Name one Ntl. song you devoted time to and really want(ed) to get into for some reason but it simply isn't clicking.

I'll start off: Dark Side of the Gym. SWB (the album) has grown on me significantly over the years but Dark Side of the Gym somehow eludes me despite countless listens. I can't get used to the slow, fuzzy and saccharine sound to it. As I don't want this to descend into a song-bashing thread, on a positive note: It does have some really neat lyrics and I'm quite fond of the instrumental outro.

Your turn!

My second favorite song of theirs after Apartment Story. I wore it on Wednesday and it is so comfortable. As an autistic person, the letters are wonderful for stimming.

Well, after the last few days, all I can say is: I can't wait until 12/13 when Rome comes out so I can listen to it and scream.
That is all.

My gym playlist leans heavily on the Ntl. I get on the elliptical machine for 1 hour and watch people around me drop off like flies so I have a lot of time to listen to Matt's brilliant lyrics.

I love this line on Pink Rabbits because of how the sound opens up in the song:

Now I only think about Los Angeles when the sound kicks out

What are they doing to throw their instruments on that lyric? It's really effective on the track. But how are they achieving that big room sound on that line in particular? Are they literally throwing the sound out with the speakers? It seems like that lyric is literally running out to sea

When the second verse starts, it sound like there’s an off beat click track after each snare.

Can anyone else hear it? Was that intentional?

You don't know how much I love you, do you?

Just try to remember the best of us

Tldr:I really like this band😄

Since 2022, Phoebe Bridgers has been my #1 listened-to artist every month until October! However, now It's the national; idk what it is about them, but it's just so compelling. When I first heard Walking on a String, I instantly fell in love with Matt's voice, and then I discovered Serpentine Prison, which led me to Trouble Will Find Me, then to IAETF, which opened me up to the rest of their discography. Over 6 months, I've been listening to more and more of them, and I don't think I could ever get enough! My love reached new heights when I saw them in Michigan on the Zen diagram tour. That sent me down a rabbit hole that I hope never ends. High Violet and IAETF are easily my favorite albums, no matter the sequencing of the albums or the quality of the listening device. I could listen to either album out of a Potato and shuffle and still get goosebumps. I can listen to any song on Alligator, Boxer, HV, SWB, TWFM, or IAETF on a loop for hours at a time and never get bored of it. additionally, since I first heard Phoebe's song Funeral, it has been my top song every month, and as of last month, it is not even the top 5. 

I recently found 4:13 from The Cure was removed from Apple Music in my home country, decided to go back to my old habits and see if could find it online, to my surprise I also found the Exile Vilify single in FLAC, you can dm for the link if anyone's interested

You have to go through a few "click here" ads but it works, not really sure if this is permitted in the sub

Was just sat on the toilet berating the state of the world and thought this might be a good distraction...

ST - 6.9
SSFDL - 7.7
Alligator - 9.4
Boxer - 9.0
HV - 9.2
TWFM - 9.1
SWB - 9.3
IAETF - 8.6
FTPOF - 7.4
LT -7.9

What are yours?

This must be the genius we've been waiting years for, oh no

It's done. Kamala Harris has lost, unfortunately. That means four more years of President Donald Trump.

It will be a hard time for most of us, I guess, because as fans of The National, many of us share the same values. And those values are absolutely not represented by Donald Trump and his companionship. It will be four awful years for many of us fans in the US, but also in the rest of the world.

The National – we need you more than ever now! We need your voices. We need your songs. We need your music.

Four more years of sad dads. And we're all sad dads now, doesn't matter if you're actually a dad or not, female or male or something inbetween. Four more years of sad, but also angry and hopeful music to get through these times.

We're all in this together. Take care.

Had a family bereavement recently and it got me thinking as to what song I would have see me off. I’d love it to be something by The National but not sure which one feels right.

What would you choose and why?

🤞🤞🤞

I am just starting to play piano and started learning pink rabbits, and looked for any videos on take me out of town by matt and aaron, i couldn't find any and was wondering if anyone knew how to play this on piano, or could find a video on how to play it?

I love this song and thank you in advance!

The vibe of this music feels like it’s been through some stuff and some of it was/is hard.

How many of us found these guys during some bad times? And did you make you feel better?

