Nu-National: rated & reimagined
don't ever read the description of a list |
| 1 |  | The National
Trouble Will Find Me
INTRO
The National are my favourite band. They have been so for some years now, and they probably will keep that status. It is clear, however, the band’s heyday is in the past. |
| 2 |  | The National
Sleep Well Beast
In hindsight, ‘Sleep Well Beast’ was a turning point. It was a damn good album, one I still return to, but it ended the near-perfect streak ‘Alligator’ had started. It revealed some changes that would become a problem on later releases: less room for Scott Devendorf to show off his intricate drum patterns, more electronic drums and flourishes and overall just less interesting songwriting. |
| 3 |  | The National
I Am Easy to Find
2019’s ‘I Am Easy To Find’ was a mess. I tried, but very little of the sixty-tree minutes of ineffective features, pointless interludes and weak songwriting stuck with me. Single and album opener ‘You Had Your Soul With You’ was everything I didn’t want The National to be: annoying, unmemorable, clumsy…It was a major disappointment to me and significantly lowered my predictions for future material. |
| 4 |  | The National
First Two Pages of Frankenstein
Maybe these lowered expectations explain why I’m a lot less negative about the new albums than most people. I’ve spent a lot of time with ‘Two Pages of Frankenstein’ this year and concluded that, despite its shortcomings, the album really has something to offer. The same applies to September’s ‘Laugh Track’. |
| 5 |  | The National
Laugh Track
So allow me to navigate you around these patchy tracklists. I’ll even give you a playlist/mixtape of Nu-National songs that I think would’ve made a strong album. |
| 6 | | The National
First Two Pages of Frankenstein
ELEVEN RATINGS OF FRANKENSTEIN |
| 7 | | The National
First Two Pages of Frankenstein
1. Once Upon A Poolside [5]
A gorgeous song that sets the stage perfectly for the rest of the album. Up there with their best openers. |
| 8 | | The National
First Two Pages of Frankenstein
2. Eucalyptus [3]
I’m so conflicted on ‘Eucalyptus’. On the one hand, I feel it kills the momentum and lacks all the subtlety The National usually display. The refrains are nice enough, but the chorus is annoying and the bridge so obvious. And yet…the song *is* catchy, and I find myself singing along to it. Hmm… |
| 9 | | The National
First Two Pages of Frankenstein
3. New Order T-Shirt [5]
After a couple of spins, ‘New Order T-Shirt’ revealed itself to be the highlight of the album. Beautiful lyrics about memories of a loved one, gentle guitar arpeggios, some classic Berninger melodies…it has it all. Reminds me a of ‘Hard to Find’. |
| 10 | | The National
First Two Pages of Frankenstein
4. This Isn’t Helping [3]
The stately ‘This Isn’t Helping’ is the better of the two Phoebe songs on Frankenstein, has some nice harmonies going for it, but is ultimately a bit forgettable. |
| 11 | | The National
First Two Pages of Frankenstein
5. Tropic Morning News [4]
‘Tropic Morning News’ is an obvious winner. Energetic, pacey and triumphant, it’s an easy stand-out on an album filled with ballads. |
| 12 | | The National
First Two Pages of Frankenstein
6. Alien [4]
‘Alien’ is a bit lost in the tracklist, so it took some time to grow on me. I really like the pre-chorus and the way the song slowly builds to a subtle climax, the way ‘Empire Line’ did on ‘Sleep Well Beast’. |
| 13 | | The National
First Two Pages of Frankenstein
7. The Alcott [2]
Nope, I don’t feel this one. Annoying thing is I did have this song in my head sometimes after finishing the album. Give me some tips to forget it… |
| 14 | | The National
First Two Pages of Frankenstein
8. Grease in Your Hair [4]
Similar to ‘Tropic Morning News’, ‘Grease in Your Hair’ brings some needed energy to the table. Wouldn’t have been a highlight on the older albums, but here it works nicely. |
| 15 | | The National
First Two Pages of Frankenstein
9. Ice Machines [3]
Another grower: at first uninterestingly lightweight, now pleasantly light-footed. Could’ve been shortened to three minutes though. |
