The National - Sleep Well Beast (September 8, 2017) Album • Page 7

Graceless/England

 

think the combo follow up of "Pink Rabbits" to "Hard to Find" may be my favorite two-track end to any album.

 

Hard to Find just missed my list. It's one hell of a closer.

 

same. probably my favorite closer of theirs, or at least tied with "Mr. November" but because they're so, so different in every way it's more of a matter of mood than one being better than the other for me.

 

Have you seen it live? I never was crazy about it until then.

 

If you asked me what song I'd show to someone who has never listened to this band, I'd go with, and have gone with, Bloodbuzz every time.

 

Me same.

 

yeah ive seen live videos but ive never seen the band live. dont get me wrong im crazy about pretty much every National song, theyre right up there with mwY and ETID as far as having a catalog that I just love. just seems like everyone puts it as their number 1 haha.

yeah despite it not being one of my favorites id absolutely show them Bloodbuzz first or maybe Graceless since Graceless was my first National song

 

Can't go wrong with Graceless

 

my first exposure to them was, oddly enough, SNL. I dont even watch SNL but for some reason Youtube recommended it so i thought fuck it ive heard this bands name get praised on AP ill check it out. I was blown away. I'll never forget hearing "its the side effects that save us" for the first time, a time when I was really struggling with my BPD and trying to find the right medication to help live a normal life. The rest is history :D

 

All The Wine
Mr. November
Mistaken For Strangers
Slow Show
Terrible Love
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Don't Swallow The Cap
Graceless
I Need My Girl
Pink Rabbits

 

I was in a really weird and transitory period in my life when I heard Bloodbuzz, there was something so cool about the calm and confidence that High Violet brought that I was pulled into like a magnet. This is such a special band, it's nice to hear people's stories like this. Also glad that this has basically forced my hand into giving their discog a spin once again.

 

Why didn't I put Available on my list?

 

Guess there wasn't an Available spot.

 

Graceless live at Bonnaroo 2013 was probably my favorite live performance video on YouTube, but it was removed a year or two ago. An already phenomenal song made even better live. Actually, you could say that about most of their catalogue.

I remember seeing them for the first time in 2013, I found Berninger so unsettling live. I wasn't really prepped for it, he seemed like he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown the whole show. It was an incredible performance.

 

Boo

 

1. Pink Rabbits
2. City Middle
3. Karen
4. Racing Like A Pro
5. Ada
6. Conversation 16
7. Lemonworld
8. 90-Mile Water Wall
9. Humiliation
10. Start A War

Fuck that was tough. I tried to include a little bit from each album just because I love it all so much. Except for the first album which I still haven't listened to.

 

well im glad that song connected with you and brought you here to us while we all list our tops 10 which im sure will eventually lead to a ranking lol. but seriously, very cool that they can connect with people like that

 

As a piano player its interesting how they use the 3 main "keyboard instruments" (synths, organs, pianos/keys) in such interesting and different ways. Like, you can never really point at any National song and say its "electronic" but quite a few of their songs have synthesizers just kinda looming in the background. Boxer ive noticed relies heavily on the organ more-so than the others, giving a lot of the songs a more church/choir feel which i think ties in with some of the lyrical themes. then of course regular ol piano and keyboards utilizing various tones/styles litter all throughout their catalog. Similarly I like how they employ various stringed instruments in such unique ways, acoustic guitars sit atop electric guitars utilizing a lot of different tunings as well as 12 string guitars, violins, etc. They also masterfully incorporate horns and reed instruments which is just astounding. Then of course the Devendorfs are maybe the best rhythm section in rock music right now and possibly ever, with Bryan using various percussive instruments as well as just flat out creative and powerful drumming and Scott always playing something interesting on bass or lower tuned instruments.

i know im rambling but i just love the little details in their instrumentation. they could have easily just been an indie rock band with guitar, bass, drums, and vocals but instead they expand and adapt and explore new sounds which is just wonderful. im really excited to hear the instrumentation for this new record just as much as im excited to delve into Matts lyrics. i really, really hope the weird electronic stuff theyve mentioned in interviews is present.

 

Any stretch on that album is bliss but that whole closing stretch of I Need My Girl > Humiliation > Pink Rabbits > Hard to Find is absolutely stunning.

 

Aww come on you neee to do this. The first two tracks are the strongest in my opinion so at least try those.

 

1. I Should Live in Salt
2. Abel
3. All the Wine
4. Slow Show
5. Mr. November
6. Bloodbuzz Ohio
7. Terrible Love
8. Pink Rabbits


...after that it's too hard. They have too many great songs.

"Abel" was my first The National song back the summer right after I graduated high school 2005. Fell in love then.

 

10. Apartment Story
9. Slow Show
8. All the Wine
7. All Dolled-Up in Straps
6. This is the Last Time
5. Blank Slate
4. City Middle
3. Mr. November
2. Fake Empire
1. Geese of Beverly Road

It's not their best album beginning to end and their catalog is almost flawless save terrible debut and mediocre breakout but the closing run of Alligator stands somehow even better than anything else. I'm kind of surprised to see so much love for City Middle but not Geese on the other lists, those two songs feel so connected to me.

They'd be an easy easy band to do a top 25 for but 10 was tough. It pained me not to get anything from Sad Songs on, the first three songs were all very close. Lemonworld is a borderline top 10er but the only song from High Violet I'd have in the top 30 probably.

Also, sneaky great bside/cutting room floor band. Driver Surprise Me, like all the original songs on Virginia EP, Rylan, Wake Up Your Saints....all probably top half songs if they made their respective albums.

Cold Girl Fever and American Mary are pretty damn good, weird with the rest being soooo bad

 

Alligator IS their best album tho

 

Every album from Alligator to Trouble Will Find Me is their best album.