lucky you & available played last night in bristol, we got an acoustic peformance of vanderlyle as well, with the twins & matt in front of the mic's, brass section & rest of the band around one mic at the back
they teased us with the intro of slipping husband in the encore before going into terrible love.
would have preferred slipping husband though....
Full Version: The National
It's recently occurred to me that "England" is the best track on High Violet.
Anyone else agree this band peaked with Alligator? No, it's probably just me. Not meant as a diss, but I think they created their perfect album there and everything thing since has just been toying with the formula with diminishing results.
Anyway , seeing them live tonight for first time if I'm not snowed in.
Anyway , seeing them live tonight for first time if I'm not snowed in.
I'll freak out (in my JD fierce) if they play Baby, We'll Be Fine... or Karen... or Friend of Mine... or Lit Up...
QUOTE (demoncleaner @ Nov 30 2010, 07:07 AM) 
Anyone else agree this band peaked with Alligator?
I think they took a giant leap forward with Boxer, and that High Violet is nearly as good as that. So no. But I know you are not alone in that opinion. Plenty of Alligator enthusiasts among the band's biggest fans.
High Violet is a better album now that I've projected my own personal bullshit into the lyrics.
And in a stunning upset, "Conversation 16" has now become my favorite song from the album.
And in a stunning upset, "Conversation 16" has now become my favorite song from the album.
QUOTE (demoncleaner @ Nov 30 2010, 09:07 AM)
Anyone else agree this band peaked with Alligator?
i agree with you, Alligator is still my favorite.
while Boxer or Alligator might be my favorites, the new one is pretty stunning too and I can't honestly say they've "peaked" yet until they put out a couple albums i don't absolutely adore.
^yeah. basically. they've been peaking since 2003 for my money, and haven't really stopped.
Great live show btw.
seeing them two nights in a row in january.
been waiting a long time to see em; rather excited.
been waiting a long time to see em; rather excited.
QUOTE (demoncleaner @ Nov 30 2010, 09:07 AM)
Anyone else agree this band peaked with Alligator?
i'm hesitant to say this because my thoughts on this band are so much a result of a primacy effect. i still think alligator has the national's highest peaks, but as a whole it doesn't stun me the way it used to. there are a couple semi-clunkers in the middle. then again, nothing is perfect.
Boxer is their peak as far as I'm concerned. One of the very few recent albums that truly feels like an instant classic.
also this^, but really everything they've released over the past 7 years has been of such a high caliber it's all good w/ me. boxer is more my personal favorite (and the one that feels like the instant classic, as you say liffey) more than it is their "peak" to me, which implies they're waning, which they're most definitely not.
'Alligator' is an A+ album.
The other two after it are solid A's.
So not really a dropoff persay...they just aren't as good as 'Alligator.'
probably my favorite band of the past decade.
"Alligator" might be my favorite record of the past ten years. In my top ten of all time. Love this band so much.
QUOTE (xoxoxoxo @ Dec 1 2010, 06:12 AM)
QUOTE (demoncleaner @ Nov 30 2010, 09:07 AM)
Anyone else agree this band peaked with Alligator?
i agree with you, Alligator is still my favorite.
Yeah, I find this one rather ho-hum and boring. Won't be voting for it.
Seeing them live has bumped my appreciation for High Violet greatly. Realised how much I liked most of the songs on there. Will probably jump into my top 20 now.
I think maybe I prefer the more open sound of Alligator vs the denser High Violet though.
I think maybe I prefer the more open sound of Alligator vs the denser High Violet though.
Here's a site where you can download 18 live bootlegs of National performances, authorized by the band:
http://www.archive.org/details/TheNational
I'm listening to the October 2010 Dallas show right now, the recording quality is quite good.
http://www.archive.org/details/TheNational
I'm listening to the October 2010 Dallas show right now, the recording quality is quite good.
QUOTE (xoxoxoxo @ Oct 20 2010, 04:23 PM)
QUOTE (solace @ Oct 20 2010, 12:22 PM)
hear the alternate version of Terrible Love per the video for it here:
http://www.4ad.com/news/video-for-terrib/
http://www.4ad.com/news/video-for-terrib/
so much better... they ruined the record with that demo shit.
This is the first time I have listened to the alternate version. I don't mind the LP demo version at all, but holy shit does this blow it away.
QUOTE (Anthony Chang @ Dec 1 2010, 03:51 PM)
'Alligator' is an A+ album.
The other two after it are solid A's.
