Honestly, every time I remember how good spots of this and Laugh Track are I get upset at how rare those moments are, but even more so that they still are so possible but the band chooses to be boring instead

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Yeah I mostly listen to a comp of all three of the most recent albums now, it does the job

Album Rating: 4.0

I still haven't checked out the last two albums; what are the standouts?



@Doof, what do you have in this comp of highlights?

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

My comp of the last three albums is:



1. Smoke Detector

2. Where is Her Head

3. Alphabet City

4. Quiet Light

5. Weird Goodbyes



6. Tropic Morning News

7. Space Invader

8. Rylan

9. Crumble

10. Light Years

Not Doof, but FRANKENSTEIN is full of absolute duds, really the only tracks I ever return to are "Once Upon a Poolside", "New Order T-Shirt" and "Grease in Your Hair", and even then those are mid-tier National tracks at best. ("Tropic Morning News" seems to be a consensus fan favorite but I think it's very middling.)
LAUGH TRACK is a substantially better / more interesting album overall but still among the lowest echelon of National output. It does, however, have one genuinely great song on it - "Space Invaders" - along with several others that are quite good ("Alphabet City", "Weird Goodbyes", and "Smoke Detector" I'd say are well worth your time).

Oh damn, ninja'd by the Doofster. Looks like we actually align w.r.t. the last two albums and their best tracks. (I am also generally in agreement that "Rylan" and "Quiet Light" are two of the best cuts from IAETF.)

Album Rating: 2.0

I thought they were the only two cuts on IAETF. If memory recalls it was a "double A side" limited 'bonus' release and then instead of following it up, they disappeared into the sunset / haven't actually released anything else

oh wait, what thread is this?

Album Rating: 4.0

ohh nice; thanks @Doof and @tectactoe; will create a playlist with those tracks then.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

brandaao - I start with those two opening tracks because they're the most like 'successful experiments' and outliers during this period - adds instant variety to the playlist

Album Rating: 4.0

lumping this record in with the last two is egregious

all birds of a feather, would probs rather a full spin of Laugh Track than suffer through this again

Album Rating: 2.0

what a sad downfall this band

Album Rating: 2.5

If you evaluate their albums yeah it's a significant dip in quality - but live they've honestly never been better

Album Rating: 2.0

I keep getting adverts for live Natty events and I'm like no thanks, that time has passed

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

I really really believe they should have called it a day after this.



Pretty much every member of the band has a better sideline than the quality of new National material now.



Even Berninger probably has a really good solo album in him if he just lets this go.



No National song after this album has been essential, I can't imagine anyone being able to argue otherwise. We'd have missed nothing.

Album Rating: 3.0

Can confirm their live show has improved over the last decade. They’re really leaning into Deadhead jammy stuff on a lot of songs now, and Matt is generally less drunk and thus more tuneful.



If only I got the Classic Setlist they played the night after I saw them and not the New Albums one.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Yeah, there is an argument they deserve to keep going as primarily a live act true

Album Rating: 4.0

If Matt isn’t crossfaded, forgetting lines, and tripping over stage equipment, is it really a national show?

Album Rating: 2.0

"No National song after this album has been essential, I can't imagine anyone being able to argue otherwise."



this is "the alcott" erasure

yes, please, let's erase it