The OFFICIAL The National Thread

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 7:59 pm

For me and Govt and whoever else isn't like Syb since we hijacked a completely unrelated thread.

Rank their albums in order of preference. I'll do mine back but since I'm the one curious to see something, I don't want to bias you by putting up the obviously correct order first. Don't bother w/ the eponymous one or the EPs.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 8:16 pm

Boxer
High Violet
Alligator
Trouble Will Find Me

The only other acceptable answer is Alligator moving ahead of High Violet.

ETA - either this, or it's a trick question and they're all equally great.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 8:59 pm

The acceptable flip makes it my order, and with the same smallest gap being b/w #2 and #3. I was mostly curious if you had the newest as the clear #4 of the 4 majors despite all the acclaim. And I really don't get "Pink Rabbits" being the accepted gem of the album.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 9:07 pm

Boxer
Alligator
HV
The other one

Life's Rich Pageant better than all of them tho

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 9:20 pm

Boxer High Violet Alligator Trouble Will Find Me

Shocking, they all tie for first!

Cheds, your unintentional shot at me wasn't a shot at me, but just set me up for a shot at The National. You said you liked the Chuck Berry doc even though you think all his songs sound the same, so I was saying.... oh, never mind.

I really do like their sound, I just haven't been able to get into them. Listened to Boxer a couple of times and parts of Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers. I'm going to have to give them another go when I am in the right mood and able to concentrate. I think my issue is the almost monotone voice of the singer. His range is about what, 6 notes? Yet, I do like his voice and the music. I have a feeling I'd get into it eventually.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 9:24 pm

Maybe I'll make a mix CD and drop it off in front of your family so they all lose a little respect for you.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 10:11 pm

mister d wrote:Maybe I'll make a mix CD and drop it off in front of your family so they all lose a little respect for you.

My family is supposed to have respect for me?

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 10:22 pm

I would refer to you by your pretend name.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 4:44 am

The universe just told me we are correct. 5:39 a.m. And Mistaken for Strangers came on Sirius XMU.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:02 am

The newer albums have progressively better non-hit songs than the earlier albums. However, I don't think any of the newer "hits" are as great as Mr. November or All the Wine.

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:04 am

I had one of those high-anxiety days a few months ago, was trying to listen to music, couldn't settle on anything, jittery, nothing working, would play an album for 20 seconds before giving up on it. Found 'Boxer' and was surprised because I had no idea how that had migrated to my current hard drive. (I have a computer-failure story that would curl your toes, or however that saying goes.) Started listening to it for the first time in probably three or four years, and it finally clicked into place. I remember listening to that album and 'High Violet' a bunch of times back in the day, kind of willing myself into becoming a fan, but never fully buying in. I get it now. I told a friend, 'I know some on-line bros who told me how great this album was, and I never really believed them. I wish there were a way to tell them that they were right.' Well, I'm here now, and I'm telling you, 'You were right, on-line bros.'

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:05 am

In my version of the swamp this thread gets stickied.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:07 am

I love you, bapo!

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:13 am

govmentchedda wrote:I love you, bapo!

That's nice to hear sometimes. Much love.

I almost emailed you back in March, but it seemed weird to write just to tell you that I really liked a six-year-old album. Seemed a little desperate or clingy or something.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:18 am

Forgive my exuberance, I just listened to Alligator and Boxer back to back.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:22 am

bapo! wrote:
govmentchedda wrote:I love you, bapo!
That's nice to hear sometimes. Much love.

I almost emailed you back in March, but it seemed weird to write just to tell you that I really liked a six-year-old album. Seemed a little desperate or clingy or something.

I just wrote "I love you" to an online bro. Clingy or something is a language I understand.

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:28 am

I really like Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers, and not just because it's a pretty good title. I put it ahead of Alligator. And I think I'm putting High Violet at the top, just because I've decided Brainy is kind of annoying.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:31 am

I'm pretty sure my wife would rank them Boxer, Trouble, High, Alligator, but what does she know?

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:46 am

mister d wrote:I would refer to you by your pretend name.

Yeah, that's not good. Someone (Rass?) or on FB did, and my wife was asking why people call me "Syb." Didn't want to get into that. Real name works much better. Probably FB, I think Rass kept it in check.

