Off The House is by far my least favorite. Now that I can actually hear the vocals on Smoke Detector it’s awesome.
 
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About to dive into the new album. Selfishly, I wish this album came out in late November as the shows I'm attending will probably feature a lot less of FTPOF now in favor of the new stuff. I'm sure the new stuff is great but I wanted to hear some of the stuff off the last album. Still, new album when I didn't think we'd get another this quickly.
 
wokeupnew said:
I now tolerate and kind of like Weird Goodbyes in the context of the album. I realized after 4 listens there's no bad songs on this one. Everything is very decent to amazing.
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I had the exact same thought yesterday...I always liked Weird Goodbyes, but kinda just looked at it as a throw away single and a chance to collab with Bon Iver. I think it really fits and shines on this album.

also, I absolutely adore Crumble, but as I keep listening I can't help but feel it has the least National vibe of any National song...I don't quite know how to explain it...maybe it's that its such a classic song structure where so many of their's aren't...maybe its note/key progression...there's just an upbeat tone that's surprising and beautiful with these lyrics
 
I really love the 3 song run of Laugh Track, Space Invader, and Hornets. And then the ending of Crumble and Smoke Detector to wrap up my first listen highlights. I agree with everybody that this is a much better album than their last just off of the first listen.
 
cbl said:
I had the exact same thought yesterday...I always liked Weird Goodbyes, but kinda just looked at it as a throw away single and a chance to collab with Bon Iver. I think it really fits and shines on this album.

also, I absolutely adore Crumble, but as I keep listening I can't help but feel it has the least National vibe of any National song...I don't quite know how to explain it...maybe it's that its such a classic song structure where so many of their's aren't...maybe its note/key progression...there's just an upbeat tone that's surprising and beautiful with these lyrics
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I hated Weird Goodbyes when I first heard it, but fell in love with it. Agreed, it shines on this album.

I love Crumble so much. That said, I feel like it would fit perfectly on Matt's solo album, Serpentine Prison.
 
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