| 16 | | The National
First Two Pages of Frankenstein
10. Your Mind Is Not Your Friend [2]
I can only remember the part where Matt & Phoebe sing the title, and oh I guess it starts with a piano. Song is slow and boring. |
| 17 | | The National
First Two Pages of Frankenstein
11. Send For Me [3]
I want to give ‘Send For Me’ the benefit of the doubt, for it is nice and breezy and a fitting closer, but it is also (again) rather unmemorable. |
| 18 | | The National
Laugh Track
LAUGH TRACK-BY-TRACK |
| 19 | | The National
Laugh Track
1. Alphabet City [4]
Once again, a really good opener. ‘Alphabet City’ has tension and urgency, and (falsely?) promises 'Laugh Track' is gonna be more interesting than 'Two Pages of Frankenstein'. |
| 20 | | The National
Laugh Track
2. Deep End (Paul's in Pieces) [3]
By the numbers National. It’s alright. |
| 21 | | The National
Laugh Track
3. Weird Goodbyes [3]
‘Weird Goodbyes’ might be the song that’s the most indicative of the new National era, with its electronics beats and Bon Iver feature. Again, it’s alright. I like the vocal harmonies. |
| 22 | | The National
Laugh Track
4. Turn off the House [5]
Reaaally good. ‘Turn off the House’ captures that old National feeling; finally Scott gets some room to shine, and the aaaahh’s in the chorus are classic. Wish they’d turn off the house more often. |
| 23 | | The National
Laugh Track
5. Dreaming [2]
Dull. |
| 24 | | The National
Laugh Track
6. Laugh Track (feat. Phoebe Bridgers) [3]
Might actually be a 4. ‘Laugh Track’ is far quieter & calmer than the Phoebe songs on Frankenstein, maybe that’s the reason it works better for me. Simply a very pleasant listen. |
| 25 | | The National
Laugh Track
7. Space Invader [3]
I...don't really understand the hype. ‘Space Invader’s first minutes are regular Nu-National (a.k.a. alright, but a bit boring) and its climax feels heavy-handed. I doubt it’s ever gonna warrant its 7 minutes of runtime for me. |
| 26 | | The National
Laugh Track
8. Hornets [4]
Really nice actually. ‘Hornets’ feels like something straight off of ‘Serpentine Prison’, Matt’s solo record. It’s so homely, so cozy; simple but good. Nice horns in the end. |
| 27 | | The National
Laugh Track
9. Coat on a Hook [2]
On ‘Coat on a Hook’, Matt shows the opposite of – um – good opening lyrics. Also: it’s annoying howhe stretches his sentences during the chorus. Not a good track. |
| 28 | | The National
Laugh Track
10. Tour Manager [5]
This one caught me right away. Understated & lovely, I don’t understand how ‘Tour Manager’ is the least beloved song on the album (if I have to believe RYM’s track ratings). |
| 29 | | The National
Laugh Track
11. Crumble (feat. Rosanne Cash) [3]
I’m still not really sure what to think of ‘Crumble’. The opening lyrics and their delivery remind me a lot of ‘Coat on a Hook’, which is a bad thing, but the song is catchy and nice. I guess I’m looking for a different vibe when listening to The National (a sad vibe). |
| 30 | | The National
Laugh Track
12. Smoke Detector [3]
I liked ‘Smoke Detector’ right off the bat and then it grew off of me very quickly. It’s cool they tried something different, and I think that explains its positive reception, but I don’t think it pays off. The song just doesn’t really go anywhere, which maybe is the point of a jam but idk, it doesn’t work to me. Thought this was disappointing live as well. |
| 31 |  | The National
Alligator
NU NATIONAL MIXTAPE |
| 32 |  | The National
Boxer
So I have used calculations and ingenious thinking to come up with the following mixtape. It consists of what I think are the best songs of The National’s past three albums, and I have done my best to set them in order as if it was a real album. It is sure to perfectly cater to everyone’s taste, so get onto it! |
| 33 |  | The National
High Violet
1. Once Upon a Poolside
2. Tropic Morning News
3. Turn off the House
4. Alien
5. Grease in Your Hair
6. New Order T-Shirt
7. So Far So Fast
8. Where Is Her Head
9. Hornets
10. Tour Manager
11. Light Years |
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