Listened to The Boxer driving my daughter to camp this morning. She approves, which is a good sign and not that common. She tolerates most of my music, but has very definitive likes and dislikes. She still love Animal Collective, Bapo!. Smashing Pumpkins was a success, too. Sinatra and Cash are her favorites to sing along to, which is hilarious. She has Folsom Prison Blues down. Love seeing a 5yo singing "I shooted a man in Remo, just to see him die." I don't correct her, it's much cuter that way. My Dad got a good laugh when she started belting out Folsom Prison on a walk around the Hood.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:13 am

Jesus, Brainy is an easy top 5 song for me. I love that shit. And I'm fired up you/Bapo are/is on board now.

If you separate songs into 3 tiers, "hit", "good non-hit" and "less-good non-hit", I agree the valleys are lower these days than before. Alligator has more than one skip song but I think the mid-level "good non-hit" songs on that one are pretty great.

How long until we rank the songs on each album? Afternoon?

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:33 am

mister d wrote:Jesus, Brainy is an easy top 5 song for me. I love that shit.

I think the repetitive twangy thing at the beginning is what bugs me.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:50 am

I like the songs where he really ramps up the creepy. Brainy, Daughters of the Soho Riots ... creepy is fun.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 11:04 am

mister d wrote:Jesus, Brainy is an easy top 5 song for me. I love that shit. And I'm fired up you/Bapo are/is on board now.

If you separate songs into 3 tiers, "hit", "good non-hit" and "less-good non-hit", I agree the valleys are lower these days than before. Alligator has more than one skip song but I think the mid-level "good non-hit" songs on that one are pretty great.

How long until we rank the songs on each album? Afternoon?

Oh, my mind has already gone there. Rank the songs, first by album, then overall (to not leave out "About Today"); which Dessner is the better guitarist; who would you like to hang out with most; discuss the influence Matt's wife has to have had on his songwriting; how great is the Graceless video; etc. I don't have the time to do a full deep dive and get this thread to 5 pages today, but I would definitely go there, if given the time.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 11:09 am

We can take it an album per day. It will revolutionize the swamp.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 11:10 am

I could totally do this about Eric Bachmann/Archers of Loaf/Crooked Fingers as well, but then I'd really just be talking to myself.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 11:16 am

I used to like to listen to The National and then I heard that "Representing Memphis" song that their lead singer sang on with some other chick and it made me rupture my ear drums with an icepick.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 11:17 am

govmentchedda wrote:I could totally ... Finger... myself.

...

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 11:18 am

Giff wrote:I used to like to listen to The National and then I heard that "Representing Memphis" song that their lead singer sang on with some other chick and it made me rupture my ear drums with an icepick.

Sharon Jones. That combo should have been the perfect me plus Missus D song but ... yeah ... it wasn't.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 1:04 pm

Never really listened to this "The National", but just ordered The Boxer (vinyl ed.) because of you jerks. Better be good.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 1:26 pm

P.D.X. wrote:Never really listened to this "The National", but just ordered The Boxer (vinyl ed.) because of you jerks. Better be good.

If you like the first song, you'll like the album. Ha!

The Boxer sounds a bit like Interpol, to me.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 2:06 pm

If you want a newer Interpol, check out Editors.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 2:24 pm

Can I use this thread to proclaim my love of Neutral Milk Hotel? Listening to it right now, and damn if this isn't an amazing album. Thanks Bapo!. IIRC, Cheddah and Bapo! had a 2 person love fest a while back. There just isn't enough musical saw playing in modern music.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 2:25 pm

mister d wrote:
Giff wrote:I used to like to listen to The National and then I heard that "Representing Memphis" song that their lead singer sang on with some other chick and it made me rupture my ear drums with an icepick.
Sharon Jones. That combo should have been the perfect me plus Missus D song but ... yeah ... it wasn't.

I gave it a few listens, but when Giffette heard it, she had to change it. I won't even tell you her musical tastes only to say she doesn't have any (and she admits this), but she did like Bloodbuzz, OH when I played for her my top 10 of whatever year that was.

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 5:56 pm

Where are the rankings? I was promised rankings!