For me it was during the depths of my divorce.

Speak now and I shall send you these magnets from Cherry Tree whichever number it was - entirely free of charge. UK only. First come first served. Comment here then send me your address by DM. 👍🏻

Relating a bit too much to this song atm. Mixed with anti-hero by TS and Renegade, great fun.

Ah fall and feelings

"Give me one more second to dry my eyes Give me one more day to realize Smoke's in our eyes or in the distance Either way, we're gonna miss it Give me one more year to get back on track Give me one more life to win you back"

Not sure how many of you are Karaoke fans. Me and my buddy go to Winnie’s in NY Chinatown a bunch. And a few years ago I was looking if any of the songs from the band were available on karaoke and there were only a few, mainly “Don’t Swallow the Cap”.

So for the past year I made a deal with a youtube channel so they could make the videos and put more songs that I particularly love from the band in Karaoke form.

Links below for those who feel like doing their best Matt impersonation or their own thing ;)

https://youtu.be/0cYe8yOxuF8?si=6YzMzLzka724DMdn

https://youtu.be/GucTZHuBqkM?si=aJunCSl_UPfNJKrd

https://youtu.be/31rcKjE9JXk?si=P0U0SBPSoHjbO5XV

https://youtu.be/2fnbx_DXTJ8?si=jGbCkhJat4Rnh7pr

https://youtu.be/cgOA8nyLBsc?si=ujEuB6ce3KQcrm_f

https://youtu.be/3J97W3BILlk?si=x17TibtdV09xKDKL

https://youtu.be/SmnzYnocCk8?si=7vGWXKdVrKvs1P6y

https://youtu.be/xxRbb4G_oEQ?si=w2eCzqMNqaH88Bog

Oh and some other channel had Abel and Apartment Story (one of my top 5 songs by far) amongst others:

https://youtu.be/dpbSD6hS-18?si=0K1waQOk_beDRyt_

https://youtu.be/7mc3edME04w?si=8icI8gwPtRJeKPni

https://youtu.be/9IyTNh-j0H8?si=KC-UF8qoNN7iPVRh

https://youtu.be/oKsxyk4VHws?si=8GViOOW40OYVD-ps

https://youtu.be/n398UdJ6LQQ?si=VqwIryW8e-OaQW1_

Cheers everyone! Open a bottle of wine and get to singing on a Saturday.

whoever is number one,, i’m coming after you.. just be aware!

On repeat for forever

https://youtu.be/EYc3SHJSwYw?si=PW82I4V5azZ0iqie

So I have taken to reddit to find other fans. In the 5 years I've really been into them, I haven't met a single person who even knows who they are. It's frustrating.

The National has been my favorite band since 2008. Alligator is my favorite album ever. I've run a YouTube channel about collecting records called Too Many Records since 2015, which turned into a record label in 2019 and a brick and mortar record store in 2022. I've thought a lot about this. Obviously it's just a dream scenario, but I feel like if they did 1000 copies of a remastered 2LP and then 200 copies of a super deluxe, it would 100% sell out.

-Remastered (desperately needs it) audio

-2LP: First disk is the album, Second is the B-Sides (thrilling of Claire, driver surprise me, warm singing whores, maybe a shelved track..?) and the D side of that is live tracks from that era (I'll curate!! Maybe... Secret Meeting, City Middle, Baby We'll Be Fine, Daughters, All The Wine)

-Disks are a mid green with black marbling

-Jacket is a hardcover book with built in sleeves on the inside for the disks, interior has pictures from the era (and an essay from me of course… kidding… but maybe??)

-Jacket has texture to it like pseudo alligator skin like the Macklemore - The Heist box set

-Bright green spot foil over the text on the cover and track list on back

Anyway thanks for reading my nerdy little write-up. Here's hoping that the Gator Gang gets our wish and Homecoming 2025 happens with an Alligator full performance.

https://preview.redd.it/5fgmdrz7jbyd1.jpg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=69a194a35206313b2e402691300bc205af203dbe

I just realized what the song is actually about after 10s of listens. Don't swallow the (bottle) cap. Don't drink too much. Don't drink yourself into oblivion. I thought the song was about a metaphorical head cap as in "Don't get in over your head too much".

Happy Mr. November