Album Rating: 4.0

the tallest man on earth wild hunt album was based on the k-on movie idiot

Album Rating: 4.0

actually extremely sus I feel like I'm on a list just for looking at the image on their wikipedia article

Album Rating: 4.5

Real talk now: I’ve studied the album cover many times over, yet cannot ascertain the reasoning for the title, for there isn’t boxing taking place, a boxer in human form, or indeed in dog form! I keep expecting one of the band to have a canine head… but alas no, that doesn’t appear to be case.

One could imagine the term ‘Boxer’ being used as a metaphor for someone who’s ‘on the ropes’ and struggling to stay upright in their everyday lives. An interesting thought perhaps, but one that I think is giving The National too much credit

Album Rating: 5.0

"This band have gone totally the other way - I'm still following them even though, well, they've started losing it."



Big agree with Doof on this one. Saw them live first in 2013 and they were damn solid, great show but like already I could tell they'd aged a bit beyond the band I'd grown up listening to. Saw them again in 2019 and my god it was easily the sloppiest most phoned-in performance I've ever seen. Matt was forgetting lines, tripped over an amp, really hard to watch



Also I'm a bit disgusted by what I've seen of their current "fanbase" on reddit/fb/etc. Like come on it is a band

Album Rating: 5.0

What is disgusting about the fanbase? What happened to the band and why are they seemingly declining?

I saw them one time in late 2017 on the SWB tour, and it was easily one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen with a fantastic set list. The band added extra boosts of energy to some of the songs and Matt kind of brought the house down and was super passionate. They sounded so alive and rocked out, sounding like a different band at times, really impressive all around.

Maybe part of why it was so great was that I saw them in Boston on the very first show of the tour! Who knows how long it had been since they last played, so maybe they felt very invigorated.

^ Saw them a couple times in 2017 as well and feel the same. They were great

Album Rating: 5.0

"What is disgusting about the fanbase? What happened to the band and why are they seemingly declining?"



Well there's nothing innately disgusting about being a fan of the national now or ever, and I'm obviously not against interest-based criticism/community. But I've just witnessed a lot of defensiveness and fawning glorification that often scans to me as a response to the "Taylor Swift" question. Factor in the exclusivity locked behind the paywall that is the Cherry Tree fan club and idk to me it looks like and sounds like a powerful legacy band flexing its resources rather than its style



I think the main reason the 2019 show was so bad was that I just didn't like the album they were touring and Matt'd probably gotten wasted and pissed off during the 1hr delay due to a lil dust storm. But I'd read the setlists from 2018, which, jealous, and I *do* adore so many of their tracks so I'm open to a redemption show

Album Rating: 4.0

have they really started losing it? they put out one relatively lacklustre album that still has what many view as some of their best songs (granted one of those is Rylan which I remember hearing many years ago) but still. Tropic Morning News is mostly regarded as a return to form. far too early to say they’re declining imo

Album Rating: 4.0

I also saw them in 2013 and they were great and Matt put a lot of energy into it (went all out on Squalor Victoria) but he was also guzzling back wine so idk how much of a factor that was

Album Rating: 5.0

It's true: the new album could turn out to be incredible and Tropic Morning News is the dud that I learn to live with. This is possible

Album Rating: 4.0

the melody just feels so classic National to me, it fits in well with stuff like Sea of Love or Day I Die

I didn't like them live in 2022. Liked them pretty well the other three times

Album Rating: 5.0

To date I strongly disagree with anyone who says that this album is their darkest. If you've been paying any attention you'll notice that here, he has someone to comfort him and he isn't at all alone unlike in the rest of their work where he is going through everything alone, especially in HV where his partner/family is now another battle that he needs to fight.

Yeah, for their darkest, I’d put it at either Alligator, HV, or Trouble before this one

Album Rating: 5.0

This is still their best, might even have to 5 it.

Album Rating: 5.0

Easily their best for me, and probably their darkest tbh

Album Rating: 4.0

I heard they disbanded soon after

Album Rating: 4.0

This hits so different when youre grieving

Album Rating: 5.0

Tru