Album Rating: 4.0

so if I never have kids this will be destined to remain as a 4? At least I know where I stand

You can just live that life vicariously through me, Demon.

Album Rating: 4.0

You need to stop asking me to Father your children, man

Album Rating: 4.2

I’m young(ish), unmarried, and childless but have always found The National highly emotionally resonant, and I don’t find anything forced or corny about this album. However one negative I have is how dreary and soupy it sounds, which I guess is due to the production. Kind of a slog to listen from beginning to end imo.

Album Rating: 4.0

i was literally 12 years old wearing their tshirts to 6th grade you don’t have to be middle aged to appreciate them lol

Adolescent take

Album Rating: 5.0

Sad dads and precocious teens, then

Album Rating: 4.0

Which one is their married without kids album? Still worried about everything, of course

sad songs for dirty lovers

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

The most consistent national album don't crucify me

Album Rating: 5.0

Correct



Although I’d say ‘Boxer’ is equally consistent

Album Rating: 3.0

Boxer is without a doubt the most consistent national album

Weirdly enough, of the "big" National albums, BOXER might be the one I'd consider least consistent, at least in terms of the quality gap between the album's best songs and worst songs. To be clear, there isn't a single 'bad' track on it, but the good songs are so good that a few of the others get a little lost in their shadow. 'Brainy', 'Fake Empire', 'Slow Show', and 'Apartment Story' are among the band's absolute best cuts, all would surely rank somewhere in the Top 20, perhaps Top 15. Comparatively, songs like 'Squalor Victoria', 'Racing Like a Pro', and 'Ada' wilt a little sandwiched among these other behemoths, which makes the overall album experience a bit of a rollercoaster.

I think this (TWFM) is their best album in terms of both overall quality and consistency, though it seems this is an opinion not shared by many aside from maybe Doof and I. If I had to pick another, more "sensible" choice for most consistent, I'd go HIGH VIOLET. Nothing on that album is as good as 'Brainy' but the album's "weaker" tracks (Anyone's Ghost, Little Faith, Runaway) are closer in quality to its peaks (Terrible Love, Sorrow, Lemonworld, Bloodbuzz Ohio, Conversation 16) imo.

no way - the worst-best track margin on HV (Vanderlyle/Runaway - Bloodbuzz/Sorrow) is far wider than on Boxer (Brainy-Ada), though most of HV is defs smooth sailing. Squalor Victoria as an urgent flashpoint between Brainy and Green Gloves is vital to the sequencing and Racing Like a Pro is one of the more underrated tracks in their discog - lyrics are a little crass, but it's one of the more memorable of Berninger's depression snapshots for me
the least consistent of their good stuff is either SWB (although the good song/average song ratio on that is so even as to count as its own version of consistency) or Alligator. Everything between Daughters and All the Wine on that tanks, its bookends are well below the usual National standard (even Sad Songs does better in that regard), Looking for Astronauts is one of their worst songs period, but the highs are their highs so, huh

Album Rating: 1.0

Boxer and Alligator are their best, yeah

Album Rating: 4.0

Boxer / HV > TWFM > Alligator / Cherry Tree > last 3 in gradual descending order (I still haven't heard the first two, whoops)

Album Rating: 5.0

This has always been their number 1 for me.

Album Rating: 5.0

Runaway and Ada are both absolute stormers ye heathens



Both better than anything on the last two albums by some considerable margin

Album Rating: 5.0

Heavenfaced and I Need My Girl are the worst on TWFM (both 3.5 ratings)



Guest Room and Racing Like a Pro are worst on Boxer (both at least 3.5s)



Little Faith and Afraid of Everyone are my least faves on HV (again maybe 3.5s, Little Faith maybe even a 3 for me I just don’t dig it, example of ‘clunky Matt’ lyrics imo)

Album Rating: 4.0

I've always enjoyed Runaway, probably what ultimately got me into HV in all honesty. T'was an early highlight that stuck with me