Alright, so it's supposedly coming out in 2010.

That's a long ways away, but today I heard two new songs here.

Usually I'm not a fan of hearing live songs on the internet, but this is just amazing.

Karamazov is amazing. It's stunning, it's beautiful, it's just a great National song.

The other one is good too, but I should have listened to this one first, because Karamazov is far superior.

Check them out.

Also, "So Far Around the Bend" is the other new song, though I hope it's not on the new record. It is good, but they're capable of more. Such as: Karamazov.

Thoughts on the new songs? What direction do you think they'll go in for the next one?

Awwwwwww! 2010? But I want it now!

Lame! It better be magical for it to take that long.

My most anticipated album beyond "Hazards of Love."

Fuckin lovely. I don't know what's wrong with So Far Around the Bend. I think it has a beautiful arrangement.

Apparently at this moment Aaron Dessner says that most of the songs have a Civil War theme!!

Well. Just to clarify my friend Chamberk, the songs for the new album are still being played with on the musical side and I get the impression very few of the lyrics have been ironed out. But the songs in their instrumental phase have place holder names that are Civil War themed. And one has a brass section that was made to sound Civil War themed (I have no idea what that means).

This is reinforced by an interview that also just hit Sixeyes Music Blog with the lead singer Matt Berninger, where he says the current title to of the song we know as "Saints" is now "Stonewall Jackson". He also claims that he is still just mumbling words on all of these songs, so the actual subject of the album is not clear yet.

Interesting though. I would actually really like to see them write a rock album with Civil War themed songs. And with a little bit of encouragement from their friend Sufjan (who would also approve of the idea) I could see them doing it.

quote:

Interesting though. I would actually really like to see them write a rock album with Civil War themed songs. And with a little bit of encouragement from their friend Sufjan (who would also approve of the idea) I could see them doing it.

I don't know if The National have it in them to pull this off. I feel like Boxer was a great album that exposed the moral decay of living in America for what it is (sort of along the lines of a Fitzgerald album, if you know what I mean), but I'm not sure if the Civil War is exactly along the same lines. Maybe I'm just doubting their brilliance though, it could very well be that if they attempted a Civil War themed album that it would end up as good as or better than Boxer.

Sufjan though, he could probably write an album about pocket lint and we would all hail it as brilliant - then again, it probably would be brilliant!

Right. The most magnetic and personal aspect of The National is how they deal with themes and ideas that are very... domestic, and internal. I love how they get into the heart of the working middle class man and pour out all of the hopes, fears and false fronts. It's in most all of their songs, but it's thick and deep on songs like "Slow Show", and I doubt a band that hadn't worked a career would have ever come up with something as true and powerful as "Theory of the Crows".

So maybe the Civil War would be an eye roller.

A metal album about the Civil War would be pretty epic, though.

It just seems that if a band addresses something that far out it comes off as weird, unless you're wholly committed to it a la Jeff Mangum and Aeroplane Over the Sea.

Two more great National tracks played at the DWTN concert at Radio City Music Hall:

http://hypem.com/track/815622/...adio+City+Music+Hall"England"
+ I hear "Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland" at beginning of this track... nice tribute to Sufjan.

The piano is becoming more prominent in the band with every release.

http://hypem.com/track/815783/...adio+City+Music+Hall "Vanderlylle Cry Baby"
+ With Bon Iver

...umm, ya, the next record will be just as good as the previous two, which is saying something because both are near-masterpieces.

Holy batman these are amazing.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: anbc,

I was at the DWTN concert and will personally attest to how awesome those songs are. Definitely my most anticipated album of 2010.

WOW!! I was excited about this album before, but after hearing these songs, I am even more so! I love the piano in "England", and the guitar solo at the end of "Vanderlylle Cry Baby" was both unexpected and awesome.

And, I agree - it seems ridiculous and unreasonable to expect that they could make 3 incredible albums in a row (and SSFDL is no slouch either), but it sounds like it's a definite possibility. I can't wait!!

Seeing them in ONE WEEK. I am drooling in anticipation.

quote:

Originally posted by Chamberk:
Seeing them in ONE WEEK. I am drooling in anticipation.

You going to be at the Tabernacle? I'll be there.

I really dig these guys, but am I the only one that gets kind of annoyed with the vocals after a while?

A little too... Monotone?

I'm curious to hear where these guys go with their new one.

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Originally posted by CleverName84:
I really dig these guys, but am I the only one that gets kind of annoyed with the vocals after a while?

Yep, great music all around, including the vocals. This band has made three fantastic albums to date and will continue to make more great music.

Can't wait for when the new one is coming.

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Originally posted by FragileKidA:

quote:

Originally posted by CleverName84:
I really dig these guys, but am I the only one that gets kind of annoyed with the vocals after a while?

Yep, great music all around, including the vocals. This band has made three fantastic albums to date and will continue to make more great music.

Can't wait for when the new one is coming.

Really? The vocals never get a little grating to you? I generally don't mind the vocals, but after a while, I wish he would do something else with them. I can sit through about 7-8 National songs, and then I want something else... I usually put on Joy Division after the National.

The vocals don't bother me a bit, in fact I think they're quite good and one of the best things about the National.

Joy Division has to be the dullest band of all time. When I made a blog post about Boxer being my #1 of 2007, one comment said "listen to Closer 100+ times and get back to me about the National being amazing."

I couldn't even make it through once. Just fucking terrible.