The National

JuncoPartner

Any other fans of The National out there?
Best band around at the moment in my opinion.

shortys94

Absolutely amazing band, saw them live and they were great, really got the crowd going.

They seem to have good fans in Ireland. I love Boxer and Alligator, last few months I've listened to nothing else really, such great music.

Im hoping they're going to start recording a new album after their tour, they really grow on you, and even though I thought I would have played the songs out I keep turning my Ipod on and listening to the National.

Simply Awesome!

JuncoPartner

Yep, they really are a grower, which is a great quality in a band I think.
I saw them about 2 months ago on TV playing Fake Empire and thought it was OK. So I had a look in my iTunes and sure enough I had both Alligator & Boxer. Played through them both and wasn't overly impressed.
Then a few days later I put Boxer on in work and haven't stopped listening since. I can honestly say I like their music more and more every single time I listen to them!
The drummer is phenomenal. All the music is great, but then you listen to the lyrics and wow, blows you away. So clever, so smart, so tongue in cheek! The Geese Of Beverly Road is one of the best songs I've ever heard.
Haven't seen them live but really really want to. I've been telling anyone who'll listen about them and every body agrees, first listen=OK but after that there is no going back. One of my mates saw them at ****** and reckons they were the best band there. I'd well believe it.

shortys94

Yes, they are amazing live, definately probably one of the best or even the best bands I've seen live, and I'm saying that after seeing Muse last week.

At first I found that i only liked a few songs on each album but once I played through the album I found that every song is really great. Yea the drumming is great, its alot louder or something in Boxer which is awesome, hes a really talented drummer.

I cannot wait until next year when theyre touring, Ill be first to order tickets.

Same with my friends, at first theyre not sure if they like them but once they start listening they cant stop. Even some of my friends who wouldn't be that interested in music have downloaded their albums and listen non stop.

Great band through and through!:)

( Notice sig haha )

HouseHippo

shortys94 wrote: »

Yes, they are amazing live, definately probably one of the best or even the best bands I've seen live, and I'm saying that after seeing Muse last week.

At first I found that i only liked a few songs on each album but once I played through the album I found that every song is really great. Yea the drumming is great, its alot louder or something in Boxer which is awesome, hes a really talented drummer.

I cannot wait until next year when theyre touring, Ill be first to order tickets.

Same with my friends, at first theyre not sure if they like them but once they start listening they cant stop. Even some of my friends who wouldn't be that interested in music have downloaded their albums and listen non stop.

Great band through and through!:)

( Notice sig haha )

I like em.


My bf loves them I shall send him over to this thread

insinkerator

I have heard a lot of good things about these guys alright! The have three albums? can anyone reccomend me an album to start off with?

HouseHippo

insinkerator wrote: »

I have heard a lot of good things about these guys alright! The have three albums? can anyone reccomend me an album to start off with?

Boxer, their most recent... and the only one I heard so far

Orizio

Alligator is their best imo, however after constantly listened to them for the second hlaf of last year, I can say I'm worn out on them right now.

They aren't the best out imo, I'd put Spoon, Low, maybe Okkervil River and Sunset Rubdown ahead of them right now.

Orizio

insinkerator wrote: »

I have heard a lot of good things about these guys alright! The have three albums? can anyone reccomend me an album to start off with?

They have four albums - Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers, The National, Alligator and Boxer plus some quality EP's like The Cherry Tree and Virginia.

Alligator and Boxer are their best, and the best place to start.

Xavi6

Can't stop playing 'Gospel' at the moment. What a stunning song.

Howard the Duck

Great band. "Mr November" is my favourite song

JuncoPartner

Orizio wrote: »

They have four albums - Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers, The National, Alligator and Boxer plus some quality EP's like The Cherry Tree and Virginia.

Alligator and Boxer are their best, and the best place to start.

