Album Rating: 3.0

I just long for hits like Karen, man.

Album Rating: 2.5

I never thought I'd see a National album with such a low average

I mean other than the debut

If we let them off the hook we may not get another great album!

Album Rating: 3.5

I'm gonna say it, the bookends on here are National Classics. had this for a month and they just keep digging their hooks in deeper



also all my love for wines, blush, bubs, yoyo and all the other eternal homies in here. you know who you are already

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

Ranked/Rated:



1. Poolside [3.5] (it’s a glorified intro!)

2. Tropic Morning [3] (National autopilot engaged!)

3. Grease [3] (National autopilot engaged!)

4. Alien [2.5] (chorus grows a bit)

5. New Order [2.5] (find Matt annoying in places here)

6. Alcott [2.5] (might be a 2, sappy but memorable)

7. Eucalyptus [2.5] (might also be a 2 tbh, crappy but memorable)

8. Isn’t Helping [2]

9. Ice Machine [2]

10. Send For Me [2]

11. Mind is Not [2] (everything rated 2 is so flat for this band)



No song would make a top 60 songs from the band for me - damning stuff!

the line on New Order about the japanese novelty bomb happened 13 years ago. that kinda says it all

Album Rating: 3.0

First half of this is actually quite good, nowhere near their older work ofc but at least better than the mess that was I Am Easy To Find. Second half is boring, though I can see it growing on me a bit. The Taylor track is atrocious though

Album Rating: 2.5

new order t shirt suuuuucks, probably my least favourite on here but not as bad as hey rosey

Album Rating: 2.5

Damn, New Order chorus is prob my favorite moment on the album

Album Rating: 2.5

i can't decide if the alcott is actually good or if i just gravitate toward it because taylor is a huge breath of fresh air at that point in the tracklist

Album Rating: 1.0

The FACT Taylor funning Swift is a relative breath of a fresh air by that point, tells me all I need to know about that opening run (I accurately predicted the exact moment she would come in by the way, which shows some seriously predictable song-writing tendencies). As poor overall as IAETF was, at least Quiet Light, Rylan etc. had hooks. This had nothing. Zero. For all the neutered gloss there’s not even a banging ‘The National goes commercial’ hit. Honestly, this is way worse than even I was expecting.

Literally awful.

Album Rating: 1.0

This ‘sound’ never suited Natty, any decent material would be nullified by the production choices anyway (probably nothing here to truly ‘ruin’ in the first place though, so silver linings and all that).

first two pages of frankenstein girls seem strangely attractive

Album Rating: 2.0

dads just wanna have fun

Album Rating: 2.0

Once Upon a Poolside [3.0] - the album's highlight tbh

Eucalyptus [1.5] - lol

New Order T-Shirt [3.0] - actually kinda good

This Isn't Helping [2.0] - glorified indie muzak

Tropic Morning News [2.0] - glorified indie muzak

Alien [2.0] - glorified indie muzak

The Alcott [2.0] - glorified indie muzak

Grease In Your Hair [3.0] - only song remotely reminiscent of the band I once knew and loved

Ice Machines [2.5] - not bad

Your Mind Is Not Your Friend [2.0] - glorified indie muzak

Send for Me [1.0] - lol

crazy to me yall are able to rate stuff that isn't music

Album Rating: 1.0

Vaguely (sort of) agreed with tect’s rankings, but ‘harshly’ judging for the overall lack of any highlights and it being somehow less than the some of its parts… I could maybe adjust a couple down a .5 or two but no real qualms otherwise

Album Rating: 2.5

my opinion is prob a bit more negative (this is the lowest rating i've given in a while lmao) because i'm generally not a fan at all of this style, but the national is the token indie band i really really enjoy, but now they're making lazy music in a style i am already not very fond of so my dislike is kinda multiplied.



wouldn't even have bothered with this album if it was made by literally anyone else

Album Rating: 3.6

i think this is a step up from IAETF, but it does lack all-timers like, for my money, Quiet Light, Hairpin Turns, Rylan (except for yes yes the bookmarks!). I wonder if I could concoct a setlist from both albums that would rank in higher echelons hmm