The National

[dad]

I agree with ST on the guest vocalists. Sufjan and Sharon Van Etten come to mind as favs who are there, but Matt gets to shine. I appreciate the more recent guest vocalists who were prominently featured, and I think especially for IAETF, made sense. To be honest, I have a weird hangup about Taylor Swift, and that's on me. I don't hate her. Something about her in a National song doesn't fit. Again, that's on me.

The thought I keep coming back to the more I listen to FTPOF is...yeeessssss, these guys can still make a National record, at least how I view a National record. What I mean by that is I feel like they had such a strong run from Alligator to Trouble...(brooding, self-deprecating, sometimes funny), and then there was...what, a four-year gap for the next album? And that one (SWB) - for me - is not that strong compared to that run of albums that came before, which is...great from start to finish. I mean it. No skips for me. I would even consider putting the two EPs, Cherry Tree, and Virgina in that run too. Maybe.

It's hard for me to think of IAETF as a National album. It's a soundtrack, a companion piece. Some of those songs could work on an actual National album--Rylan, Light Years, I Am Easy to Find.

I also get that all of the guys in this band have families and different priorities, and they've sort of become this parody, which they've fully embraced, and that's cute and all.

There's something beautiful about nostalgia. There's also something dirty and stupid and childish about it. I get nostalgic about those earlier albums because they sound like a group of guys trying to grow and learn and adult. Now they're all of those things (still learning, hopefully), but they're not hungry anymore? I don't know...maybe they're hungry to be good people, or good husbands and fathers.

One of my favorite things about FTPOF is Matt's singing. It's gotten raspy. It's certainly not the same as the nostalgia I adore about this band, but it fits better than the two previous albums as a whole--start to finish. You could definitely pluck good moments from both and some find gems (I'll Still Destroy You, Guilty Party, Quiet Light, Light Years). I don't feel like he's trying to do things out of pocket (Turtleneck) now.

All that to say this is the best thing they've done since TWFM.

Chris_H_2, I do love your choices for openers and closers. Tempted to throw Gospel in there. I've always liked that one. Also, Mr. November. What a way to go out.

I'm happy we have a reason to be talking about this band again.

[oasisfan35]

Sleep Well Beast also brought the Grammy... the blessing and the curse.

[Higgs]

Found this on a random FB page. Thought it was pretty good.

[dad]

The National - Live at Bearsville Theater, Woodstock NY Live Stream May 3, 2023

On March 4, 2023, we debuted much of our new album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein, for an intimate audience at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY. It was a pleasure getting to play these songs live, many for the first time, and we broke out some old favorites, too. Some fans traveled from far away places to see us in such a small room again. Bearsville was a memorable night for us and we're excited to share it with you here on Bandcamp for 48 hours

pretty cool. maybe they'll make it available for purchase.

Yah, it's pretty lame they selling it for a 48 hour rental. wtf?

Pfffttt. I already heard it.

It sounds great. I hope they release it for purchase or stream.

[Chris_H_2]

The National - Live at Bearsville Theater, Woodstock NY Live Stream May 3, 2023

On March 4, 2023, we debuted much of our new album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein, for an intimate audience at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY. It was a pleasure getting to play these songs live, many for the first time, and we broke out some old favorites, too. Some fans traveled from far away places to see us in such a small room again. Bearsville was a memorable night for us and we're excited to share it with you here on Bandcamp for 48 hours

pretty cool. maybe they'll make it available for purchase.

Yah, it's pretty lame they selling it for a 48 hour rental. wtf?

Pfffttt. I already heard it.

It sounds great. I hope they release it for purchase or stream.

It really does.

Alien is soooooo good live.

[dad]

The National - Live at Bearsville Theater, Woodstock NY Live Stream May 3, 2023

On March 4, 2023, we debuted much of our new album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein, for an intimate audience at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY. It was a pleasure getting to play these songs live, many for the first time, and we broke out some old favorites, too. Some fans traveled from far away places to see us in such a small room again. Bearsville was a memorable night for us and we're excited to share it with you here on Bandcamp for 48 hours

pretty cool. maybe they'll make it available for purchase.

Yah, it's pretty lame they selling it for a 48 hour rental. wtf?

Pfffttt. I already heard it.

It sounds great. I hope they release it for purchase or stream.

It really does.

Alien is soooooo good live.

Yes! My wife and I both liked the sound of it.

Those guitars are wonderful. Quintessential National tones.

I’m tempted to buy tix to one of the shows they added. These songs sound so much better live.

P.S. the dude in the white t-shirt is having a good time.

[psychobain]

This isnt helping is beautiful

[4/5]

Well, I'm going to Houston. Doesn't really strike me as the best place to see The National, but it fits my schedule the best and I've never been outside of an airport in Texas, so it'll do.

[oasisfan35]

Finally got some headphone time while out in the yard the last few days, achingly beautiful; I really find this album to be stellar.

[4/5]

I wish Once Upon a Poolside was like three minutes longer, but that's one of my favorite new songs in a long time. It's exquisite.

[Chris_H_2]

dad, i'm coming around to grease in your hair.

[dad]

dad, i'm coming around to grease in your hair.

my man!


also, same...

I wish Once Upon a Poolside was like three minutes longer, but that's one of my favorite new songs in a long time. It's exquisite.

Finally got some headphone time while out in the yard the last few days, achingly beautiful; I really find this album to be stellar.

[BurtReynolds]

Haven't listened to them in awhile. I like the new one. Depressing as hell, though. Probably won't listen much lol

[Chris_H_2]

Haven't listened to them in awhile. I like the new one. Depressing as hell, though. Probably won't listen much lol

you don't strike me as a gratuitous "random lol at the end of a sentence" type of guy.

[dad]

Haven't listened to them in awhile. I like the new one. Depressing as hell, though. Probably won't listen much lol

you don't strike me as a gratuitous "random lol at the end of a sentence" type of guy.

i was thinking the same thing.

maybe he's trying something out to see how it feels.

[BurtReynolds]

Yeah I was just testing it out. Thoughts?

[dad]

Yeah I was just testing it out. Thoughts?

i'm going to need some time to think about it.

[tree_]

it's too retro for a burt type lmaof

Spoiler: show

let my ambivalent opinion frolic

[given2trade]

I wish Once Upon a Poolside was like three minutes longer, but that's one of my favorite new songs in a long time. It's exquisite.

Yah this is my favorite song on the album.

[psychobain]

Poolside to Alien is perfect

i have to spend more time with side b