Yip I concur here. Probably start with Boxer ahead of Alligator though, its a bit more easily accessible IMO. That said I prefer Alligator overall.
The other two albums aren't bad but the production is woeful, especially after hearing Boxer.

shortys94

JuncoPartner wrote: »

Yip I concur here. Probably start with Boxer ahead of Alligator though, its a bit more easily accessible IMO. That said I prefer Alligator overall.
The other two albums aren't bad but the production is woeful, especially after hearing Boxer.

Yea well they were quie a small band when they were recorded so you couldn't expect much sound quality from the first album.

But Boxer and Alligator are great albums, they ahve played one or two new songs at their gigs which maybe a sign that they will release a new album soon?

Yea, I gotta say I nearly prefer Alligator but now I'm starting to listen alot more to Boxer again, great band!

Orizio

I don't think they are due to release an new album, those tracks might have been from their new EP.

Jim

Been listening to them the last couple of days. Quite good provisionally but not sure if they'll last long.

shortys94

Jim Eats Men (You) wrote: »

Been listening to them the last couple of days. Quite good provisionally but not sure if they'll last long.

You may think that, but once you keep listening you realise how good they are.

I think one of their new songs is named Blue Sky or something.

monkey9

There's been a few threads on The National and i never tire of posting about them. Quite simply one of the best bands i've ever graced my ears with.
Cherry Tree EP, my favourite song on it is About Today. If you don't like The National, i could see how you would think this is boring. But i could also see how you're quite possibly heartless. The song gets better and better with each listen and the lyrics, like the all their stuff, is sublime.
Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers is just a complete step up with the likes of Cardinal Song, 90 Mile Water Wall etc. But, Lucky You is just stunning!!
Then onto Alligator and Boxer, just two of the best albums this century. There is not one song on those albums that i would skip over. I can listen to them over and over and over without being bored.
Someone mentioned Geese Of Beverly Road! I haven't got the vocabulary to do that song justice. And Xavi, completely agree about Gospel. That's an absolute grower, once it kicks into you, you never go back. Like The National in general.
Saw them a few times in the Ambassador and the O!ympia! I was in the pit for one of their O!ympia gigs when Matt, the lead singer, jumped down into the crowd. He was singing Mr November and when he came to the line 'i used to be carried in the arms of cheerleaders', it was just natural that we should pick him up and crowdsurf him.
Anyone notice that he seems to have some kind of fidgety thing going on?? Is it some kind of syndrome??

Lainabaina

Orizio wrote: »

Alligator is their best imo,

+1

This is the one I listen to the most. Sorry to have missed 'em on their Irish dates.

Any other bands around that might be comparable for someone who likes the National?

monkey9

Lainabaina wrote: »

+1

This is the one I listen to the most. Sorry to have missed 'em on their Irish dates.

Any other bands around that might be comparable for someone who likes the National?

Tindersticks are kind of like them, i suppose.

Orizio

I haven't actually listened to the Tindersticks, but the leads in both bands are supposed to sound identical.

I'm actually having a hard time finding a band similiar to The National, and I don't think their sound is particurly new or experimental.

missingtime

My favourite band at the moment.
Everytime i'm in a foul mood I put on their album and go for a walk.

"I'm sorry I missed you,
I had a secret meeting in the basement of my brain"

....savage

Lainabaina

missingtime wrote: »

My favourite band at the moment.
Everytime i'm in a foul mood I put on their album and go for a walk.

"I'm sorry I missed you,
I had a secret meeting in the basement of my brain"

....savage

They were my walking to work album last year too. I quite like

"I have weird memories of you / pi**in in a sink i think / I have weird memories..."

