Album Rating: 2.0

@Doof: I do like me some ‘Demons’ and 3.5/5 ain’t half bad, in fact it’s more than half good, literally. It’s a slow process, although I don’t currently feel as though it’s a failure regardless of whether my opinion changes or not.

Album Rating: 3.5

"Rylan" would be way better if one letter in the title was changed tbh

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

classic Dyl



and good to hear Demon

Album Rating: 4.0

Fucking gorgeous album, title track might be one of the best National songs full stop

Album Rating: 2.0

Yeah, relistening to SWB and I do like that one more than this. This is still excellent though, just have the sneaking suspicion that, rather than grow into a classic like prior records, it will fall to the wayside.

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

Agreed but this isn’t that much of a step down. So Far So Fast is my favorite so far, been stuck in my head all day in a good way. One of the moments where the female vocals were a major asset.

Album Rating: 4.0

They work there only because that one eschews the Matt vocals almost entirely...but I can’t help but feel like it’d be better with just him singing instead.

it just occurred to me that maybe I should stop commenting on this post and making mashups and actually listen to this album past track 7 for the first time.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

I think I’m hittin’ a wall. I hate lovin’ you as much as I do.

That whole little section of “Where Is Her Head” is one of my favorite National moments

I know I had mentioned this earlier, but I find this so much better than SWB. I listened to SWB alike nonstop when it first came out, but I haven’t revisited it much. Might need to re-evaluate. This is so much more lively and upbeat.

Album Rating: 2.0

Talons I agree, it's not a disappointment, it's a great album, I'm just skeptical that it will be remembered the same way a year or two from now, at least for me.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

it's brighter toned but I wouldn't say lively



if the run from tracks 3-8 is lively I want what she's having as they say

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Idk. I find that stretch to be fantastic. I wasn’t the hugest fan of any of the singles, but out of that stretch, I find The Pull of You to be the best. It’s so compelling. The spoken word part kinda caught me off guard as kinda awkward upon first listening, but I think it’s definitely like number 3 favorite on here. It’s a much better version of something say like Walk It Back

Album Rating: 4.0

“Pull Of You” is maybe their worst song ever

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Brushed - I can get you a dolphin balloon if it's a case of succumbing to subliminal marketing ;P

Album Rating: 4.0

By my current count by runtime this only has about 30-35 minutes of excellent material, the rest ranges from poor, to completely average, to good. Which means this accounts for about half the sub-excellent material in their entire catalogue

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

This has 30-35 minutes of 'just above average to very good but not outstanding by National standards' material and a remainder of varying degrees of fodder for me

Album Rating: 4.0

as I settle into my 20s, the sad dads get me more and more



fucking hellfire

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

Agreed Boney, tho I might say like 35-45 minutes of excellence. Don’t see it getting higher than 5th or 6th best. Sad Songs might even be better.

Album Rating: 4.0

Between “Quiet Light” and “Light Years” you’ve got a pair of pretty classic Natty tracks. Title track may be up there too and possibly “Rylan”. Aside from those there’s a handful of other 4/5 tier tracks. Rest is fairly middling. But when the “average” National track is a 4.5/5...there’s something missing.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

'I Am Easy to Find' isn't as good as 'Hard to Find'



Obviously the two intentionally have similarities. Again the later one is breezier and brighter toned...but the tune isn't as good! The track has grown on me a bit though. It suffers following two slow tempo and indistinct numbers.



Seriously though - listen to 'Hard to Find' and then try 'I Am Easy to Find', the comparison is tragic. The former sounds fuller, richer, purposeful, romantic without being grabby about it.