Album Rating: 5.0

man the last couple tracks are such a moving 1-2 punch

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

^ Dark Side of the Gym might be my favorite so far.

Album Rating: 5.0

yesterday: "this is a 4"

drives to work next morning and nearly breaks down to title track

"this is a 4.5"

Album Rating: 4.5

The last four songs are the most satisfying run overall.



On subsequent spins you do realise the first four songs as a grouping are very satisfying too though.

Album Rating: 3.3

the pacing/flow on this thing is absolutely dire, shame such a small detail holds back some of their best songs

Album Rating: 4.5

The pacing of tracks 6-8 is a little bit off maybe



Minor complaint for me

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

I'm with you Sowing. At this point I'm fairly sure this is at least a 4.5.

Album Rating: 5.0

I still enjoy the opening 4. Here's my general feelings for each track:



1. Nobody Else Will Be There - Hasn't really resonated with me yet but is still beautiful. I love Berninger's vocals in the beginning...3.5/5

2. Day I Die - Sounds like quintessential National, very upbeat for them and one of the more memorable tracks...4/5

3. Walk It Back - See #1 in that it kind of drags, but there's still a lot of gorgeous stuff happening beneath the surface. Love the spoken portion...3.5/5

4. The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness - Love the guitars in this and the brief choir-like intro, a great single and would have fit in on any of their former masterpieces. One of the best songs on the album...4.5/5

5. Born To Beg - Not really feeling this one but the lyrics are ace...3/5

6. Turtleneck - Great for the album's overall pace but kind of weak on its own...2.5/5

7. Empire Line - One of the stronger slow tracks, on par with the opener...3.5/5

8. I’ll Still Destroy You - My personal fave, LOVE the drumming on this and the melody is beautiful as are the lyrics; top-tier National...5/5

9. Guilty Party - Emotionally wrecking, love the chime like parts in the latter half too...4/5

10. Carin At The Liquor Store - A poor man's Pink Rabbits but still beautiful...4/5

11. Dark Side Of The Gym - I have no words 5/5

12. Sleep Well Beast - Wrecked/5 might be my new fave National song

Album Rating: 5.0

I´m loving this album more and more with each listen. Might turn into one of my favorites.

^ Dark Side of the Gym is such an incredible song.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Carin may be a bit too much like Pink Rabbits for its own good but I still love it.

Album Rating: 4.0

In soo glad people are digging this. Trouble Will Find Me is such a damn good album and I'm soo glad this is a solid followup.

I do feel like this album's good tracks are amazing but also the sub part tracks really weigh it down.

Record may end up a 4.5. I'm undecided

Album Rating: 3.3

the pacing of the first four songs especially irks me, System coming after Walk it Back is a real face slap and not in the good bracing way. weird that these guys who have shown an aptitude for pacing on every other album threw all common sense out of the window with this one. they really AMSP'd it up in other words

Album Rating: 4.0

Damn this is way better than TWFM, much more energy

Album Rating: 4.0

You think so, Sisternet? I feel like TWFM didn't really have peaks and valleys like this album and TWFM was a very consistent effort imo

Album Rating: 5.0

Row ultimately I agree about the pacing esp in the beginning, but for me it doesn't hurt the flow that much because I'm used to "sleepy" from this band. Also you can always re-arrange it to your liking and the order may be the difference between a 3.7 and a 4.2. Overall I'm not saying this is their best but I can feel it growing, actively, every day. May end up tied with TWFM but likely will never be as good as Alligator or HV, my two faves.

Album Rating: 4.5

Interesting Sowing, I agree on 'Guilty Party, 'System', 'Sleep Well Beast' and ' Dark Side of the Gym' being among the highlights.



'Destroy You' is my second least favourite though, I'll agree the ending is great in a 'Moon Shaped Pool' 'Tinker Tailor' fashion but I don't really like Matt matched with the melodies in the rest of the song.



'Walk it Back' is almost as good as the t/t on subsequent spins for me.



'Day I Die is pretty good agreed, but it's bottom 4 for me which speaks to the quality of the album really.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Doof idk if you saw it in whichever thread I posted it but I also noted the similarity between the ending of Destroy You and Tinker Tailor. Great minds think alike ;-)

Album Rating: 3.3

the last 40 seconds of Dark Side of the Gym are the most Radiohead moment on this, for me



I've already re-worked the tracklist sowing and I obviously enjoy that version a lot more, doesn't take away what for me are inherent weaknesses in this album's pacing though. I have no complaints about "sleepy" being a factor, it's just the abrupt jolts from contemplative and quiet into ... well, shit like Turtleneck give me whiplash

Album Rating: 4.5

Boney I honestly didn't read that - great evidence we're becoming more and more psychically linked

Album Rating: 5.0

I pretty much agree with you then, main difference being I'll Still Destroy You. Kind of reminds me of Apartment Story for some reason, and it kicks off what is for me by far the best part of the album (8-12). I'm (predictably) loving this more with every listen.