Thanks for the Tindersticks ref. I havent heard them at all.

shortys94

monkey9 wrote: »

There's been a few threads on The National and i never tire of posting about them. Quite simply one of the best bands i've ever graced my ears with.
Cherry Tree EP, my favourite song on it is About Today. If you don't like The National, i could see how you would think this is boring. But i could also see how you're quite possibly heartless. The song gets better and better with each listen and the lyrics, like the all their stuff, is sublime.
Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers is just a complete step up with the likes of Cardinal Song, 90 Mile Water Wall etc. But, Lucky You is just stunning!!
Then onto Alligator and Boxer, just two of the best albums this century. There is not one song on those albums that i would skip over. I can listen to them over and over and over without being bored.
Someone mentioned Geese Of Beverly Road! I haven't got the vocabulary to do that song justice. And Xavi, completely agree about Gospel. That's an absolute grower, once it kicks into you, you never go back. Like The National in general.
Saw them a few times in the Ambassador and the O!ympia! I was in the pit for one of their O!ympia gigs when Matt, the lead singer, jumped down into the crowd. He was singing Mr November and when he came to the line 'i used to be carried in the arms of cheerleaders', it was just natural that we should pick him up and crowdsurf him.
Anyone notice that he seems to have some kind of fidgety thing going on?? Is it some kind of syndrome??

Summed it up nicely man, I don't know what that fidgety thing is all about but you can really see he loves music, hes obviously not worried about how he acts or dresses on stage, just gets lost in singing such great music.

I definately have to check out that EP, sounds good.

Im liking city middle and karen atm.

ianhurley15

the national are by far and away one of the best bands at the moment. the lead-singer's voice is amazing it makes all their songs sound really chilled out. My favourite album by them is Boxer acoustic it's an excellent album to begin with but when acoustic the songs just sound amazing!


A couple of bands like the national i belive are: Okkervil River(the lead-singer is a lyrical genius) and interpol.

shortys94

Yea Im crossing my fingers for a Interpol and National concert next year.:)

JuncoPartner

ianhurley15 wrote: »

the national are by far and away one of the best bands at the moment. the lead-singer's voice is amazing it makes all their songs sound really chilled out. My favourite album by them is Boxer acoustic it's an excellent album to begin with but when acoustic the songs just sound amazing!


A couple of bands like the national i belive are: Okkervil River(the lead-singer is a lyrical genius) and interpol.

boxer acoustic??? Where where where can I get this?

Orizio

I have never listened to Interpol, and I hear no Okkervil River, who are a fantastic mix of straightforward rock and folk, in The National.

However, everyone should have some Okkervil River in their life.

g5fd6ow0hseima

Orizio wrote: »

I have never listened to Interpol, and I hear no Okkervil River, who are a fantastic mix of straightforward rock and folk, in The National.

However, everyone should have some Okkervil River in their life.

If you like the national, you should like Interpol, the two of them would be my favourite bands at the minute

g5fd6ow0hseima

shortys94 wrote: »

Yea Im crossing my fingers for a Interpol and National concert next year.:)

Yeah, the RDS or some place, it'd be brilliant,

The last time Interpol played Dublin, which was back in December, Friendly fires supprted them, which was a bit unusual seeing that Blonde Redhead has supported them throughout most of their english dates coming up to that RDS show! Needless to say, Friendly Fires didnt really belong there

missingtime

My The National t-shirt came in the post the other day.

I'm wearing it proudly!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgRsYkKb1eI

****ing love this band

JuncoPartner

I gotta get me one of them. Where u get it?

Canape

ianhurley15 wrote: »

the national are by far and away one of the best bands at the moment.

+1

quarryman

Seen them 3 times and listened to all the albums to death and pretty bored of them by now.

Going to through last.fm to find something similar...

missingtime

JuncoPartner wrote: »

I gotta get me one of them. Where u get it?

I bought from their official site.
www.americanmary.com

quarryman wrote: »

Seen them 3 times and listened to all the albums to death and pretty bored of them by now.

I've yet to see them
I hope that I never get bored of them.

quarryman wrote: »

Going to through last.fm to find something similar...

They have been compared a lot to Tindersticks.

Try My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses or maybe Fleet Foxes.

shortys94

missingtime wrote: »

I've yet to see them
I hope that I never get bored of them.

