Delta Don
Well-Known Member
To be fair all they do is mumble so even under a rock it was probably difficult to hearHave you been sleeping under a rock the past 20 years???
The National
- Thread starter mdmost
- Start date
Chimichanga
New Member
The new one is probably not the BEST place to go first in terms of understanding the band as a whole, but in truth they're all pretty good to fucking excellent. If you love Boxer, listen to Alligator first (probably). I personally can't decide during any given month if High Violet or Trouble is better, so I don't bother trying to keep a headranking.
To make two haphazard Radiohead analogies, I see Sleep Well Beast as akin to Hail to the Thief in some of its left turns, and this new one is sonically reminiscent of Moon Shaped Pool in that its somehow simultaneously sparser and more lush than previous albums.
The new mix of vocals is definitely interesting and arguably a success (I think Gail Ann Dorsey in particular crushes her parts), but there's no question that it's a very different sound than what they've tried before.
KenKaniff
Well-Known Member
Have you been sleeping under a rock the past 20 years???
All I listen to is U2, Kacey Musgraves and Pharcyde.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Glad to see your expanding your horizons.
KenKaniff
Well-Known Member
It's frankly about time. I should look into a Record of the Month service where they put me on to a new album each month.
tvham
Well-Known Member
Antsman41
Member
That’s why I never get splatters... never live up to the mock, usually ugly anyways.
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It's a significant difference but I've seen too many mockups and actual records to ever expect much. Neon-ish colors and very distinct patterns are tell tale signs that things are likely *not* going to be like the mockup, especially if its not specifically some hand poured artisan variant.
Solid color or black.
Skalap
Well-Known Member
Alligator, Boxer, Sleep Well Beast. See you in three hours.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Seeing how much you dig the new album, my recommendation to you is to listen to Trouble Will Find Me next as it is musically and stylistic similar.
dbarila
Well-Known Member
Ah OK. I thought it we were talking a out the mockups of the 3xLP. Carry on then.
It's a significant difference but I've seen too many mockups and actual records to ever expect much. Neon-ish colors and very distinct patterns are tell tale signs that things are likely *not* going to be like the mockup, especially if its not specifically some hand poured artisan variant.
Piratenovelist
Well-Known Member
Well looks like I have things to catch up on!
wokeupnew
Well-Known Member
What’s everyone’s favorite songs off the new album so far? Least favorite?
Rylan is definitely the standout so far, Hey Rosey (I’m biased because my cat’s name is Rosie), Not in Kansas, Where is Her Head and Light Years too.
Dust Swirls in Strange Light is easily my least favorite. I don’t mind the choral vocals but the melody is just boring and static. I also am not too big on You Had Your Soul With You either, it’s not a super thrilling opener like most National albums tend to have. It reminds me of “Geyser” by Mitski, setting the stage for the rest of the album.
Rylan is definitely the standout so far, Hey Rosey (I’m biased because my cat’s name is Rosie), Not in Kansas, Where is Her Head and Light Years too.
Dust Swirls in Strange Light is easily my least favorite. I don’t mind the choral vocals but the melody is just boring and static. I also am not too big on You Had Your Soul With You either, it’s not a super thrilling opener like most National albums tend to have. It reminds me of “Geyser” by Mitski, setting the stage for the rest of the album.
foks
Member
Agree with this. IMO, Trouble... is one of their best.
After that I'd probably recommend moving to Boxer. If you like the higher-quality production on that, move on to High Violet. If you want something more lofi/"indie", go for Alligator. If you want something more electronic / poppy / experimental, try Sleep Well Beast.
foks
Member
Love "Rylan" so much. My least-favourite is probably "Hairpin Turns", actually, which might be an unpopular opinion.
wokeupnew
Well-Known Member
Definitely unpopular, I thought it was kinda blah when it was released as a single but it’s grown on me a lot.
Bennnnn
Well-Known Member
What you listed are all my favorites too. But I also really love Quiet Light. Overall, Not In Kansas and Where Is Her Head are my top top favorites. But yeah, the others you listed too for sure. Always look forward to Hey Rosey and Light Years, but especially Rylan.
Least favorite: Roman Holiday. It’s one of those songs that just does nothing for me at all. I want to skip it when I hear it just to get to the good stuff again. But I’ve refrained.
Dust Swirls In Strange Light is another I just don’t enjoy. But I let it play cause it works as a transition. But yeah the delivery is just...not for me. I love the idea of the song and the lyrics even.
But breaking it all down and thinking of it this way in least and most favorites I realize I like pretty much everything else in the album. Some songs will continue to grow on me for sure, so I’m curious to see what winds up making its way to the top of my favorites over time
LeSamourai
Well-Known Member
Phew, the A Moon Shaped Pool comparison I made earlier isn't totally crazy! (Or, I guess it's possible we're both crazy...)