Album Rating: 3.7

Ok not counting the first 2 albums because I haven’t heard them yet, this is their weakest for me so far. And that’s saying a lot about how great this band is because this is fantastic too.

Album Rating: 2.0

SO BAD

Album Rating: 3.0

Does everyone wanna stop acting like Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers isn't of equal quality to Alligator just cause it's a slightly different genre orrrrr.



Swear if you add the "country" label to anything on a music site the avg rating drops .5

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

I don't know much about the genre but I hardly hear any country in Sad Songs. It's an excellent album with some amazing songs, but not on the level of the following three. Alligator was their first brilliant album from beginning to end.

Album Rating: 3.5

Feels like this album is kinda a breather, which is just fine. 5 widely acclaimed albums in a row is astronomical so it’s alright the steak ended in my book. They could bang out another one next time.

bands like this aren't easy to find

Album Rating: 3.0

@Talons Idk Sad Songs is pretty rooted in the late 90s alt country of Uncle Tupelo n shit, with a bit more of a melancholic Leonard Cohen vibe thrown in.



Honestly, as much as I love Alligator, Sad Songs has much nicer production, and Abel and Lit Up sound almost neutered compared to the visceral rage on Slipping Husband and Available. It's always confused me how underrated that album is.



Anyway, I'ma hold off on judging I Am Easy to Find for now. I've had six or seven full listens but I don't think it's sunk in yet. Not the direction I was expecting them to go though - after a few of the cuts on Sleep Well Beast I thought we might finally get a noisier, more aggressive, pared down National record.

Album Rating: 4.0

Apparently, they had two batches of songs 'cooking', some more cerebral slow stuff and some jammier/rockier stuff. Mike Mills chose to work with the slower material and that's what we got here. Hopefully the harder stuff sees the light of day, I'm with you, a more aggressive record would be crazy good but it could just be a pipe dream now. Word, SSFDL is underrated, Available is one of their most gratifying tunes

Album Rating: 3.0

Yeah fuck, I'd kill for an album that went back to the sound of Available or Slipping Husband for a bit. Berninger lets loose with the manic howling so often live its surprising that they haven't written any material to exploit it in almost 15 years.

Album Rating: 4.0

Not only that, they seem to actively neuter their tracks in the studio...it must intentional...compare the 2016 versions of Day I Die, Walk it Back (fka Checking Out of a Collapsing Space...way better name) and Pull of You (fka Sometimes I Don't Think), i would give anything for a clean recording of those songs live !!

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

I'm pretty sure everything they had cooking ended up as Sleep Well Beast and this. Is there an interview that suggests otherwise?

Album Rating: 3.5

i dunno but i know they had a bunch of stuff on a blackboard after Sleep Well Beast that suggested a new album was gonna be out sooner than expected. "Rylan" was among the names included on that blackboard but I know it dates back a bit further. "Light Years" also sounds familiar, but the rest of these im unsure about.

I guess this is what became of that material, can't find that image anymore though.

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

I'm pretty sure it was this album. The band are gonna take a break after this year I'm pretty sure.

It's unlikely they'll return to the more rock-oriented material I think. The Dessner brothers, who write all the music, have shown for a while now that they're primarily interested in doing atmospheric soundtrack type stuff.

I wouldn't be surprised if they break up in the next couple years and pursue other projects. This album sounds like a different band a lot of the time, albeit a very good one.

Album Rating: 3.5

yeah I wouldn't be surprised if they stroll off into the sunset for 6 years or who knows how long after this album

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah, there was an interview where Matt said there was some rock material that didn’t get used. Will try to find it

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

If any band could do with releasing a ‘rock EP’ right now it’s the National lol



Hope they release those tunes if that’s true

Album Rating: 3.5

Yeah I definitely want to hear how those "rock" tunes would've turned out.



This is probably their weakest album barring the debut but my rating is hovering between a 3.5 and a 4 as of now and that's a mighty high rating for any artist's second-worst.

we don't need an ep of turtlenecks thank you very much

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

After this? Bring on the turtleheads



I find it almost unreal how lacking in their usual magic this album is, 'Quiet Light' is the best thing here and wouldn't make a top 10 on TWFM. Totally lost it in the song writing department.

I would still say this is good to great considering how classy it is... but yea, almost zero euphoric peaks that I've begun to associate them with.