The National - First Two Pages of Frankenstein

swordtrombonefish

swordtrombonefish

Well-known member
Two listens today and this is a gentle, melancholy but beautiful album in places.

It is clearly harking back to Matt Berninger's paralysis in terms of writing new material for the band, but that has been captured and with it he expresses a little more optimism for the future. After two listens I think my favourite tracks are "One Upon a Poolside", "Tropic Morning News", "Alien", "The Alcott", "Send For Me"

The collaborations work well in places - especially Taylor Swift, though others don't seem to add that much weight - at least for me. The lyrics are very personal and are also quite powerful and in places and reflect Matt's state of mind then and reflective as now, a few of them gelled with my own experiences and I was taken aback by them.

It's not a perfect album, a couple of tracks seemed like filler and I think it strives to reach a pinacle but just fails - that said I'd still give this a 4.0/5.0
 
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I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed with it.
I long for the high violet and trouble will find me National, still just about my favourite two albums by anyone, ever. But this one has more misses than hits for me, sadly. A few gooduns and a few that I’ll always fast forward through. Similar story to their recent albums, really.
I guess measuring it against what is probably my favourite music forever, is probably a bit unfair on them, to be honest.
 
swordtrombonefish said:
Two listens today and this is a gentle, melancholy but beautiful album in places.

It is clearly harking back to Matt Berninger's paralysis in terms of writing new material for the band, but that has been captured and with it he expresses a little more optimism for the future. After two listens I think my favourite tracks are "One Upon a Poolside", "Tropic Morning News", "Alien", "The Alcott", "Send For Me"

The collaborations work well in places - especially Taylor Swift, though others don't seem to add that much weight - at least for me. The lyrics are very personal and are also quite powerful and in places and reflect Matt's state of mind then and reflective as now, a few of them gelled with my own experiences and I was taken aback by them.

It's not a perfect album, a couple of tracks seemed like filler and I think it strives to reach a pinacle but just fails - that said I'd still give this a 4.0/5.0
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Some really beautiful songs and collaborations on the album - a bit of an emotional journey through depression with beautiful and evocative lyrics.

It’s not a perfect album but, IMO, The National have never done a perfect one.

Be interesting to see how it plays out on the upcoming tour.
 
1finny said:
Some really beautiful songs and collaborations on the album - a bit of an emotional journey through depression with beautiful and evocative lyrics.

It’s not a perfect album but, IMO, The National have never done a perfect one.

Be interesting to see how it plays out on the upcoming tour.
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I stick with it for sure and might grow on me, but does not seem to have the intensity and rawness of some there earlier albums but I guess they are going for the more mellow vibe with this album
 
swordtrombonefish said:
Two listens today and this is a gentle, melancholy but beautiful album in places.

It is clearly harking back to Matt Berninger's paralysis in terms of writing new material for the band, but that has been captured and with it he expresses a little more optimism for the future. After two listens I think my favourite tracks are "One Upon a Poolside", "Tropic Morning News", "Alien", "The Alcott", "Send For Me"

The collaborations work well in places - especially Taylor Swift, though others don't seem to add that much weight - at least for me. The lyrics are very personal and are also quite powerful and in places and reflect Matt's state of mind then and reflective as now, a few of them gelled with my own experiences and I was taken aback by them.

It's not a perfect album, a couple of tracks seemed like filler and I think it strives to reach a pinacle but just fails - that said I'd still give this a 4.0/5.0
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Good review.

I’ve listened to it a fair bit whilst driving around this weekend.

I really like the first three tracks, and then tend to start skipping.
 
Sorry to pick this back up but the Taylor Swift collaboration intrigued me so I followed that up.
Is it me or does it actually sound more The National than some songs on this album?

 
yeah I know what you mean they did some stuff with Bon Iver only heard one or two tracks but you would barley know Bon Iver was involved who/him is brilliant in his own right, just spunded like the National
 
Love the new album, they've made a point of pushing new material to sound different but still like the national.

America's Radiohead for sure.
 
I prefer High Violet, but this is up there with their best. Felt a bit let down by the collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers. In theory it should have been fantastic, but it ended up not being much of anything.
 
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