The National

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  • goldrush
    goldrush everybody knows this is nowhere Posts: 7,791
    My brother and I trade hard drives every now and then to catch up with whatever music the other has got into recently. This one has all of The National's albums and EPs on it - so the question is... where to start?

    I haven't heard anything yet and hoped you guys could help. Are they a start-at-the-start-and-work-your-way-through kind of band, or is there a particular album that is sure to grab you first time, and then you explore from there?
    “Do not postpone happiness”
    (Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)

    “Put yer good money on the sunrise”
    (Tim Rogers)
  • derbydave
    derbydave Columbus, OH Posts: 11,254
    goldrush said:
    My brother and I trade hard drives every now and then to catch up with whatever music the other has got into recently. This one has all of The National's albums and EPs on it - so the question is... where to start?

    I haven't heard anything yet and hoped you guys could help. Are they a start-at-the-start-and-work-your-way-through kind of band, or is there a particular album that is sure to grab you first time, and then you explore from there?


    You could DEFINITELY start at the beginning and work your way thru their catalog,
    just don't give up if you don't like the first couple of records!!
    The National & Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers are kind of uneven, but there are some GREAT songs on these 2 records!!
    I listen to the Cherry Tree EP all the time,
    but Alligator is kind of hit or miss to me, just depends on the mood I'm in.
    The rest of their catalog is STELLAR in my opinion.
    Boxer, High Violet, Trouble Will Find Me & Sleep Well Beast are all INCREDIBLE albums!!

    '96: Seattle: Key Arena
    '98: Seattle: Memorial Stadium 1 & 2
    '00: Columbus: Polaris
    '03: Columbus: Germain
    '10: Columbus: Nationwide Arena
    '11: East Troy: Alpine Valley - PJ20 1 & 2 + EV Detroit
    '12: Missoula + EV Jacksonville 1 & 2
    '13: Chicago / Pittsburgh / Buffalo / Seattle
    '14: Cincinnati / St. Louis / Tulsa / Lincoln / Memphis / Detroit / Moline
    '15: New York City - Global Citizen Festival
    '16: Greenville / Hampton / Raleigh / Columbia / Lexington / Ottawa / Toronto 1 & 2 / Wrigley 1 & 2
    '17: Brooklyn - Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
    '18: London 1 & 2 / Seattle 1 & 2 / Missoula / Wrigley 1
    '22: Nashville / St. Louis


    http://www.livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=170

  • deadendp
    deadendp Northeast Ohio Posts: 10,434
    I agree.  I would definitely start at the beginning.  I wouldn't skip the earlier albums.  Give self-titled a listen.  SSFDLovers has 90-Mile Water Wall,  Murder Me Rachael and Lucky You.  Definitely work from earlier works to later.  There is a progression and SWBeast is definitely a lil different than the rest, but a great different. 
    2014: Cincinnati
    2016: Lexington and Wrigley 1
  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,578
    edited March 2018
    I say start at Cherry Tree and go from there. That’s basically where their sound (and their consistency) starts. You can always circle back to the uneven first 2 records later. I wouldn’t start there because it’s not indicative of their sound. On top of that, how can starting with crap really get you excited for the better stuff to come? 

    Post edited by Tim Simmons on
  • bootlegger10
    bootlegger10 Posts: 16,256
    Tim Simmons said:
    I say start at Cherry Tree and go from there. That’s basically where their sound (and their consistency)starts. You can always circle back to the uneven first 2 records later. i wouldn’t start there because it’s not indicative of their sound. On top of that, how can start8ng with crapreally get you excited for the better stuff to come. 


    Agree.  First two records aren't worth the bad first impression.
  • CornishMan
    CornishMan Cornwall, UK Posts: 455
    edited March 2018
    bootlegger10 said:
    Tim Simmons said:
    I say start at Cherry Tree and go from there. That’s basically where their sound (and their consistency)starts. You can always circle back to the uneven first 2 records later. i wouldn’t start there because it’s not indicative of their sound. On top of that, how can start8ng with crapreally get you excited for the better stuff to come. 


    Agree.  First two records aren't worth the bad first impression.
    I agree with the last two comments.  Start at Cherry Tree, and then work through the five following AMAZING albums in order.  Those five albums are so consistently great.  You can always return to the first two albums later on, as there are still some gems on those.

    What I would say though, is that none of the albums will probably grab you straight away.  But trust me... persevere with them, and it grows on you like crazy, and is so rewarding when they finally grab you.  

