boning up and reading the american dictionary - the national, a primer
This is The National:
The five guys who make up the core of the band are:
Matt "The Dark Lord" Berninger, lead singer & wine consumer (&hearts)
Aaron & Bryce Dessner, guitar & bass & piano
Scott Devendorff, guitar & bass
Bryan Devendorff, drums
That's right. The five main members of the band consist of a pair of identical twins + another set of brothers + Matt. Somehow, Matt gets the most power in the band, getting to declare songs "Twee Smurf". And also being the dad of the band that makes everyone facepalm when he's allowed to speak (and not sing) into a microphone.
The band is from Brooklyn by way of Cincinnati. In the early days, most of the members held jobs in advertising or graphic design (ca. the dot-com boom). It wasn't until the release of their first EP (which, weirdly, came after two LPs) that the band quit their day jobs. This marks a turning point in both the band mythos and the public's perception and response to them.
In fact, it was with the release of Cherry Tree (the aforementioned EP) that most publications began to take notice of the band. Since that EP, and the quick follow-up of Alligator, they've been a band always about to break it big. This band, The National, is one of the few remaining bands to build their fanbase the old-fashioned way: put out progressively better and better albums, get fans to FORCE THEIR FRIENDS to listen to the music, deliver balls-to-the-wall live shows, remain involved and engaged in the world, and, above all, make music that's truly universal.
I'm about to go all personal here about why I love this band, but I think it would detract from the purposes of this primer. Suffice it to say, The National means something to me. And if you end up liking them, they will probably mean something completely different to you. And that's the way it should be.
Now, when I was putting together this primer for sharksdontsleep, I got stuck on the best way to present their songs. I could give you my dream setlist for the next time I see them live, but that would contain virtually their entire catalog (no, really).
So, instead, let's do an album-by-album breakdown, complete with (my picks for) the essential songs from the albums. These aren't necessarily my favorite songs off the albums, but they do tend to be the ones that hook people quickest. And since that's the point...
The National, 2001
The debut album, widely regarded as, um, not the greatest work they've done. When this album came out, the band was saddled with the unfortunate (and now completely inappropriate) alt-country label. In a genre dominated by Wilco, it was the equivalent of a death sentence. If you decide to go digging through the back catalog, this album should probably be your last stop, but don't discount it entirely. Fun fact: The song "29 Years" would go on to become "Slow Show" (aka, the song that nearly everyone loves).
Essential Songs: "Cold Girl Fever", "Son"
Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers, 2003
A step up from the debut, this album still has tinges of the Midwestern roots of the band (not to be confused with faux-Springsteenian roots). This time, the album was produced by Peter Katis, the man responsible for some of the greatest albums of the 2000s (and before, too). He would go on to produce every subsequent release from the band. Retreating to the infamous haunted house in Connecticut was good for the band. (Side note: "Lucky You" was the first The National song I ever heard.)
Essential Songs: "Murder Me Rachael", "Available", "Lucky You"
Cherry Tree [EP], 2004
The band quit their day jobs. The music shows it. They also signed to a label, rather than self-releasing their material.
Essential Songs: "Wasp Nest", "Cherry Tree", "About Today"
Alligator, 2005
The first taste of national (hee!) and international success came with this album. Many publications listed it on their year-end best-of lists. Pitchfork, for what it's worth, ranked the album #40 on the top albums of the 2000s, while the Onion's AV Club ranked it #10. The song "Mr. November", which the band gave to the Obama campaign, was actually written about John Kerry. This song was also the first 'hit' for the band.
Essential Songs: "Karen", "All the Wine", "Geese of Beverly Road", "Mr. November"
Boxer, 2007
Reportedly, this is the album that nearly broke the band up for good. This is also the album that I, hands down, call the best album of the 2000s. There's not one single thing I would change on it, no matter how many times I listen to it. And, uh, that's been A LOT. This truly is an album where you get out of it exactly what you put into it. Fun fact: The photo on the album's cover was of the band performing "Geese of Beverly Road" at Peter Katis' wedding and was taken by Abbey Drucker. (Bonus points if you can figure out how this proves the Brooklyn music scene is inbred.)
Essential Songs: "Fake Empire", "Squalor Victoria", "Slow Show", "Apartment Story"
The Virginia EP, 2008
This is a weird thing. While it does contain songs I like, it's generally regarded as an oddity and a collection of B-sides that didn't necessarily need to see the light of day/were already available on previous releases.
High Violet, 2010
And now we come to present day. This album was one of the most anticipated releases of the year, by the music press (AND ME!). Before it came out, you couldn't get away from the band. Once "Bloodbuzz Ohio" broke, the rest of the entertainment press was suddenly interested. I mean, it even got reviewed in Entertainment Weekly. The album continues the forward trajectory of the band, and just shows that it IS possible for a group of artists to grow along with their audience.
Essential Songs: "Afraid of Everyone", "Bloodbuzz Ohio", "Lemonworld", "Conversation 16"
Watch them do "Afraid of Everyone" on Letterman (with bonus!Sufjan Stevens!!!) and see if you don't get goosebumps.
the essential songs
PLEASE comment if you snag this.
For further perusal: Official website
Now, who's interested in the dream setlist?
