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.
Nah, heard one song on TV, Little Lion Man, haven't given them enough attention.
Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
I just wanted to point something out that has always stood out to me. High Violet, the track "Afraid Of Everyone", at the end of the song... do the drums not sound like a machine gun firing?
Maybe weird, but I just can't get the imagine out of my head.
I love this fucking band.
7/2/06 - Denver, CO
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
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.
I feel your pain. I'm employed, but I loathe it, which might be worse...
What musicismylife said is one of the main reasons I love and associate with this band so much. Numerous times they've expressed how I'm feeling.
7/2/06 - Denver, CO
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
scored tickets to the upcoming boston show this morning at the bank of america pavillion. psyched!! great band at an awesome venue! dead center and 15 rows back is pretty sweet too!
PJ: 2003 Mansfield: July 2 2004 Boston: Sept 28 & 29 2005 Montreal: Sept 15 2006 Boston: May 24 & 25 2008 Hartford: June 27, Mansfield: June 28, 2010 Boston: May 17 2013 Worcester: Oct 15, Hartford: Oct 25, 2016 Hampton: April 18, Raleigh: April 20 (cancelled), Columbia: April 21. Quebec: May 5. Boston (Fenway): August 7
Yeah, I saw them at Bonnaroo in 2007 but I was unfamiliar with them at that point. Since then I have become hooked on all their material. Looking forward to seeing them again.
PJ: 2003 Mansfield: July 2 2004 Boston: Sept 28 & 29 2005 Montreal: Sept 15 2006 Boston: May 24 & 25 2008 Hartford: June 27, Mansfield: June 28, 2010 Boston: May 17 2013 Worcester: Oct 15, Hartford: Oct 25, 2016 Hampton: April 18, Raleigh: April 20 (cancelled), Columbia: April 21. Quebec: May 5. Boston (Fenway): August 7
Its not too often nowadays that a band releases 3 solid albums in a row. I consider all 3 of these to be one of the best of the year they were released.
I've been hearing about them ever since Boxer came out, but unfortunately never really started listening to them until this year... Now I'm HOOKED!
I first saw them at Osheaga festival in Montreal last summer; I didn't know any of their music and my energy was really flagging at that point in the evening... All I remember thinking was that "These guys sound really good, I just wish I had more energy to really pay attention & listen to them...". I also remember hearing they were playing at a small club down the street from me in Toronto for $10 back during the Boxer tour; although I didn't know their music I was going to go, but then bailed out at the last minute (week night, too tired after work, etc, etc) - I can't forgive myself now!
I finally picked up High Violet and the Boxer in January of this year and I can't stop listening to them (I've since bought Alligator as well, and need to dig back deeper still). I saw them at Coachella this year and they were definitely in my top 4 acts of the festival. But after just a 55 minute set, I've been waiting for the opportunity to see a full headlining show! I've been hoping for a New York show since I suspect they'll wrap up touring for High Violet this fall, but am settling for 2 nights in Philly in Sept - I can't wait!!
I've never listened to their self-titled. Does anyone have an opinion on it?
7/2/06 - Denver, CO
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
It's not bad, it's not very fleshed out and the band is still trying to find their sound but it has some good songs. I don't think the band plays anything from it live these days.
It is ridiculous how good this band is. High Violet is an absolute masterpiece, the sheer depth of layers throughout make the album. My favorite song on the album is Terrible Love, especially the part starting where Matt is singing "but I won't follow you" with the piano and the strings combined with the drumming. I also love Afraid of Everyone, and Lemonworld.
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.
+1 Well put
1995 • 2006 • 2009 • Adelaide
2007 • Wembley - London
2009 • Melbourne
2010 • Madison Square Garden
Comments
Nah, heard one song on TV, Little Lion Man, haven't given them enough attention.
Maybe weird, but I just can't get the imagine out of my head.
I love this fucking band.
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
What musicismylife said is one of the main reasons I love and associate with this band so much. Numerous times they've expressed how I'm feeling.
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
2003 Mansfield: July 2
2004 Boston: Sept 28 & 29
2005 Montreal: Sept 15
2006 Boston: May 24 & 25
2008 Hartford: June 27, Mansfield: June 28,
2010 Boston: May 17
2013 Worcester: Oct 15, Hartford: Oct 25,
2016 Hampton: April 18, Raleigh: April 20 (cancelled), Columbia: April 21. Quebec: May 5. Boston (Fenway): August 7
EV Solo: Boston 8/2/08, Boston 6/16/11
Alligator
Boxer
High Violet
Fuck yes.
Charlotte 03
Asheville 04
Atlanta 12
Greenville 16, Columbia 16
Seattle 18
Nashville 22
Yeah, I saw them at Bonnaroo in 2007 but I was unfamiliar with them at that point. Since then I have become hooked on all their material. Looking forward to seeing them again.
2003 Mansfield: July 2
2004 Boston: Sept 28 & 29
2005 Montreal: Sept 15
2006 Boston: May 24 & 25
2008 Hartford: June 27, Mansfield: June 28,
2010 Boston: May 17
2013 Worcester: Oct 15, Hartford: Oct 25,
2016 Hampton: April 18, Raleigh: April 20 (cancelled), Columbia: April 21. Quebec: May 5. Boston (Fenway): August 7
EV Solo: Boston 8/2/08, Boston 6/16/11
Its not too often nowadays that a band releases 3 solid albums in a row. I consider all 3 of these to be one of the best of the year they were released.
2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
2017: RRHoF 4/7 2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4 2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18
2022: MSG 9/11 2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
I first saw them at Osheaga festival in Montreal last summer; I didn't know any of their music and my energy was really flagging at that point in the evening... All I remember thinking was that "These guys sound really good, I just wish I had more energy to really pay attention & listen to them...". I also remember hearing they were playing at a small club down the street from me in Toronto for $10 back during the Boxer tour; although I didn't know their music I was going to go, but then bailed out at the last minute (week night, too tired after work, etc, etc) - I can't forgive myself now!
I finally picked up High Violet and the Boxer in January of this year and I can't stop listening to them (I've since bought Alligator as well, and need to dig back deeper still). I saw them at Coachella this year and they were definitely in my top 4 acts of the festival. But after just a 55 minute set, I've been waiting for the opportunity to see a full headlining show! I've been hoping for a New York show since I suspect they'll wrap up touring for High Violet this fall, but am settling for 2 nights in Philly in Sept - I can't wait!!
<font color="red"> So much music, so little time.... </font>
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
Their worst, but still enjoyable.
2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
2017: RRHoF 4/7 2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4 2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18
2022: MSG 9/11 2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
2007 • Wembley - London
2009 • Melbourne
2010 • Madison Square Garden