    I didn't get them for several listens, and then all of a sudden something clicked, and they have become pretty much my fave band outside of PJ now.
    London #1 2000, Reading 2006, London 2007, London 2009, London 2010, Manchester #1 2012, Manchester #2 2012, Manchester 2012 (EV), Milton Keynes 2014, London #2 2017 (EV), London #1 2018, London #2 2018, London #1 2022, London #2 2022, Manchester 2024.
  • CPR7
    CPR7 Stade de France, July 10, 2016 Posts: 377
    Thanks to this thread I have been on a 2 week binge on The National and I have not regretted one bit. I was looking for something new to listen to so I checked this sub-forum. Honestly for me personally I check YouTube for pro-shot concert footage. If a band sucks live than I no time for you. My first taste was live at the Sydney opera house and fuck me that is a stellar show. Going thru their discography a few times the album that grabbed me the most was Trouble will Find Me followed by high violet. Their earlier stuff is definitely an acquired taste but from Alligator onwards has not disappointed one bit. Can't get enough of songs like Mr. November, Vanderlyle Crybaby, Bloodbuzz Ohio, I should live in salt and don't swallow the cap among many others. Thanks to all in this thread for the advice and suggestions. 
  • CornishMan
    CornishMan Cornwall, UK Posts: 455
    CPR7 said:
    Thanks to this thread I have been on a 2 week binge on The National and I have not regretted one bit. I was looking for something new to listen to so I checked this sub-forum. Honestly for me personally I check YouTube for pro-shot concert footage. If a band sucks live than I no time for you. My first taste was live at the Sydney opera house and fuck me that is a stellar show. Going thru their discography a few times the album that grabbed me the most was Trouble will Find Me followed by high violet. Their earlier stuff is definitely an acquired taste but from Alligator onwards has not disappointed one bit. Can't get enough of songs like Mr. November, Vanderlyle Crybaby, Bloodbuzz Ohio, I should live in salt and don't swallow the cap among many others. Thanks to all in this thread for the advice and suggestions. 
    I watched that Sydney Opera House show over and over and over when I was getting into them.  It's soooo damn good!! 
    London #1 2000, Reading 2006, London 2007, London 2009, London 2010, Manchester #1 2012, Manchester #2 2012, Manchester 2012 (EV), Milton Keynes 2014, London #2 2017 (EV), London #1 2018, London #2 2018, London #1 2022, London #2 2022, Manchester 2024.
  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,578
    That Opera House show is my go to show to listen to/watch. Its fantastic. 


  • mfc2006
    mfc2006 HTOWN Posts: 37,491
    Tim Simmons said:
    That Opera House show is my go to show to listen to/watch. Its fantastic. 


    Absolutely. Hoping they add a KC date soon.
    I LOVE MUSIC.
    www.cluthelee.com
    www.cluthe.com
  • buck502000
    buck502000 Birthplace of GIBSON guitar Posts: 8,951
    best American band not named Pearl Jam...
  • JOEJOEJOE
    JOEJOEJOE Posts: 10,822
    I am hoping The National headline FYF in L.A. this summer
  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,578
    Shit, I'll say it. 


    Best American band right now. 


  • Indifference71
    Indifference71 Chicago Posts: 14,910
    Tim Simmons said:
    Shit, I'll say it. 


    Best American band right now. 



    Agreed.  
  • bootlegger10
    bootlegger10 Posts: 16,256
    Guilty Party and Carin at the Liquor Store are phenomenal.
  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,578
    I think SWB may be their third best record after Alligator and Boxer. 
  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,578
    Super Jealous of the people who got to see NTL->LCD->PJ. Or if the stages weren't configured in such a way at least the NTL opening for PJ.



  • porchdweller
    porchdweller Posts: 228
    Give an album to start with on them.  Everything I've heard I've mostly liked, but I haven't had a chance to dig into a full album yet.  They've been on my list of bands to put some time into.  
    "That's part of the curse: If you're gonna play the song, you better play it. I've tried to phone in "Jeremy" a few times, and it's tough. It doesn't work."

    EV
  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,578
    Alligator
  • rw160510
    rw160510 Posts: 1,072
    Fwiw Alligator is where I started all the way back when and I think it's a great entry point. Give it 3 or 4 runs through and it will worm itself so far into your brain. Personally then I'd go to sad songs and cherry tree and then do the rest of the catalogue in order but give each album time before you move on to the next one. They really reward repeat listens and it's worth doing them in order to hear the progression of the band. I even think that the st debut is good but get why some don't care for it.

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