Album Rating: 4.5

I really really doubt it this time.



It kicks off with an absolute 0.5 stinker so I just can't see the 4.5.



Reminds me of the people (ok, mainly an extremely grumpy Potsy, but a few others) hating 'Burn the Witch' off 'Moon Shaped' and then having a 3 rating ceiling for the album.

Album Rating: 4.0

twfm really got under my skin after some listens, to the point where i would listen to it obsessively for a month or so. i really like this but i rarely feel compelled to returnen



edit: nvm you were talking about the new one lol

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

I agree to an extent Pang, TWFM for me was the slowest burner of them all.

Album Rating: 3.0

how was twfm a grower? it's like their most immediate album. was hooked from the first play. high violet was a grower if anything. alligator a bit too, but now it's one of my favourites. can't say the same about high violet or this. sorrow, afraid of everyone, conversation 16, nobody else will be there, and dark side of the gym are the only tracks i've kept from them. amazing tracks surrounded by a sea of monotony.

Album Rating: 4.0

in my case it could have been that twfm was my first national album and i think i needed a few listens to adjust to them

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

I'm just gonna ignore those blasphemic comments about this and HV. As for TWFM I was already a big fan at the time of release but it didn't really connect with me at all, sat on a mid-3.5 for a couple years before fully clicking.

In a way this was actually the most immediate for me.

Album Rating: 3.0

yeah doof, soul has to be one of their most uninspired and boring songs ever. not especially excited for the new album, just hoping it has some great tracks to salvage at least.

Album Rating: 3.0

idk dude. england is supposed to be this grandiose song but it's just so fucking boring and predictable towards the end. terrible love is possibly their worst opener. just pales in comparison to secret meeting, i should live in salt, fake empire, and nobody else will be there (the mixing sounds weird as hell to me too), anyone's ghost is just uninspired, it's kind of just there, like runaway. little faith has cool flourishes but again another dull af chorus. vanderlyle and lemonworld are actually pretty good tho, forgot to mention those.

Album Rating: 3.0

nothing comes close to the 3 i mentioned tho. esp sorrow. that song is pure gold.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

"England" is wonderfully grandiose and perfect in its sequencing as the penultimate track. "Terrible Love" is my favorite Natty opener, an incredible crescendo and the murky sound sets up the album perfectly. "Anyone's Ghost" is an amazing morbidly upbeat tune, the first National song I fell in love with. "Runaway" is a perfect slowburner, one of Matt's most desperate moments. "Little Faith" has that amazing bassline, great arrangements, lyrics, everything, a perfect National song. We can agree to disagree though, everyone on this site should know by now that High Violet is my favorite album of all time.

Album Rating: 3.0

i decline to agree to disagree. you're wrong, end of story.

Album Rating: 4.5

Conversation 16 is legendary.





I got to see a screening of the short film accompanying the new record last night. I actually dug it a lot. First few minutes arty cringe if I'm honest - dialogue overdubs over the music, weird cuts, etc, but the rest of the film was really touching and a great backdrop to the new songs. That said, only 6 tracks are actually featured in the film (Light Years, Rylan, Pull of You, I Am Easy to Find, Quiet Light, and Oblivions I think) so who knows how the rest of the record will sound.

Album Rating: 3.3

lol dude were you at the Sydney screening? we might have been in the same room



yeah the dialogue and abrupt cuts to subtitles really did not do it for me. especially with the weird coloured screens that just totally jarred with the filmed bits, those transitions really needed some work. but man the actual cinematography and Vikander's performance was :chef'skiss:

Album Rating: 4.5

Yeah I'm with you, I also thought that sometimes the cuts between tracks made no sense either - like really sudden mood shifts between the brighter and darker tunes. I still dug it though. Hahaha, I was in Sydney ! Small world right. The open bar was a great touch.

Album Rating: 3.3

it did kinda feel like it was still in development at points. honestly think you could cut out about half the subtitles (the ones that just plainly state what the audience is already picking up from Vikander's subtleties in the acting) and the bad transitions have an incredible little short film. but yeah



man the idea was great I just wished they'd played the full album in the theatre where it was actually possible to hear it. tried to hear some more songs out in the bar but this is Sydney so I couldn't hear a thing! the songs in the film sounded fantastic though

Album Rating: 4.5

Yup I'm with you. I thought we were gonna get to hear the record as well - that's definitely what the event suggested? But yeah, playing it softly on the PA while people drink and talk is no way to hear it...so if anything, it was like an appetiser for the record to come. but the tracks in the movie did sound killer. I agree with you on the film, it has a charm but a bit less explication could have made it outstanding

Album Rating: 3.3

yeah for sure thought the event implied that and I was a little surprised but not too bothered, got home early and still get to hear the record pretty much fresh on the 17th. Rylan and Quiet Light sounded so so good!

Album Rating: 4.0

Hairpin didn't grab me at all

took a hairpin turn at my interest

Album Rating: 4.5

For what it's worth, the new one is out there.