The National

[Simple Torture]

Lots of songs on this record about sleep and dreaming. The thematic unity really hit me on even just the first listen through. Gonna try to relisten as much as possible over the weekend.

To wit:

I can't stay and I can't come back / I'll just keep awake / And I won't react

The system only dreams in total darkness / Why are you hiding from me?

You've been sleeping for miles / So what did you see?

always up at 5am every morning / Like a baby

You're sleeping night and day, how'd you do it? / Me I am wide awake, feeling defeated

I have dreams of anonymous castrati / Singing to us from the trees
I have dreams of a first man and a first lady / Singing to us from the sea

Go back to sleep, let me drive, let me think, let me figure it out

[PHATJ]

The National is about to be on the Colbert show. Probably about 10 minutes from now.

[Jorge]

I have dreams of anonymous castrati / Singing to us from the trees
I have dreams of a first man and a first lady / Singing to us from the sea

This makes me never want to listen to this album

[PHATJ]

The National is about to be on the Colbert show. Probably about 10 minutes from now.

After this commercial break...

[PHATJ]

Day I Die

Wow. They had like 20 people on stage.

[Chris_H_2]

so i confess, while national albums are sometimes "growers" or "slow burners," this one's a little difficult for me to get into. the songs are pretty decent on their own. but as an album, they're all kind of sleepy. i'm pretty bored by turtleneck. i'm sure the more i listen to it, the more i'll appreciate it. but i can tell it won't end up ranking among the last 4 national albums for me.

[Monkey_Driven]

so i confess, while national albums are sometimes "growers" or "slow burners," this one's a little difficult for me to get into. the songs are pretty decent on their own. but as an album, they're all kind of sleepy. i'm pretty bored by turtleneck. i'm sure the more i listen to it, the more i'll appreciate it. but i can tell it won't end up ranking among the last 4 national albums for me.

I feel like I need to listen to their albums about 10-15 times before having any sort of opinion on it.

[chewm]

I already like this more than Trouble Will Find Me. I'm not sure if I'll like it better than the 3 albums that precede it but I definitely love what they did with this one.

[given2trade]

I already like this more than Trouble Will Find Me. I'm not sure if I'll like it better than the 3 albums that precede it but I definitely love what they did with this one.

I agree w/ all of this.

[PHATJ]

so i confess, while national albums are sometimes "growers" or "slow burners," this one's a little difficult for me to get into. the songs are pretty decent on their own. but as an album, they're all kind of sleepy. i'm pretty bored by turtleneck. i'm sure the more i listen to it, the more i'll appreciate it. but i can tell it won't end up ranking among the last 4 national albums for me.

I feel like I need to listen to their albums about 10-15 times before having any sort of opinion on it.

I've been this way with a lot of their work too. They have a knack for writing songs that reveal themselves more slowly than most, but this provides some serious satisfaction when those tunes you were initially on the fence about become beloved.

[PHATJ]

I already like this more than Trouble Will Find Me. I'm not sure if I'll like it better than the 3 albums that precede it but I definitely love what they did with this one.

I agree w/ all of this.

I love Trouble Will Find Me. It took me a while to get there, but I definitely did. And there are A LOT of great songs on that album. I just picked up the new one. Can't wait to listen!!!

[Chris_H_2]

Guys, Trouble Will Find Me is amazing.

[Simple Torture]

the songs are pretty decent on their own. but as an album, they're all kind of sleepy.

I don't think this is a bad thing:

Lots of songs on this record about sleep and dreaming. The thematic unity really hit me on even just the first listen through. Gonna try to relisten as much as possible over the weekend.

[PHATJ]

Guys, Trouble Will Find Me is amazing.

Totes

[VinylGuy]

Im listening...im loving Nobody Else Will Be There.

[Chris_H_2]

I really dig Empire Line

[VinylGuy]

After a first listen, there is a lot to like here. Its maybe a little long? But there are some really good songs.

[digster]

I'm hearing it the first time tomorrow (though I've definitely spoiled myself on some of the live stuff already), but I'm listening to the first two records tonight, which I'm not as familiar (particularly the debut). It probably helps if you're already all in on the band to appreciate the records, but they're pretty great, especially Sad Songs. 90-Mile Water Wall may be one of my favorites by them period.

[Chris_H_2]

Speaking of Sad Songs, I really wish they would start playing Slipping Husband live again.

[Strat]

Holy shit this opening track is incredible.