So not really a dropoff persay...they just aren't as good as 'Alligator.'
The other two after it are solid A's.
So not really a dropoff persay...they just aren't as good as 'Alligator.'
this
QUOTE (tweed @ Oct 20 2010, 12:41 PM)
i caught a rebroadcast of their in-studio performance on Sirius XMU last week and the when discussing the "Dark Was the Night" compilation and whether any similar projects were in the works, the Dessner(?) brothers hinted at a Grateful Dead project they're considering. No specifics on whether that means a tribute album or what but it got me excited either way. They mentioned that "all of our peers are closeted Deadheads." Cool.
so, here's what they were referencing some 18 months ago:
QUOTE
‘THE BRIDGE SESSION’ TO FEATURE BOB WEIR AND MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL
Non-profit organization HeadCount.org to produce concert and free Webcast March 24th
SAN RAFAEL, CA - Bob Weir will perform with members of The National in “The Bridge Session,” a free webcast originating from Weir’s TRI Studios on March 24th.
The event is produced by HeadCount, a non-profit organization that promotes voter registration and democratic participation. Weir, a former member of The Grateful Dead, serves on the organization’s Board of Directors.
Mixing different musical genres, political discussion and a showcase of modern technology, the event aims to “bridge the gaps” between people of various tastes and viewpoints. The name of the event also references TRI Studios’ location 15 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge, and The National’s home base of Brooklyn and its equally famous bridge.
The National’s Scott and Bryan Devendorf (bass and drums, respectively) assembled a band from within Brooklyn’s independent music scene for this one-time-only performance. Their setlist will include original songs by The Grateful Dead and The National, as well as cover songs with subtle, and not-so-subtle, political messages.
Between sets, a roundtable discussion will focus on issues that potentially unify people of divergent ideological perspectives - specifically, getting money out of politics and protecting the First Amendment. Grateful Dead lyricist and activist John Perry Barlow, one of the first public figures to bring attention to the Stop Internet Piracy Act (SOPA), will be among the panelists. Fans watching The Bridge Session at home will be able to ask questions to Weir, Barlow and other special guests via Twitter.
The performance and discussion will take place in front of an intimate studio audience of benefactors and select media. HeadCount is also giving away two tickets to attend in person via an online contest. For more information on how to enter or acquire tickets please visit www.HeadCount.org.
HeadCount founder Marc Brownstein, a member of the electronic rock band The Disco Biscuits and a Brooklyn native, will serve as emcee. The band will include Brooklyn-based musicians Josh Kaufman, Thomas Bartlett, Kyle Resnick, Walt Martin, Conrad Doucette and Samuel Cohen.
Non-profit organization HeadCount.org to produce concert and free Webcast March 24th
SAN RAFAEL, CA - Bob Weir will perform with members of The National in “The Bridge Session,” a free webcast originating from Weir’s TRI Studios on March 24th.
The event is produced by HeadCount, a non-profit organization that promotes voter registration and democratic participation. Weir, a former member of The Grateful Dead, serves on the organization’s Board of Directors.
Mixing different musical genres, political discussion and a showcase of modern technology, the event aims to “bridge the gaps” between people of various tastes and viewpoints. The name of the event also references TRI Studios’ location 15 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge, and The National’s home base of Brooklyn and its equally famous bridge.
The National’s Scott and Bryan Devendorf (bass and drums, respectively) assembled a band from within Brooklyn’s independent music scene for this one-time-only performance. Their setlist will include original songs by The Grateful Dead and The National, as well as cover songs with subtle, and not-so-subtle, political messages.
Between sets, a roundtable discussion will focus on issues that potentially unify people of divergent ideological perspectives - specifically, getting money out of politics and protecting the First Amendment. Grateful Dead lyricist and activist John Perry Barlow, one of the first public figures to bring attention to the Stop Internet Piracy Act (SOPA), will be among the panelists. Fans watching The Bridge Session at home will be able to ask questions to Weir, Barlow and other special guests via Twitter.
The performance and discussion will take place in front of an intimate studio audience of benefactors and select media. HeadCount is also giving away two tickets to attend in person via an online contest. For more information on how to enter or acquire tickets please visit www.HeadCount.org.
HeadCount founder Marc Brownstein, a member of the electronic rock band The Disco Biscuits and a Brooklyn native, will serve as emcee. The band will include Brooklyn-based musicians Josh Kaufman, Thomas Bartlett, Kyle Resnick, Walt Martin, Conrad Doucette and Samuel Cohen.