Okay, I'll start. My favorite song is 'Fake Empire.' Why? Because it's probably the only National song that I can name. You know me. I'm an album guy. I press 'play' and ride that shit out. I don't have time for trivialities such as song titles. Or, actually, if I'm listening to something for 40 minutes instead of 4 minutes, then I guess I have a lot of time. Maybe I'm too busy soaking in the experience. Or maybe I'm too busy clicking on the 14 tabs I have open in Firefox. Whatever. You guys go ahead and rank everything. I'll read it.

syb wrote:Neutral Milk Hotel

Did I tell you that I saw them in concert a few months ago? They've been touring together. No new material, of course, but still pretty special to see those guys again. I saw Jeff Mangum do a solo show about a year-and-a-half ago, and that was great and wonderful and special and wonderful and great. But seeing the band, with Julian Koster running around everywhere, playing the saw, etc., was very moving.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 7:13 am

P.D.X. wrote:Never really listened to this "The National", but just ordered The Boxer (vinyl ed.) because of you jerks. Better be good.

Curious to hear your review. Might want to give it a few listens before commenting though. Appreciating The National can be like appreciating fine wine in that it grows on you, and that there can be many layers not heard on your first 5 listens. (I fully realize how this can make liking them seem douchey)

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 7:16 am

mister d wrote:If you want a newer Interpol, check out Editors.

I endorse this as well. I haven't listened to either of their latest two albums, but The Back Room and An End Has a Start are both really good.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 7:26 am

bapo! wrote:Where are the rankings? I was promised rankings!

Okay, I'll start. My favorite song is 'Fake Empire.' Why? Because it's probably the only National song that I can name. You know me. I'm an album guy. I press 'play' and ride that shit out. I don't have time for trivialities such as song titles. Or, actually, if I'm listening to something for 40 minutes instead of 4 minutes, then I guess I have a lot of time. Maybe I'm too busy soaking in the experience. Or maybe I'm too busy clicking on the 14 tabs I have open in Firefox. Whatever. You guys go ahead and rank everything. I'll read it.

syb wrote:Neutral Milk Hotel
Did I tell you that I saw them in concert a few months ago? They've been touring together. No new material, of course, but still pretty special to see those guys again. I saw Jeff Mangum do a solo show about a year-and-a-half ago, and that was great and wonderful and special and wonderful and great. But seeing the band, with Julian Koster running around everywhere, playing the saw, etc., was very moving.

How was NMH as a band? I saw Mangum on back to back nights when we he was touring as a solo a year or so ago. He was really great, but the one thing I would have changed (or like to have seen one of those nights) was the entire band. I mean, the songs held up as solo acoustics, but the power of the full band noise of ITAOTS wasn't there. Hearing the songs acoustic accentuated his voice, which while maybe not classically beautiful, is certainly singular, and a big part of NMH's appeal.

Anyone frequenting this thread should meet me and the missus in Boston the friday night after Labor Day. It's the first night of the Boston Calling festival, and NMH is opening for the National. Stay for Saturday and see Lorde, Childish Gambino, Girl Talk, Volcano Choir, The Hold Steady, Bleachers, Sky Ferreira, S. Carey, and Clifflight. Sunday is Nas and the Roots, THE REPLACEMENTS!, Spoon, The 1975, Twenty One Pilots, Lake Street Drive, The War on Drugs, White Denim, San Fermin, and Gentlemen Hall.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 7:29 am

Sorry for flipping out over my excitement about this thread, then being Swamp AWOL for the rest of the week. Let's get a song ranking/discussion started. Album by album probably makes this more manageable. How about we go in chronological order with the big four starting with Alligator? Feel free to rank and sort as you wish.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 11:25 am

Alligator songs

Tier 1
All the Wine - maybe my favorite National song of all time. For me, it perfectly captures the feeling of everything going great, perhaps a little buzzed, while aware that it won't always last. The fact that it won't last doesn't make it sad, just leaves open the possibility that this great feeling will come again
Mr. November - similar to All The Wine in optimism, but less tipsy. Confident, but also fearful that it could all go bad. Great sing along line, "I won't fuck us over, I'm Mr. November"
The Geese of Beverly Road - love the melancholy tone of the song, and the lyrics match the music
Looking for Astronauts - love the lyrics, love the musical changes
Lit up - a great rocker, a good Matt yeller
Daughters of the Soho Riots - nice slow one
Abel - another great rocker, lyrics are a little lacking in comparison to other National songs, but just a great loud song that's fun to watch live

Tier 2
Baby we'll be fine - I like the thought of him wishing for validation from his employer, and psyching himself up
Secret Meeting

Tier 3
Val Jester
Karen
Friend of Mine
City Middle

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 1:15 pm

I'll do alligator while working tomorrow AM. Not reading your list because it don't want any swaying.