The National

Thoughts_Arrive

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

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

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

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

Thanks, will check them out

Leash_In_Hiding

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

tcaporale

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

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

Thoughts_Arrive

I've just listened to samples of albums on Amazon, not sure I like this band, the songs sound all dark and sad, no hooks.

Better Dan

Thoughts_Arrive wrote:

I've just listened to samples of albums on Amazon, not sure I like this band, the songs sound all dark and sad, no hooks.

The main thing that I didn't like from the few songs I have heard was the vocal style and delivery. I'm still willing to give them a chance based on the good word of mouth, but they are not high on my "to listen to list."

Thoughts_Arrive, have you listened to any Mumford and Sons? I really got into them a few months ago and they might be up your alley if you are looking for new indie bands. Amazon currently has the mp3 album for $5.00. Songs to check out: The Cave, Winter Winds, Little Lion Man.

dcfaithful

Thoughts_Arrive wrote:

I've just listened to samples of albums on Amazon, not sure I like this band, the songs sound all dark and sad, no hooks.

The no hooks thing is the same reason my g/f can't stand this band. Give em a chance though, cause they grow on you, or at least they did for me.

jimed14

Thoughts_Arrive wrote:

I've just listened to samples of albums on Amazon, not sure I like this band, the songs sound all dark and sad, no hooks.

Samples are such a bad way to listen to a band IMO.

At the very least, listen to a few full songs on Grooveshark or Youtube.

Not saying things will change, just think folks miss out when they listen to 30 second snippets.

tcaporale

The first song I ever heard from them was "Mr. November". A friend of mine was playing it in the car and I was totally taken aback (in a good way) by the chorus.

Love that song.

SVRDhand13

tcaporale wrote:

The first song I ever heard from them was "Mr. November". A friend of mine was playing it in the car and I was totally taken aback (in a good way) by the chorus.

Love that song.

The lead singer always goes into the crowd during this song. I have seen them 4 times and twice he ended up right next to me .

musicismylife78

there are hooks, but they are indeed a sad and dark band. As i said before, they write about that period in your twenties, when you question whether your dreams and hopes for the future were just that, dreams, and you are stuck in some dead end job, putting on a smile, but not happy inside.

I dont see how sad and dark is a bad thing though.

They have moments of beauty as well. Have you listened to the entire High Violet? you picking up on the many textures and layers i mentioned previously?

how about Vanderlyle Crybaby? those gorgeous strings? or a song like Bloodbuzz, which is insanely catchy and fun? Anyone's Ghost, and Bryan's drumming. Conversation 16, just is so smooth of a song, and paints such a powerful image, "leave the silver city cause all the silver city girls gave us black dreams". What a goosebump inducing way to talk about wanting to leave a place that is bringing you down! Afraid of Everyone, with Sufjan ohhinh and ahhing in the background and then the brothers Dessner playing that looping guitar riff, and matt singing,
' your voice is swallowing my soul soul soul".

What hasnt been discussed yet, is how dynamic the band is. Youve got one of the best lyricists of our generation leading the band, Matt Berninger. then you have a drummer who is one of the most dynamic of our generation. He's unbelievable. He has chops, but alot of the stuff on HV is understated, but its still levels and levels above most other drummers working today. Then you've got the brothers Dessner on guitar.

As far as im concerned, The national are one of the most important indie bands.

musicismylife78

the nationals fans, i count myself as one, are an extremely passionate bunch. there is no in between with this band. you REALLY love the band, or you hate them. One can imagine live shows with people hanging on every word Matt sings.

these songs to me represent more than just a record, or a band. they are able to describe the past 6 years of my life to a t. they get it. matt gets it. All the self doubt, lost feelings, confusion, anger, sadness, its all there, sounds that paint a technicolor portrait.

musicismylife78

oh you also gotta listen to the 90 mile water wall song off Sad songs. such a great song. shows the versatility of the band. when that violin kicks at 2:00 in, JESUS!!

Thoughts_Arrive

musicismylife78 wrote:

As i said before, they write about that period in your twenties, when you question whether your dreams and hopes for the future were just that, dreams, and you are stuck in some dead end job, putting on a smile, but not happy inside.

Yep I am in that boat now.
Unemployed and don't know what I want to do career wise.