Supposedly, they still have that Red Hot compilation of Dead covers on the back burner - which is what I assume they were referring to at the time - but this should be a blast. I'll be tuning in. For those who might be interested, TRI Studios has a Roku channel, too.
the dead covers comp sounds interesting, the bob weir + devendorf bros comp does not.
Blah.
I want a new LP.
I want a new LP.
QUOTE (Liffey @ Mar 22 2012, 07:43 PM)
Blah.
I want a new LP.
I want a new LP.
cant imagine that for another year or more
^yup. and i'm ok to wait for it some more.
I can't stand this band.
QUOTE (_jon @ Mar 23 2012, 12:18 AM)
I can't stand this band.
Insanity!
QUOTE (Stop Breathin' @ Mar 23 2012, 05:20 PM)
QUOTE (_jon @ Mar 23 2012, 12:18 AM)
I can't stand this band.
Insanity!
I can understand this viewpoint if you'd only heard High Violet. It's a bit po-faced, where Alligator and Boxer sound elegantly bummed, with better tunes.
Unlike the large majority of hype-bands, The National have meaty songs, and that's why they'll never be looked back upon as a fad. They're not innovative enough to matter in a big picture way, but I believe that if they recover from the merely good High Violet (which based on recent one-off singles, I think they will) they'll be cherished for a long time.
Sometimes High Violet seems just as good as Alligator/Boxer, sometimes not. I dunno. It's kind of like The National set out to and made a -The National- record, but it's so damn good it hardly matters. The lyrics/emotions are maybe a little less, well, sincere isn't the right word but, maybe they don't hit home quite as hard. Ack, I can't not talk in cliches right, foregiveness please. Drunk time is as good a time as any to analyze the back catalog of (one of) my favorite band(s). Sad Songs is fantastic but they obviously really got going with Alligator. Ha, the TN record I've been spinning most lately is their self-titled debut, which, uhh, pret-ty, pret-ty good. Different, but good. -Berninger still "discovering" himself as a singer/lyricist/"band leader" but mostly solid tunes throughout. "Son." Mmmmmm. They randomly (i.e. I personally was surprised/delighted when they) played it, "Son," at Merriweather over the summer. AND "LUCKY YOU," !! (obv. from Sad Songs) which just about fucking floored me. After a pretty brutal heartbreak I was moving home from where we'd lived in VA, -as in moving home for good with all my shit, and listened to that song on repeat the whole time. The trip flew by. My fellow motorists were probably at great mortal risk.
Album, what, 6? is a big mystery to me. Duh it's a mystery for everyone, we know nothing, I've heard a few boots (which I usually avoid) and Ehhhh. We'll see. The studio does them wonders, although, great live band too. I wonder if for this next album, which we'll hear in 2017 or whatever, do they "MOVE INSIDE THEIR SOUND, bewildering fence-dwellers/High Violet-bandwagon jumpers" or go full on U2. Either one could be interesting/great long as that sexy bitch keep drummin on him drum. Is there a better drummer out there? Is there SOMB??
Album, what, 6? is a big mystery to me. Duh it's a mystery for everyone, we know nothing, I've heard a few boots (which I usually avoid) and Ehhhh. We'll see. The studio does them wonders, although, great live band too. I wonder if for this next album, which we'll hear in 2017 or whatever, do they "MOVE INSIDE THEIR SOUND, bewildering fence-dwellers/High Violet-bandwagon jumpers" or go full on U2. Either one could be interesting/great long as that sexy bitch keep drummin on him drum. Is there a better drummer out there? Is there SOMB??
i love the band but dont get live records...espec when its a live cover album....novelty alert
QUOTE (Nixon @ Mar 23 2012, 10:36 PM)
Is there a better drummer out there? Is there SOMB??
QUOTE (tennisclay @ Mar 24 2012, 07:02 PM)
QUOTE (Nixon @ Mar 23 2012, 10:36 PM)
Is there a better drummer out there? Is there SOMB??
In terms of complimenting the band, it's pretty terrific.
This TRI Bridge thing has Weir, three National dudes, and a Walkmen (man?) guy. Sounds pretty good, IMO.
love bob weir, but really have no interest in hearing probably 98% of what he's doing in 2012.
QUOTE (tennisclay @ Mar 25 2012, 12:02 AM)
QUOTE (Nixon @ Mar 23 2012, 10:36 PM)
Is there a better drummer out there? Is there SOMB??
Yes.
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