Album Rating: 2.0

'sleep well beast made me want to listen to other national instead

this makes me want to listen to something that doesn't resemble the national in the slightest. such an exhausting album to absorb even though i like most of it' (2)

Such an accurate take, well until that bit about actually liking this.

This has become the "National singles" album for me. I am constantly listening to a song or two from this album at whimsy, whereas almost every other National album (esp. Alligator, Boxer, High Violet, and TWFM) I listen to in full. This one is enervating in a single go, and it's not quite varied enough to justify over an hour of play time.
That said, its songs are lovely out of context, sprinkled between a shuffle of other non-IAETF tracks. Maybe I've overrated it but I can't say I actively *dislike* any song on this album. I just think as a whole collection it's a bit much.

Album Rating: 4.0

Listening to this in full for the first time since the month or so after release as I'm seeing them on Thursday (!!!) and man I still love it.



You won't walk away, won't you?

You don't walk away, don't you?

Album Rating: 4.0

Honestly, remove "The Pull of You", "Hey Rosey", "Dust Swirls", and the interludes and this would be a 50-minute 4.5-star album, the only real problem here is bloat.

Album Rating: 4.0

oh god I'm gonna be crying my eyes out tonight

Album Rating: 3.5

some of the choir vocals are so fucking goofy on here

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

Agreed with both of ya. I'd also say if Matt stepped up his role and those songs were removed, it could be close to 4.5 territory.

Album Rating: 4.0

Got out of the show just a bit ago and my God do the boys still have it. The encore was especially amazing - “Not In Kansas” -> “Mr. November” -> “Terrible Love” -> “About Today” -> “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks” (the last one with no mics and all audience participation)

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

Boney ok now I'm jealous

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

How were the new songs live?

Album Rating: 4.5

The new songs are great live, I think.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

'Honestly, remove "The Pull of You", "Hey Rosey", "Dust Swirls", and the interludes and this would be a 50-minute 4.5-star album, the only real problem here is bloat.'







ahhhhh, about that....

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Good to hear the band were still in form live though Boney - half their set nearly sent me to sleep last time I saw them

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

Lol, are people still deluding themselves that this is good, but just has sequencing / editing problems?

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

it wouldn't make my top 300 albums of the year



they're one of my favourite bands



enough said, dire

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

The National bad now!

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

could be a career killer this one

Album Rating: 2.0

They'll survive.

Those concerts probably make a mint and a half.

Album Rating: 4.0

Matt releasing a solo album so soon too has me a bit worried.

But really even the new songs mostly sounded great live and they have such great energy still. Matt’s kind of off the walls (he went into the crowd no less than four times and even crowd surfed), would hate to be one of their stagehands.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

his hips must still be in good shape, Superdad