The National

[onebloodonelife]

Apparently I'm the only one who wasn't smitten with "Afraid of Everyone." It was alright, but I'll reserve final judgment until it's heard in context of the whole album.

 

[Dalton]

Someone needs to link me to the b-side.

Post haste like

 

[tjames921]

Apparently I'm the only one who wasn't smitten with "Afraid of Everyone." It was alright, but I'll reserve final judgment until it's heard in context of the whole album.

I agree with you. It's good, but I like all the other songs I've heard from the album better.

 

[Imperor]

Well, I've decided to avoid "Afraid of Everyone" until the album drops in whatever form. But that doesn't mean I can't try to find "Sin-Eaters" around here somewhere.

 

[u2popmofo]

This is one release that deserves to be heard for the first time with the CD in hand.

Well, I've decided to avoid "Afraid of Everyone" until the album drops in whatever form.

 

[Lancemc]

Nah, I wasn't crazy about Afraid of Everyone either. Sounded like... a NASH song. Eh. Good. But... eh.

 

[greenlight7-11]

I also like "Bloodbuzz Ohio" a lot better than the newest one.

 

[Imperor]

This is precisely why I'm not listening to it. If I had heard, say, "Brainy" before Boxer dropped, I probably would've been underwhelmed. But I love it within the context of the album.

 

[PhilsFan]

Brainy is probably the weakest track on Boxer, but it definitely does work with that album. Still, I feel like something like Tall Saint is a better track.

 

[Imperor]

Don't even get me started fawning over "Tall Saint."

 

[PhilsFan]

It would fit perfectly in between Racing Like a Pro and Ada, if you ask me. I've tried it, trust me.

 

[LMP]

I enjoy "Brainy."

Avoiding any new track not named "Bloodbuzz Ohio" until the album drops.

 

[PhilsFan]

Brainy is probably the only song I'd consider "filler" on Boxer. Having Tall Saint be so much better than it certainly doesn't help.

 

[Imperor]

It's certainly toward the bottom of the Boxer hierarchy, but I'd still place it above "Guest Room," which never really got properly figured out in the studio.

 

[mikal]

weird..."Guest Room" is one of my favorite National songs ever.

 

[djerdap]

Not one of my favorites in general, but definitely one of my favorites on Boxer for sure.

I'm curious, Imperor, would you think of the track as not being fully realized in the studio if you hadn't read a certain interview where Berninger mentions this?

 

[Imperor]

Obviously, no. I've never heard a demo or early live version, so I don't have a frame of reference. But I have enough appreciation for their abilities as a studio band, the quality of the mix and production on all their albums, to have faith in MB when he says something like that.

 

[djerdap]

Well, yeah, but I'm sure our opinions would differ a lot with what Matt Berninger has to say about his band's work.

 

[Imperor]

That's very true, but one could also think of the band as spot-on appraisers of their own work. I don't necessarily think "Guest Room" sounds flat or mixed poorly, but I did a pretty bad job of communicating that the comment about not getting it right in the studio wasn't my opinion.

 

[phanan]

Funny, Brainy is one of my favorites.

 

[bono_212]

Are they nuts?

Hi Everyone!

We have a bunch of updates for you today...

Firstly, there is a group of tickets that has become available for the May 6th Royal Albert Hall show in London. These tickets were being held for lighting, sound and film equipment (for a possible filming of the performance) that we have decided to pull. The tickets will be released on Friday, April 16, at 10AM EDT (TOMORROW). Here is the ticketing link: The National - Royal Albert Hall

Secondly, we are very excited to announce that our friends Buke and Gass Buke And Gass) will open the Electric Ballroom and Royal Albert Hall shows in London and the two Berlin shows in May. Buke and Gass are Brooklyn-based two-piece, Arone Dyer on the “buke” (a self-modified six-string baritone ukulele) and Aron Sanchez on the “gass” (a guitar-bass hybrid of his own creation). Both of them play double duty mobilizing a small army of foot percussion. We like them so much we signed them to our very own Brassland Records, which will release the band's debut album "Riposte" in early Summer. Here is a link to a track off the new record: [http://www.bukeandgass.com/songs/singles/Medulla Oblongata_mp3

Speaking of Brassland, the label is reissuing "Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers" on limited edition vinyl (500 Copies). A larger edition vinyl re-press of the band's entire Brassland catalog will happen later this year. Also, you can check out CLOGS excellent new record "The Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton". More info available on all at: http://www.brassland.org/[/URL]

Thirdly, independent retailers in the US will be offering a deluxe limited edition version of High Violet on CD and Vinyl. You can only get this version of the album at select indie retailers found on this map: High Violet - Indie Retail - May 11. The deluxe version is not available for pre-order and will only be available in the United States.

Fourthly, it is now possible to pre-order High Violet online.
See the links below for the US and UK...

U.S.:
Amazon.com: high violet: Music

UK:
Amazon.co.uk: high violet the national: Music
Welcome to Rough Trade Shops

Finally, we have updated our tour schedule below. Please visit The National : Tour for specific ticket links. We can confirm now that we will play the Glastonbury, Roskilde and Lollapalooza festivals this summer along with those that have been previously announced.

We continue to add shows in the North America and Europe so we'll keep you updated. We hope to see you soon!

I'm referring to the super-special version of the LP. There's going to be ONE copy at the stores that have the purple boxes on the maps? Am I understanding this right?

 

[phanan]

You're reading it wrong.

Those stores will have one special copy that contains a $50 store credit. There will be plenty of copies of the albums themselves.

 

[u2popmofo]

Do we know what will be on the special "indie stores only" version?

 

[bono_212]

You're reading it wrong.

Those stores will have one special copy that contains a $50 store credit. There will be plenty of copies of the albums themselves.

But they'll have more than one copy of the super-special edition?

 

[phanan]

Yes. The only difference is that $50 store credit.

 

[phanan]

Do we know what will be on the special "indie stores only" version?

I believe it is just the limited color vinyl with foil stamping and album download.

 

[u2popmofo]

There's a CD version too:

CD - O-card with folded poster and foil stamping.

Uh....I think I'll just be pre-ordering it online. Sorry, local indie store.

 

[bono_212]

I like special edition stuff, so I'll probably end up getting it, since I'll be closer to Dallas at that point anyways.

 

[powerhour24]

I assumed it would have bonus tracks, if its just different packaging I think I'll pass and buy the regular CD.

 

[Imperor]

Fellow vinyl enthusiasts, there is an extremely limited pressing of Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers (only 500 copies) available now on the Brassland site. $18 and no shipping. I got mine. Now you get yours.