I have since revisited them and I love Aligator, High Violet sounds good too but it needs a few more plays. Not really listened to Boxer much but the opening track was great.

I found the new album to be mostly boring and the lyrics for the most part didn't leave a lasting impression on me. Anybody else think that lyrically they are an overrated band? I mean Matt has his moments but I don't think he's as deep as people make him out to be.

It's not about 'depth' at all. His lyrics are about self loathing and alienation and such. Nothing new and certainly shallow.
It's about inventiveness and cogent writerly tendencies.
These lyrics are definitely not overrated - especially when compared to those of peers.

The new album is the first National album i've bought and after listening to it about 6 times now i'm not that impressed with it. There's a few standout songs alright but most of the album just goes right past me. I'll probably try another one of their albums to see if i like them better before i give up on them.

Get Alligator and/or Boxer if you don't like either of those give up.

Peers? Like who Interpol?

Boxer is pretty darn stellar lyrically, but otherwise, I will agree he can get bogged down by his jabs at profundity. High Violet may be the worst he's been in this respect for quite some time as over half of the record is average lyrically. If anything, his work can benefit from simplicity at times like on About Today or even Runaway which are entirely straightforward and all the more resonant because of it.

Why don't people like High Violet? I've only recently 'got' The National and I pretty much heard all 3 albums close together, starting with Alligator, then Boxer and then High Violet and they're all good albums. At the moment Boxer is my least favourite... Although that's more to lack of listening. I think High Violet is a really solid album and I don't understand why people aren't taking to it like Alligator and/or Boxer.

Unaminous critical acclaim and #1 on RYM for the year is a fairly good sign people have taken to it.

Yeah I know, but KOL's latest album was critical acclaimed but people still regard it as shit. Even though it's critically acclaimed I'm still finding people aren't taken with it (people on here mainly.)

And I don't know why, it's a great album. I enjoy it more with every listen.

I've seen them three times. Saw them for free at the South Street Seaport three years ago, at Brooklyn Academy of Music and at Madison Square Garden where they opened for REM followed by Modest Mouse. I like them
They're at Radio City next week but I'm seeing them at Prospect Park in July
unless I decide at the last minute to score a ticket on craigslist...

Could someone help me out with the new album please? i can't seem to find it anywhere.

Are you looking for the physical CD or to just download? I think I've seen their CD at HMV. Or maybe you can order it online.

I was kinda sorta let down by High Violet, but does anyone else think it's a little off-base for them to release new albums at the beginning of summer? If there was ever a band to sing along in the car with during the most cold and sad bastardly nights of winter, it's The National

I think their latest album might possibly be my favourite, competing with Alligator as my favourite anyway.

I think I like Boxer the best, but I dunno. Their last three albums are so consistent it is difficult to choose.

My favorite album by far is Boxer, for it's lyrical quality and orchestral components. I feel as if High Violet is lacking in its lyrics and Alligator just never had that orchestral feel that I've grown to love so much.

I was looking for a download.

Also, I've just listened to Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers for the first time, and was surprised about how good it is, because not many people talk about it here. I would have to say, as a new National fan, I would rank the albums I have heard in this order: Boxer>Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers>Alligator...which seems different from most opinions around here. But I have yet to hear High Violet so if anyone could help me out with that I would be really greatful!

I can't get into them, I'll listen for about fifteen seconds and get bored. Just not my taste I guess.

I love "Bloodbuzz Ohio" but I can't seem to find the album online...I'll probably just go to iTunes or something.

Surprised I haven't at least posted in this thread seeing as how these guys are probably my favorite band. For me, Alligator is their magnum opus. I'd probably rate Boxer 2nd and High Violet 3rd, but they're all so damn close that it really just depends on which one I feel like listening to on any given day. Also agree with jayfin, don't forget about Sad Songs! And while you're at it, don't forget about their self-titled either, it's pretty raw but tracks like American Mary are a must have.

Huge fan of Boxer. I was kind of disappointed by High Violet. It could have been a lot worse, but I definitely didn't connect very strongly with it. Felt it was rather uninspired.

Slowly becoming a huge fan of this band, Alligator and Boxer are both amazing albums and The National appear to be one of the few bands who live up to the hype they recieve. Their lyrics are just beautiful and Matt's delivery of them is perfect. Alligator is my favourite. High Violet is good, but I expect it to be a grower as so far there are no real standouts.

Not even Conversation 16 or Lemonworld?

Not really, I enjoy the songs but I enjoy the whole album and it just kinda blends into one.

Surely the sign of a great record?

Most likely yes.

High Violet remains a bit of a disappointment to me, though not a bad album by any means. I'd probably have loved it if I hadn't heard Boxer first.

seeing them next month - very excited as a great live band :) i have all albums, alligator is far and away best, but others still good ;)

hmm, the only thing puts me off is his voice. Mid-range/high pitched indie vocals FTW!

His voice is one of the best things about the band.

Yeah, I figured that many people may appreciate that aspect of the bands overall sound... I like the band and all, but as I said before, I'm more inclined to listen to indie bands with higher pitched vocals.

Aren't their vocals kind of... boring? It may be the lack of high pitched wailing, but there are bands which don't have that and still don't sound THAT boring.

Best part of The Nationals is the drums, definitely. It's a shame the other parts are slightly lagging behind, which makes for some decent albums with a taint of boring and repetiting in the core.

This band boggles my mind because I'm not sure where they fit or how they survived as long as they have when similar sounding acts like Interpol have bit the dust.

What does The National make you think of when you hear them?

Well, they make music. I think all the other 'similar' bands make top 40 tunes.
(I'm not making friends here by saying that, but I've never liked any of those bands. My friends tell me it makes no sense since, for them, The National sounds exactly the same ;D)

The National are different because of their beautiful poetic lyrics while Interpol write standard, meat and potatoes indie rawk songs.

That's not it for me. I haven't got a clue what they're on about.

Is that enough to make such a dramatic difference if the rest of their work is of equal quality?

Momentum counts for a lot in music. Interpol set the bar high for later success on their debut,meaning they will pernamently be judged in people's mind by it. By contrast, The National improved album by album ,building up a following.

Well you're not a native english speaker so obviously bands with a heavy emphasis on songwriting wont appeal to you.


Of course the lyrics aren't the only thing to love about the band. Matt's voice is another big plus, the piano playing and Americana influences too. The instrumentation isn't bad(Hell, I really like some Interpol songs) but I feel the other things I've mentioned make them a little bit special.

What? No!
I love the National! I just have the habit to listen to music, not to lyrics.
I often don't even know what Bob Dylan's songs are about.
I can understand what they say, I just don't listen to music that way. I can usually even sing along without really knowing what I'm singing.
I'm only bothered by lyrics when they are really bad ;D.