For sharksdontsleep
The five guys who make up the core of the band are:
Matt "The Dark Lord" Berninger, lead singer & wine consumer (&hearts)
Aaron & Bryce Dessner, guitar & bass & piano
Scott Devendorff, guitar & bass
Bryan Devendorff, drums
That's right. The five main members of the band consist of a pair of identical twins + another set of brothers + Matt. Somehow, Matt gets the most power in the band, getting to declare songs "Twee Smurf". And also being the dad of the band that makes everyone facepalm when he's allowed to speak (and not sing) into a microphone.
The band is from Brooklyn by way of Cincinnati. In the early days, most of the members held jobs in advertising or graphic design (ca. the dot-com boom). It wasn't until the release of their first EP (which, weirdly, came after two LPs) that the band quit their day jobs. This marks a turning point in both the band mythos and the public's perception and response to them.
In fact, it was with the release of Cherry Tree (the aforementioned EP) that most publications began to take notice of the band. Since that EP, and the quick follow-up of Alligator, they've been a band always about to break it big. This band, The National, is one of the few remaining bands to build their fanbase the old-fashioned way: put out progressively better and better albums, get fans to FORCE THEIR FRIENDS to listen to the music, deliver balls-to-the-wall live shows, remain involved and engaged in the world, and, above all, make music that's truly universal.
I'm about to go all personal here about why I love this band, but I think it would detract from the purposes of this primer. Suffice it to say, The National means something to me. And if you end up liking them, they will probably mean something completely different to you. And that's the way it should be.
Now, when I was putting together this primer for sharksdontsleep, I got stuck on the best way to present their songs. I could give you my dream setlist for the next time I see them live, but that would contain virtually their entire catalog (no, really).
So, instead, let's do an album-by-album breakdown, complete with (my picks for) the essential songs from the albums. These aren't necessarily my favorite songs off the albums, but they do tend to be the ones that hook people quickest. And since that's the point...
The National, 2001
The debut album, widely regarded as, um, not the greatest work they've done. When this album came out, the band was saddled with the unfortunate (and now completely inappropriate) alt-country label. In a genre dominated by Wilco, it was the equivalent of a death sentence. If you decide to go digging through the back catalog, this album should probably be your last stop, but don't discount it entirely. Fun fact: The song "29 Years" would go on to become "Slow Show" (aka, the song that nearly everyone loves).
Essential Songs: "Cold Girl Fever", "Son"
Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers, 2003
A step up from the debut, this album still has tinges of the Midwestern roots of the band (not to be confused with faux-Springsteenian roots). This time, the album was produced by Peter Katis, the man responsible for some of the greatest albums of the 2000s (and before, too). He would go on to produce every subsequent release from the band. Retreating to the infamous haunted house in Connecticut was good for the band. (Side note: "Lucky You" was the first The National song I ever heard.)
Essential Songs: "Murder Me Rachael", "Available", "Lucky You"
Cherry Tree [EP], 2004
The band quit their day jobs. The music shows it. They also signed to a label, rather than self-releasing their material.
Essential Songs: "Wasp Nest", "Cherry Tree", "About Today"
Alligator, 2005
The first taste of national (hee!) and international success came with this album. Many publications listed it on their year-end best-of lists. Pitchfork, for what it's worth, ranked the album #40 on the top albums of the 2000s, while the Onion's AV Club ranked it #10. The song "Mr. November", which the band gave to the Obama campaign, was actually written about John Kerry. This song was also the first 'hit' for the band.
Essential Songs: "Karen", "All the Wine", "Geese of Beverly Road", "Mr. November"
Boxer, 2007
Reportedly, this is the album that nearly broke the band up for good. This is also the album that I, hands down, call the best album of the 2000s. There's not one single thing I would change on it, no matter how many times I listen to it. And, uh, that's been A LOT. This truly is an album where you get out of it exactly what you put into it. Fun fact: The photo on the album's cover was of the band performing "Geese of Beverly Road" at Peter Katis' wedding and was taken by Abbey Drucker. (Bonus points if you can figure out how this proves the Brooklyn music scene is inbred.)
Essential Songs: "Fake Empire", "Squalor Victoria", "Slow Show", "Apartment Story"
The Virginia EP, 2008
This is a weird thing. While it does contain songs I like, it's generally regarded as an oddity and a collection of B-sides that didn't necessarily need to see the light of day/were already available on previous releases.
High Violet, 2010
And now we come to present day. This album was one of the most anticipated releases of the year, by the music press (AND ME!). Before it came out, you couldn't get away from the band. Once "Bloodbuzz Ohio" broke, the rest of the entertainment press was suddenly interested. I mean, it even got reviewed in Entertainment Weekly. The album continues the forward trajectory of the band, and just shows that it IS possible for a group of artists to grow along with their audience.
Essential Songs: "Afraid of Everyone", "Bloodbuzz Ohio", "Lemonworld", "Conversation 16"
Watch them do "Afraid of Everyone" on Letterman (with bonus!Sufjan Stevens!!!) and see if you don't get goosebumps.
Click to viewthe essential songs
PLEASE comment if you snag this.
For further perusal: Official website
Now, who's interested in the dream setlist?
For sharksdontsleep