Album Rating: 4.5

Brooklyn based, via Cincinnati, this quintet is often compared to Wilco, Interpol, and other prominent indie bands. Their lyrics are notably strong, and their music is ever-improving. The fact that there are two sets of brothers in this band is somewhat interesting. Full lengths are: The National, Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers, Alligator, Boxer and High Violet. The National is: Matt Berninger (Vocals), Aaron Dessner (guitars, bass), Bryce Dessner (guitar), Scott Devendorf (guitar; bass), and Bryan Devendorf (drums).

“Baby, We’ll Be Fine” is so underrated.

Album Rating: 4.5

yesss such a good song

Album Rating: 4.5

Secret Meeting is probably my favorite intro track. I Should Live And Salt and Fake Empire are a close 2nd & 3rd respectively.

Album Rating: 4.6

For me it’s Terrible Love (alt. version) > Fake Empire > Secret Meeting > Terrible Love > I Should Live in Salt > Cardinal Song > Nobody Else Will Be There > Soul w/ U > Beautiful Head

"terrible love" and "fake empire" are great openers. not a huge fan of "secret meeting" (kinda cool I guess tho, has that Secret Meeting Feel) or "I should live in salt"

Album Rating: 5.0

it's a common fetish

for a doting man

to ballerina on the coffee table

cock in hand

Album Rating: 4.5

“I wouldn’t go out alone into America.”



Line hits differently this week

this album is so good it makes me want to bump down boxer

Album Rating: 4.5

this is definitely the best National. I listened to like half of it the other week for the first time in a while and was surprised at how good the production sounds too

Album Rating: 5.0

Based

Album Rating: 4.5

honestly Boxer probably isn't even in my top 3... would probably put it behind this, HV and TWFM

boxer and both those albums leave this for dead
it has fair competition in SWB and that's about it

why is the best song on this city middle discuss

Album Rating: 4.5

probably the way the initial melody lulls you in and then expands into the "parking your car" bit in a way that feels sprawling and impactful, yet subdued and subtle, like a lot of The National's best work, as well as some interesting and creative lyricism

Album Rating: 4.0

boxer is their most mid album



high violet, sleep well beast, alligator, and trouble will find me all beat the pants off it



it's better than i am easy to find tho

Album Rating: 4.5

I can get behind that. it's great it's just kinda... dry

TROUBLE WILL FIND ME >
BOXER >
HIGH VIOLET >
ALLIGATOR = SLEEP WELL BEAST >
SAD SONGS >
I AM EASY TO FIND >
S/T

--

BOXER and HIGH VIOLET are close, very close to being equal, but I always give the edge to BOXER because it's highs are simply higher (viz. "Fake Empire", "Brainy", and "Slow Show").

Album Rating: 4.5

best song on Boxer is Guest Room imo

that is a bad take and tec has a good take
next