Another new record from The National

stickyfiddle

Laugh Track was announced at their homecoming gigs over the weekend and released this morning. ..Frankenstein took me a while but I love it. This might be even better?

I already heard a few of these when I saw them in the summer. First impression of the whole record is absolutely ace.

Teyeplayer

And downloaded, that’ll be the drive into work today. Thanks for the heads up.  

Iamnobody

I’m a big fan of The National but can’t get onboard with this year’s output. 

I’m Easy to Find was patchy, Sleep Well Beast was the last album that I can really enjoy in its entirety.

It happens - you can’t expect any artist to keep producing great record after great record and also your tastes change as a listener. 

You might not want to go in the same direction as a band or equally you might get sick of the formula and yearn for something different. 

stickyfiddle

Iamnobody said:

I’m a big fan of The National but can’t get onboard with this year’s output. 

I’m Easy to Find was patchy, Sleep Well Beast was the last album that I can really enjoy in its entirety.

It happens - you can’t expect any artist to keep producing great record after great record and also your tastes change as a listener. 

You might not want to go in the same direction as a band or equally you might get sick of the formula and yearn for something different. 

That's fair enough. I struggled with Frankenstein until I saw them live. Ironically, despite being a fan of Phoebe Bridgers, the tracks with her on that record are the weakest for me. But overall I love the record now.

The new one is definitely more immediate and reminds me most of TWFM - might still be worth a go.

Teyeplayer

This is definitely a more accessible album for long time National fans who have struggled with recent releases. That said, a bit of time and listening to recent releases and I’m back onboard and of the opinion that they haven’t done a bad album yet. 

Boromedic

I still need to listen but I do like the previous new album!

They'll always be a top band for me thanks to that amazing run from Alligator to Trouble Will Find Me which is outstanding.

Sporky

They lost me after High Velvet.

LPManic

A band I just can't like. 

Whitecat

I think this year's stuff will grow on me, but I'm not absolutely enamoured with it though like I was Trouble Will Find Me and Sleep Well Beast (I liked that kind of quasi-electro direction they were headed in... these do seem to be a return to the older style). I'm sure repeated play will drill them into my brain...

strumjoughlamps

The National are a band I've tried to get into over the years but just cannot seem to gel with them. Much like Broken Social Scene and Ben Folds, this is music I should like but something seems missing..

I do like Eucalyptus,  they mention The Afghan Whigs, the greatest band of all time and thus earns respect points.

Boromedic

Loving this album btw, very immediate and a nice distillation of their past output and TWFM meets SWB. Great stuff