The National

[dad]

I really adore this band incorporating piano and the snippet of that first track living in my head for the last month+ is really paying off.

I think Matt sounds great, would love a well curated live setlist that does not promote him destroying his voice and this band could hit back to Boxer/Terrible Love days as a great act.

yeah, I’m enjoying these piano tracks. Once Upon a Poolside is lovely.

[Chris_H_2]

I really adore this band incorporating piano and the snippet of that first track living in my head for the last month+ is really paying off.

I think Matt sounds great, would love a well curated live setlist that does not promote him destroying his voice and this band could hit back to Boxer/Terrible Love days as a great act.

yeah, I’m enjoying these piano tracks. Once Upon a Poolside is lovely.

i can't believe i'm saying this, but I'm coming around to Ice Machines (which I found to be a complete bore before).

Alien is still an underdog to me - simple and straightforward, but still very "National."

[dad]

I really adore this band incorporating piano and the snippet of that first track living in my head for the last month+ is really paying off.

I think Matt sounds great, would love a well curated live setlist that does not promote him destroying his voice and this band could hit back to Boxer/Terrible Love days as a great act.

yeah, I’m enjoying these piano tracks. Once Upon a Poolside is lovely.

i can't believe i'm saying this, but I'm coming around to Ice Machines (which I found to be a complete bore before).

Alien is still an underdog to me - simple and straightforward, but still very "National."

Yes, Aliens is my other fav.

[Chris_H_2]

By the way, this song makes perfect sense in the context of the band almost breaking up:

Once Upon a Poolside

[Monkey_Driven]

The first two singles have done absolutely nothing for me. Will give this a full listen at some point.

[Strat]

The national kind of bores me these days. Its a mood thing.

But the first track on this is fucking GOOOOORGEOUS.

[Simple Torture]

Yes, I agree with everyone that Once Upon a Poolside is wonderful. But the first three notes are so close to Phish’s Theme from the Bottom that I can never unhear it.

[4/5]

The piano tracks are gorgeous. Once Upon a Poolside is heartbreakingly beautiful. Tropic Morning News was the best of the singles and I love it in the context of the album. There's a couple of growers but I like it from start to finish at least after a couple listens.

[Strat]

I feel like the national used to have a little bit of sense of humor?

[VinylGuy]

Only listened to half of it but it’s lacking more rock numbers for me. Feels all kinda samey so far

[psychobain]

i dont recommend listening to the new album if youre having trouble in your relationship

[VinylGuy]

i dont recommend listening to the new album if youre having trouble in your relationship

are the lyrics that heavy?

[psychobain]

Like an atomic submarine

[Kalevi]

I think it's a pretty even album so far. I've identified New Order Tshirt as my favorite and the Taylor swift song as my least favorite.

[Chris_H_2]

thinking about the lyrics in tropic morning news after reading a bunch of interviews of how much matt struggled with writer's block and then depression during the making of this album. they make perfect sense in the context of him talking to his brain (or his wife) and then having a catharsis where he's able to start coming out of the fog.

[dad]

I'm coming around on this one. It's helped that I've listened all the way through once or twice then taken a break.

Once Upon a Poolside - this is still great. my only criticism is I wish it went on a little longer.

Eucalyptus and New Order T-Shirt are getting better. I could do without the dad rock riffs in Eucalyptus and Tropic Morning News (still my favorite), but thankfully it's not overdone.

This Isn't Helping - might be my second favorite song. It sounds like High Violet era National.

The second half of Alien is the best part of the song, basically when Bryan's drumming picks up.

Grease In Your Hair - banger.

Ice Machines - Cherry Tree/Alligator era. didn't like it at first. getting better with each listen.

Your Mind Is Not Your Friend - I like it. reminds me of mid-period National...maybe HV.

Send for Me - a good closer. not their best, but it works.

[Chris_H_2]

good post dad. the analysis of the last song reminded me of my son asking the best openers and closers for the National. We both agreed:

Opener: Fake Empire (followed by Terrible Love)

Closer: Hard to Find (followed by Light Years)

[Simple Torture]

I’m really happy to have this album, I’ve spun it 4-5 times and haven’t grown tired of it yet. I remember IAETF being pretty divisive, especially with the guest vocalists, and although it didn’t bother me, I do prefer the guests a bit more in the background (Sufjan is perfect here, just like he was on Boxer—blink and you’ll miss him). I think The National is greater than the sum of its parts (my favorite side project is Royal Green, which should tell you something), so this has been a lot of fun to live inside for the past week or so.

[Chris_H_2]

here's my ranking

tropic morning news
once upon a poolside
ice machines
new order t-shirt
alien
eucalyptus
the alcott
your mind is not your friend
grease in your hair
send for me
this isn't helping (sorry dad, but this is such a dud for me (lots of unrealized potential))

[oasisfan35]

Been the first album I listen to every day since Friday. Release I have enjoyed the most from the get-go since Trouble Will Find Me.