Hard to believe it's already been a year. I'm curious about how people feel about it now.
How have your feelings about the album evolved since it was released?
Did you find yourself listening to certain songs more after hearing the live version?
Are there any songs you didn't care for at first that have significantly grown on you?

https://preview.redd.it/yv3emyo016xc1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9f45b7ba4b2791e6b8e16fcfcf795958c705bcd3

My brother found this in Tescos, made us laugh

Losing my momentum, losing my mind Not enough to mention, not enough time I can't even say what it's about All I am is shreds of doubt

And you don't know how to deal with me You don't know how that feels It all comes apart so easily And you're running out of ideas

Everything melted in less than a week Watching it felt like forever The lights started dimming And then they went out Heaven came down like a blanket I can't even say what it's about All I am is shreds of doubt

So turn on the laugh track Everyone knows you're a wreck You're never this quiet, your smile is cracking You just haven't found what you're looking for yet

Turn on the laugh track We'll see if it changes the scene Maybe this is just the funniest version Of us that we've ever been

I think our feet are gonna slip I think our hands are gonna shake I think our eyes are gonna cry I think our hearts are gonna break

Maybe we'll never lighten up Maybe this isn't gonna quit I think it's never coming back Maybe we've always been like this

So turn on the laugh track Everyone knows you're a wreck You're never this quiet, your smile is cracking You just haven't found what you're looking for yet

Turn on the laugh track We'll see if it changes the scene Maybe this is just the funniest version Of us that we've ever been

I think our feet are gonna slip I think our hands are gonna shake I think our eyes are gonna cry I think our hearts are gonna break

Maybe we'll never lighten up Maybe this isn't gonna quit I think it's never coming back Maybe we've always been like this

I think our feet are gonna slip I think our hands are gonna shake I think our eyes are gonna cry I think our hearts are gonna break

So turn on the laugh track Everyone knows you're a wreck You're never this quiet, your smile is cracking You just haven't found what you're looking for yet

Turn on the laugh track We'll see if it changes the scene

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I saw this on Discogs rated at fair quality. The seller said mentioned there were lots of skips on sides A and B (possibly a manufacturing error). At that price, I took a risk. I immediately tossed the paper sleeves and used my cheap cleaning brush. There was lots of shit on the brush. So far the record plays perfectly!

For me,, this is one of The National's finest songs. There's a certain melancholy to it that resonates with me deeply. Despite English not being my native language, I find the lyrics to be incredibly compelling and catchy. Overall, it's a song that holds a special place in my heart. What do you all think?

How to get us back to the place where we were when we first went out?

Man, this is so fucking relatable 14 years into a relationship and trying to keep the relationship alive while raising young kids.

We’re half awake in a…

THEY’RE COVERING HEAVEN! My absolute FAVOURITE Talking Heads song. This is going to be so magical! Who’s excited?? Out May 17th.

I couldn't find a proper version of this on youtube so I uploaded one myself (audio only)

https://youtu.be/s1M5DQ452ns

What do we think their glasto setlist will be? Dying to see them play Mistaken For Strangers.

Hi all,

I'm an aspiring tattoo illustrator and I've realised that there's a lot of lyrics that are brilliant, but abstract and hard to translate into an image for a tattoo - so I thought I'd give it a go!

Are there any TN lyrics you love but can't visualise as an image, or any songs/albums you love that only seem to have one image associated with them (The house image anyone?!)?

I'm just looking for ideas of cool things to draw - and I want to sketch my favourite bands, not stuff I dont like - don't worry, I'm not selling anything!

Any ideas much appreciated x

It’s been what, 6 years now since the Boxer Live in Brussels vinyl RSD release? Maybe 7? (I have it, I could look, or Google/generative AI it much faster than typing all this, but it feels good to think out loud instead).

Anyhoo- come on guys, join the annual party in April! Let’s stop focusing so much on TS collabs, and release a super chill NTL RSD contribution! The music public would cry baby cry, tears of joy.

Until then I’ll continue to drink all the wine, and let sorrow win. But guys, I don’t wanna get over you.

(now florence was in the taylor album in which Aaron collaborated too, come on guys pls)

Taylor has obviously been influenced by The National for some time now, especially with Aaron producing songs on her last four albums.

