The National

Thoughts_Arrive · May 2011

A friend just recommended I check out this album if I like Arcade Fire, he reckons they are better....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Violet

Anyone a fan?
Thoughts?

Zoso · May 2011

not quite as popular as arcade fire but yes better and i like arcade fire. The national are so so good it's scary. Their songs are beautifully crafted and arranged... gotta love matt beringer deep brooding vocal style also. One of the best bands in the world right now.. they can't do a thing wrong.

Thoughts_Arrive · May 2011

Zoso wrote:

not quite as popular as arcade fire but yes better and i like arcade fire. The national are so so good it's scary. Their songs are beautifully crafted and arranged... gotta love matt beringer deep brooding vocal style also. One of the best bands in the world right now.. they can't do a thing wrong.

Why have I not heard of them before, I am so not in the know with the music industry. :oops:

Zoso · May 2011

Thoughts_Arrive wrote:

Zoso wrote:

not quite as popular as arcade fire but yes better and i like arcade fire. The national are so so good it's scary. Their songs are beautifully crafted and arranged... gotta love matt beringer deep brooding vocal style also. One of the best bands in the world right now.. they can't do a thing wrong.

Why have I not heard of them before, I am so not in the know with the music industry. :oops:

well I'm australian and use to live there they weren't very big there at all... only their last album was the first time they were played on triple j i believe. i SAW THEM OPEN for R.E.M. in 2008 and last year in philly... amazing live.

Thoughts_Arrive · May 2011

Thanks, will check them out

Leash_In_Hiding · May 2011

Thoughts_Arrive wrote:

A friend just recommended I check out this album if I like Arcade Fire, he reckons they are better....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Violet

Anyone a fan?
Thoughts?

I think the National are an awesome band, I've seen them live once and was pretty impressed. I own a couple albums of theirs and enjoy their music, but in my opinion I don't think they are even close to Arcade Fire. Just my opinion, you probably won't be disappointed by them though to be honest. Enjoy

SVRDhand13 · May 2011

Honestly, they sound nothing like Arcade Fire. But both are amazing and in my top 10. I would recommend listening to Alligator first. Their albums are considered by many to be "growers".

Lifted · May 2011

Thoughts_Arrive wrote:

A friend just recommended I check out this album if I like Arcade Fire, he reckons they are better....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Violet

Anyone a fan?
Thoughts?

love them. but they are a completely different band than arcade fire. is this the same friend that called you a hipster for listening to AF? makes sense if it was.

but really...the national is great. boxer and high violet are my two favorites. alligator and sad songs for dirty lovers are both great as well. i like cherry tree and the self-titled debut, but i don't really listen to them much.

False_Belief · May 2011

Incredible band - High Violet was in my top 3 records of last year. Bruce Springsteen is said to be a big fan, for what it's worth...

dcfaithful · May 2011

The National > Arcade Fire, in my opinion.

I think The National is distinct, dramatic, rich and are really crafty. Their songs are pretty damn emotional, and I enjoy the fact that they produce their albums themselves... like I said, they have a distinct sound.

High Violet is a fantastic record and is definitely of my favorites. It's solid from start to finish.

musicismylife78 · May 2011

few bands have created three consecutive albums in Alligator, Boxer and High Violet that have been as consistently brilliant and yet disturbingly better than the previous effort.

High Violet was my favorite album of 2010. Its just so amazingly rich and multitextured and multilayered.

Boxer as well, that is one of my favorite albums of all time.

Matt Berninger i think is able to really craft songs that completely portray what its like to be a twentysomething.

They have often been called the white collar bruce springsteen. Whereas bruce writes songs about down and out factory workers or people working menial depressing low wage jobs. The national's characters have all made it. They wear suits and ties. They have the office. They are successful and are making money and are accomplished. But what makes the songs so compelling is that the characters are as unfilfilled and as broken and lost as Springsteens characters are.

Plus the songs can be understood in so many ways. I take the songs to be about twentysomething angst and post collegiate anxiety and depression. While matt's own wife who has written some of the lyrics with her husband and many other fans argue the songs describe romance and love and relationships.

musicismylife78 · May 2011

The national and Arcade fire really are nothing similar in sound, despite both being indie. The national arent bombastic and arena rock like AF are. This despite both touring together currently.

However there are some connections. Richard Reed Perry of AF is on several songs on High Violet.

Sufjan stevens said it best about Matt berninger, the lead singer of the national.

"he's like the older brother who protects you on the playground but is not afraid to kick you in the teeth and tell you the truth if he has to"

i agree. matt's is a voice and opinion i respect.

musicismylife78 · May 2011

all you have to do is look at the cover of high violet. the album cover. the sounds on the album are as rich and beautiful and colorful as the cover is.

FenwayFaithful · May 2011

I've seen them 4 in different venues. Their act doesn't really translate to big venues. Really good band, but I don't think I'd spend money to see them again.

jimed14 · May 2011

FenwayFaithful wrote:

I've seen them 4 in different venues. Their act doesn't really translate to big venues. Really good band, but I don't think I'd spend money to see them again.

Wow. Can you define "big venue"? I'd pay money to see them play in a garbage dump. As great as their albums are, their live shows kick so much ass.

To the OP, try using search, I know we've had at least 2 - 3 threads on the National before, I've posted some pics form up close in one of them.

dcfaithful · May 2011

jimed14 wrote:

FenwayFaithful wrote:

I've seen them 4 in different venues. Their act doesn't really translate to big venues. Really good band, but I don't think I'd spend money to see them again.

Wow. Can you define "big venue"? I'd pay money to see them play in a garbage dump. As great as their albums are, their live shows kick so much ass.

To the OP, try using search, I know we've had at least 2 - 3 threads on the National before, I've posted some pics form up close in one of them.

As far as I know they haven't come to SLC recently, but when they do I'm buying my ticket asap.

eeriepadave · May 2011

First saw them open for REM/Modest Mouse a few years ago and i was impressed. I liked The High Violet. Saw them last year solo and thought they were good (not as good as the first time though). Still need to get their other albums though.

Better Dan · May 2011

Thoughts_Arrive wrote:

A friend just recommended I check out this album if I like Arcade Fire, he reckons they are better....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Violet

Anyone a fan?
Thoughts?

I've heard a lot of things about this band for years but have never heard any of their albums. A few of their songs pop up on my Pandora from time to time but I haven't liked any of them so far. May give them another chance with their most recent album some day...

Sawyer · May 2011

They are beyond incredible...amazing lyrics...see them at a GA theatre and prepare to be in awe

tcaporale · May 2011

Better Dan wrote:

Thoughts_Arrive wrote:

A friend just recommended I check out this album if I like Arcade Fire, he reckons they are better....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Violet

Anyone a fan?
Thoughts?

I've heard a lot of things about this band for years but have never heard any of their albums. A few of their songs pop up on my Pandora from time to time but I haven't liked any of them so far. May give them another chance with their most recent album some day...

I feel like Alligator or Boxer would be better starting points. Boxer is still my favorite from them.

High Violet is great, though.

Thoughts_Arrive · May 2011

Lifted wrote:

Thoughts_Arrive wrote:

A friend just recommended I check out this album if I like Arcade Fire, he reckons they are better....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Violet

Anyone a fan?
Thoughts?

love them. but they are a completely different band than arcade fire. is this the same friend that called you a hipster for listening to AF? makes sense if it was.

Nah another friend lol

The National

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