Album Rating: 3.0

I'll Still Destroy You is just wonderful

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Outside of lyrics and a few songs like slipped and heavenfaced i really don't see how it's their most dreary. Demons, sea of love, graceless, this is the last time etc., all seem pretty energetic and fun, sporting some huge sing along choruses

Album Rating: 3.0

Again, outside of lyrics it's not that depressing

Album Rating: 3.0

If you don't think sea is fun then you're a wet blanket

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Really? The ending with those strings is devastating.

Album Rating: 4.0

I wouldnt call any song on TWFM fun. Graceless is maybe the closest to that word.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

This is surpassing TWFM now for me which was my favorite album by them. The only thing holding me back is the nostalgic factor of that album

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

We must have very different definitions of fun, Gyro

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Am I the only one who finds the somewhat peppy horn-like sound in Guilty Party a tad annoying?

Album Rating: 3.0

Man all the choruses on here are bland as hell. How is sea's infectious as hell near singalong chorus not catchier and more fun than anything here? Nearly every moment comes and goes, seeming like they neve even happened. Where's the fun? The beauty? The catchiness? Even the sadder songs here are so "been-there-done-that-but-way-better.

Album Rating: 3.0

Do slow boring songs and meandering instrumentals make for a better album? People comparing this to kid a and calling it adventurous and experimental...fucking how? The hyperbole with this one is lol

Album Rating: 3.0

Look at the system never sleeps- it's like the diet version of the national. Their "hooks" here don't exactly do much to be memorable. Listening to day i die atm and this is another prime example of a completely useless chorus

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Gyro I think you just need to lighten up a bit, I swear you look for disappointment in everything.



The main formula for the songwriting here with a couple of exceptions is little different from anything we've heard from the National before, there's a lot of very pretty music here and for many that's enough, and finally people love The National so obviously they're going to love this. I do agree that some people have been a bit hyperbolic about how "experimental" it is but this for me is without a doubt quality music either way.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

I also think you're looking for the wrong thing in criticizing the choruses here, the National have never been a pop band and it seems like you're approaching them as such. Personally I don't care much if choruses are catchy anyways unless we're talking about music that's supposed to be very poppy/catchy. That's not the goal here.

Album Rating: 3.0

I'm not looking to be disappointed - they're one of my favourite bands. This just feels lazy as shit to me and i don't enjoy Matt's tedious mumbling - especially in the title track, where he might as well have been talking in his sleep

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Again with the title track I think you might be missing the point a bit, at heart that one is almost an ambient song; the vocals/lyrics are not intended to be the primary focus.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

"This is surpassing TWFM now for me which was my favorite album by them. The only thing holding me back is the nostalgic factor of that album"



This is pretty much the way I feel atm, TWFM has more of a sentimental relevance, but I know that this is their best.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

This is a bit beside the point but you're also speaking very poorly of an album that you are saying is "good".

Album Rating: 3.0

If the point was for it to sound lazy and make Matt sound like he's stoned on morphine then they nailed it.



I don't necessarily dislike this, i just think it's a huge letdown. As for them not being pop, i sort of disagree. It's not their main genre, but they've always been damn good at writing hooks. Listening to secret meeting atm and damn is that song ever fun.

Album Rating: 3.0

This will probably finish as a 2.5 for me