I like it. Some Kid A patterns happening with the drums.

What a great Fucking band.

Haven't listened to the new one yet.

Paris concert streaming live now

https://www.facebook.com/Pitchfork/vide ... al_twitter

As a big fan of The National, I feel comfortable saying this: I feel like Matt's voice only translates live like 50% of the time. Listening to them play the new single live right now and I think he sounds awful.

but he cut his hair

thank god

Both Carin at the Liquor Store and the title track were stunners off the bat to me. Plus the songs from last year were great, as well.

This is totally accurate. His voice also has very little power. His singing style doesn't typically allow for much volume (and most of their songs don't call for it), but when he has to belt it out he often really struggles (which typically means that he just screams some off key/pitch rubbish). Even so, The National are my favorite current band.

I feel like this band is expert at turning weaknesses into strengths. The uptempo songs to me work because in that moment they're able to make it not about the big vocal moment, but it just sounds like the aural equivalent of a nervous breakdown. They realize Matt can't do the Big Singing Moment, so they move the goalposts, in a way.

All true--and when you're actually seeing them live, you don't notice it as much. But the feed from Paris was very "clean"--very little audience noise, so you heard every note he hit and every note he missed.

Watching the stream from the beginning. Matt sounds so much better on this first song.

It's bogus that this LP doesn't come out until September; it's obviously ready now.

I really don't like the mix of the steam or whatever it is, it definetely doesn't do any favors to Matt's voice.
I actually enjoyed the way he sounds in the new single, I tend to like his sceams.
He sounded pretty bad on"The Day I Died".

Don't get me wrong, I love his voice on albums, and his screams, and almost everything this band has ever released. Matt's recorded voice sounds so cool and it fits the band so well. And as digster said, their playing fits with him even better. But there are times when Matt just isn't a great live singer. That said, when he's good in the live setting he can be brilliant.

By the way, I've only listened to the first track once (the day it came out) and I haven't listened any others. I don't know if I'm planning on waiting until the album comes out or not, I never made a conscious decision either way..,

Oh yeah I got it, and I agree 100%

When I saw El Vy a couple of years ago, I thought Matt sounded pretty great, but I'm sure if I went back and listened to the recordings I'd feel differently. He does have a way of masking his weaknesses to a certain degree.

He needs to stop screaming. He's been ruining some songs by doing that for years.