They are amazing live! Best band I've ever seen, they really get the crowd going.

Fingers crossed a new album pops up in the next year, they're almost finished touring.

missingtime

shortys94 wrote: »

They are amazing live! Best band I've ever seen, they really get the crowd going.

Yea. Keep missing them to be honest. Its really annoying.
I miss all the bands I like cos they are always on in Dublin. Pain in the arse getting up there and down there. The cost adds up very quickly.

shortys94

Yup I know what you mean, but these guys are worth it, I've seen a lot of bands lately like Interpol, Muse and Kings Of Leon, but the National create a really cool atmosphere at the gig and the whole crowd is singing and he juped into the crowd at the last gig I was at.

manfist

shortys94 wrote: »

Yea well they were quie a small band when they were recorded so you couldn't expect much sound quality from the first album.

But Boxer and Alligator are great albums, they ahve played one or two new songs at their gigs which maybe a sign that they will release a new album soon?

Yea, I gotta say I nearly prefer Alligator but now I'm starting to listen alot more to Boxer again, great band!

yeah there from the virginia EP , its available on itunes now
unreal EP , amazing live band aswell.

Cadeaus

I had alligator, listened once or twice but never really got into it. Then I saw them at ****** and it was probably the best gig I was ever at. Havn't stopped listening to them since. Absolutely mind blowing. Green gloves is probably my favourite tune.

Wasn't there a documentary made to coincide with the virginia ep?

shortys94

Cadeaus wrote: »

Wasn't there a documentary made to coincide with the virginia ep?

Yea I think so, maybe its on the disc, I saw one documentary on youtube but I'm pretty sure it was an old one.

Cadeaus

I remember reading something about it, apparently it isn't up to much, but it should be bought solely for the ep that comes with.

missingtime

The dvd is grand, just footage of them making boxer. Didn't have the head for it at the time so haven't watched it all.

bugler

A Skin, A Night is the relatively recently released Vincent Moon film about the making of Boxer. Except it isn't really about anything..and it's certainly not a documentary. It's muck and I haven't watched it since the day of release.

The free (three part) documentary floating around on youtube and iTunes on the other hand is worth a watch. It's from the era of Alligator, and some interesting tensions and pressures are on display.

shortys94

bugler wrote: »

The free (three part) documentary floating around on youtube and iTunes on the other hand is worth a watch. It's from the era of Alligator, and some interesting tensions and pressures are on display.

Yup, saw that, liked it too!

JuncoPartner

The Geese Of Beverly Road is probably the best song Ive ever heard. I said it

bugler

It is a fantastic song, and there's a lovely live version of it about too. Which makes it all the more a shame that they've ditched it from (most) of their live sets.

If I have one criticism of the band it's that their setlists have lately tended toward a rigid nature, leaving out some great songs and utterly devoid of anything pre-Alligator. At least that is how it's been the last couple of times I've seen them.

shortys94

For some reason I haven't downloaded Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers but a few of my friends say its a great album, I can't wait for their next album though!

Xavi6

Been sifting my way through their back catalogue lately and fook me there's some absolute gems to be found.

Particularly loving 'About Today' from 'The Cherry Tree EP'. Beautiful song.

bigstar

what is the back catalogue like, have alligator and boxer, not sure whether to get the earlier stuff

reganovich

Would love to hear more early stuff..first heard em on Jools Holland a while back and finally got to see em in benicassim this summer. Their last gig for a while he said.

cautioner

Good grief what a band.
Saw them over the summer, far and away the best concert of a hectic weekend (I was at a lot of concerts that weekend) that I will never forget. Unbelievable atmosphere.

Got into them through Boxer and am currently addicted to Alligator. Physically addicted. Karen, Gees of Beverly Road... epic. Trying to get into Sad Songs at the mo but it's just not in the same league as the others IMO.

Matt Berninger is a f*cking legend. Infinite love for this band. A Skin, A Night was an awful load of bollocks though