The National - Sleep Well Beast (September 8, 2017) Album • Page 42

this is a great marriage record.

 

Gonna give this a second* listen today. Pumped.

I listened to it at 1 AM and was so tired after my day that I didn't finish it. Thought I could pull a Science Fiction where I would be able to listen to the whole thing at least once before crashing ):

 

Holy shit going in for my first listen!

 

I think this will settle in somewhere behind Boxer and Alligator for me. Right around TWFM.

 

Listened to the good quality version for the first time this morning and I still agree with this. Despite this, its still my favourite National record. Walk It Back + the last 5 are way too good.

 

I think this'll be a grower for me. I definitely need more time with this record.

 

This record sounds wonderful.

 

^^^ Wanted to get that out of the way before some silly criticism that revolves more around promo than actual music.

I get that there are new sounds on this album, but to act like this is some radical shift like everyone has really got my hopes up that this album would be something truly unique in the band's catalog. With the exception of "Turtleneck", that's simply not the case. There's beautiful songs here (title track and "Born To Beg" had me crying) and the album GOES live (saw the NPR show in Philly... holy cow does "Guilty Party" improve live over its recorded version and "Turtleneck" burns like a jet flame). That said: it's another really solid, really good record by The National.

 

I left my headphones at home.

Someone please help.

 

I agree. Reading some of the reviews it was like.. "The National finally made another ROCK record!"

When I first listened to it this morning I didn't get that at all. But I do think they tried some new stuff with the synths and it all paid off

 

Pitchfork said in 2015 that " Trouble Will Find Me was well-received, but there was a sense, even amongst National die-hards, that this was the last time the band, and Berninger, could coast on that particular sound"

I think SWB is experimental just enough to prove that statement wrong.
The synths on this record are so absolutely tasteful and well done.

You can hear JV in the production.

This could very well end up being my 2nd favorite album from them. Hell, maybe even my 1st.

 

Agreed. This record lies somewhere in between Boxer/Alligator and High Violet/TWFM, but I still would say it leans more towards their later output. Boxer and Alligator are just far more tuneful and propulsive than their last couple. Not a knock.

 

The Stereogum review reallllly did that. But the band did it too! They were saying things like, "Trouble Will Find Me was the end of one chapter; this is the start of something new." The thing is, I'm 95% sure I remember them saying that during the last promo cycle.

It's not a big deal... album's great! Just a weird expectations thing.

 

Folks, this is why writing is good to read after you've heard something.

 

You're kind of right but I'm one of the few that was probably pleasantly surprised.. I'm not a huge fan of the Alligator sound at all so this was a very welcomed sound.

 

This feels the most like TWFM when I compare it to the rest of their discography, but it really has its own sound and identity. It's really grown on me since my first listen, there's a lot of little intricacies that I keep picking up on.

I don't understand the early Boxer comparisons at all

 

I was gonna like this post then you slandered Alligator and I cannot endorse that!!

 

haha I still think it's great but I'd pick 4 of their records over it

thats the beauty of this band

 

Guilty Party is absolutely crushing. Damn. I haven't heard it until now.

 

"Walk It Back" has been my particular jam this morning.

 

"Turtleneck" and "Day I Die" are the best tracks here. "Turtleneck" is a top tier National song.

Top 5: Turtleneck, Day I Die, Empire Line, Carin, System Only Dreams

 

I like music writing. *shrug*

 

Opening track might be my favorite...that last verse is so good. Few others stuck out, going to have to dwell on this but on first listen I'm slightly underwhelmed. People desperate to rank a band's catalog after a new album comes out always amuse me though, have to let the record breathe.

 

Went to my parents to drink and help them burn some boxes and stuff. My dad snapped this pic of me listening to this album on a Friday night.

Pretty much sums it up hahahaha

 

Wow. Okay. So there's a lot to take in here. A lot to digest. It's obviously a pretty stunning album. Some of the tracks on here, particularly the last 4 tracks, are some of the most beautiful music I've heard all year. I'm glad I didn't listen to the singles beforehand because some of them would be among my early favorites. I'll need a lot of time to really sit with this album, but I'm certainly impressed as of right now.