The National - First Two Pages... & Laugh Track Album • Page 54

really good record imo — great for a gloomy day like today. wasn't really struck by alien or this isn't helping, but I like everything else I think. the second phoebe song hit me a lot more in context. seems like the kind of record I'll be spinning a lot

 

send for me is really gorgeous

 

I was only hoping for the Sufjan and Phoebe parts to play a bigger role, but they're solid anyways. Really enjoyed it on my second (first full) listen, cause I did start listening far too late at night and had to break it off after 5 songs, return after I woke up and I also regret that a bit, as it seems this sound would fit the nighttime more

 

Believe it or not, the review actually lent some context that made me appreciate the album more

 

First listen going on. Hmm, I did not care for eucalyptus

 

First listen was very enjoyable, enjoyed most of the singles more in context but the non singles jumped out even more

 

OK, here we go

 

A couple spins in and it's goodish. Disappointed in The Alcott, feels like a paint by numbers piano ballad.

I can see coming back to this more than the last record.

 

Eucalyptus is a weird track 2 imo. Tropic should probably be flipped with it.

 

It’s interesting that it seems like people who are disappointed in the album are in disagreement over which songs are the standouts and which are the bummers. Across the comment sections of the web there are some semi-hot negative takes but there doesn’t seem to be a consensus about why or which tracks are to blame. I’m curious whether there is any thing to glean from that.

 

Tbf, i think this happens with people who love their albums too - favorites are always all over the place too in my experience, especially with this band.

 

Love Eucalyptus, Grease in Your Hair, and Alien so far

 

Album exceeds my expectations - has a distinct quality within their discography. Not in love with it, and there’s more songs I’d skip than their best albums have. But not a flop. Better than IAETF. Grease in Your Hair might be my favorite song of theirs since, like, the time they played Sea of Love on Fallon.

 

I agree, but it’s interesting when one man’s example of the National losing their touch is another man’s example of the one song on the album that is up to the National’s standard.

 

absolutely love this so far, been interrupted a bunch of times but Poolside and TIH are sucker punches

 

Sure. As they say, there’s no accounting for taste.

 

I feel like this album is gonna occupy a place in this band’s catalogue similar to what ‘Get Lonely’ does in the Mountain Goats catalogue.

 

was thinking this morning this feels like their ode to joy

 

Strong first listen for me. Not sure if they'll ever be able to reach the previous heights they have for me again, but they haven't made an album I don't enjoy.

 

no misses so far and I love The Alcott, I was-- I wouldn't say 'concerned' about this feature, just curious how Taylor would play off Matt and she's a great fit.

 

I Am Easy to Find absolutely wipes the floor with this album - there aren't 30 seconds of music on here as good as like the 5th best song on that record.

One listen through, I think this is fine, my negativity is relative to the extremely high bar this band has set. I could see myself liking it a lot more someday down the road, but my first impression is that this is pretty easily the weakest album they've made.

 

I’m probably the biggest IAETF defender but this album absolutely rules.

 

lol that's a tad hyperbolic

 

crazy take

 

I hate to even say this because I am a pretty huge fan of hers, but the two Phoebe Bridgers features are what drag this album down for me. I think swapping at least one of those out with a song that has some forward momentum would do a world of good for the album overall.