Now that reviews of TTPD are rolling out, she's getting some harsh feedback for her lyrics:

The title track alone boasts the worst on the record, even if it’s a stab at sarcasm. “You smoked then ate seven bars of chocolate / We declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist,” precedes the clunky “I scratch your head, you fall asleep like a tattooed Golden Retriever.” Elsewhere, on ‘Down Bad’ she’s unceremoniously “crying at the gym”, and ‘Florida!!!’, an otherwise cathartic, Southern gothic-imbued collaboration with Florence Welch is marred by the line: “My friends all smell like weed or little babies”.

I feel like she's trying to emulate the feel of The National's lyrics, which can definitely be nonsensical at times. ("Lay me on the table, put flowers in my mouth / And we can say that we invented a summer lovin' torture party"; "I'm a birthday candle in a circle of black girls"; "Remember when you lost your shit and / Drove the car into the garden / And you got out and said I'm sorry / To the vines and no one saw it" all come to mind!)

It's interesting to see TTPD's lyrics' reception to a wider audience. It feels like she's trying to come off deep but it's not working for her or her style. Anyone else think this?

My fiancée and I are getting married in June 2025. She picked our walk out song (our house by cosby, stills, nash, and young) and said since she picked that i could pick our first dance. we both know the national is my favorite band so i wanted to get opinions on a good first dance song.

as of now we are leaning towards dark side of the gym but any suggestions are appreciated.

(in case it matters we are two women…)

edit: if your suggestion is dark side of the gym i’m MORE than happy!! i just wanted to make sure we didn’t miss any other options. as i said to someone else sleep well beast is my favorite album of all time so if i have to dance with my wife to a song from that album i guess ill survive

In prep for the tour this Fall I started listening to Lucius and I'm definitely LTTP with them. They are incredible. In particular the album Second Nature is outstanding as is their early single How Loud Your Heart Gets.

I hope they are able to join The National for some songs like Rylan.

they announced today what many of us was already anticipating: they'll play on may 29th at primavera a la ciutat.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C50QjqQOB7G/

i'm personally really excited to this cause it's a really small venue (2k people) and it feels like it's going to be a special show - it would be odd for them to play a regular setlist at a special show. what are your thoughts?

I live in Sydney and the Opera House gig is my go to. A sensational concert.

Does anyone have recommendations for gigs on YouTube that match it? I like the Bearsville recording from last year but others welcome

I know this will get downvoted to oblivion but I’m sure there are people here who would want to know that Aaron is confirmed to be on 5 tracks of the new record (according to Apple Music). No word on the bonus cuts.

Apparently Bryce did orchestrations too. Curious if Kyle, Ben and Bryan are contributing again as well.

Were the heirs to the glimmering world…

Hey so I think The National has beautiful songs lyrically and melodically and I want to listen to them more but often the songs are quite heart wrenching and I’m not in an emotional place for that right now. Can anyone recommend some songs for me?

Just DJed a wedding recently and it made me wonder which National song would fit and where in the ceremony

I made a playlist of Frankenstein/Laugh Track songs on Apple Music, and threw in Bloodbuzz in the middle just because. I have a $400 pair of Bose headphones and a pair of the Beats (Powerbeats pro), I’m no audio snob but Bryan’s drumming sounds excellent on a good speaker system or a good pair of headphones. But the volume, or seemingly the bass and drums, are significantly louder on Bloodbuzz than any of the newer songs. Now, Laugh Track doesn’t sound as dull as Frankenstein, with songs like Deep End, Turn off the House and Tour Manager (love how the rhythm builds on the latter track), but it still doesn’t sound as crisp as a song like Bloodbuzz - albeit one of the cleaner sounding songs on HV for sure.

What happened with Frankenstein? It’s so quiet. I recon this isn’t an Apple Music thing and was intentional.

Anyway, I guess I’m back on this sub. I had a manic break in the last 6 months and wasn’t saying anything too productive on here, so I left. I’ll try not to overdo it. I guess I was never into the whole brevity thing… to quote the Dude.

I am a newer fan and was wondering if The National has any instrumental songs or instrumental versions of songs? I would love to find Sleep Well Beast in its entirety without the vocal track. The lyrics are beautiful but there’s so much going on sonically that I would love to hear it that way. I figured I would ask here if anything like that exists because I haven’t found it. Thanks!