quote:

Joy Division has to be the dullest band of all time.

I can understand them seeming dull to some people. For me, it's mostly about the atmosphere that Ian Curtis sets with his voice, along with the rest of the band and their eerie sounds.

The National are still amazing though. "England" is absolutely phenomenal. It makes me hate that 2010 release date they put on their next record.

Off topic, but I just put "Young Team" in. That album just relaxes me so much, absolutely beautiful... except "Like Herod", that track is just crass. But in a good way.

quote:

Originally posted by RadiantSilvergun:
Off topic, but I just put "Young Team" in. That album just relaxes me so much, absolutely beautiful... except "Like Herod", that track is just crass. But in a good way.

Have you seen this? Absolutely beautiful.

Heard "Karamazov" and "Vanderlyle Crybaby", and I think one other new song that was a little louder. And of course everything else was amazing.

quote:

Originally posted by Chamberk:
Heard "Karamazov" and "Vanderlyle Crybaby", and I think one other new song that was a little louder. And of course everything else was amazing.

I was there last night as well at the Tabernacle. I thought they were very good, not exceptional. I thought the mix was their biggest problem. Very loud bass guitar and even louder guitars. The snare drum was so quiet, and I couldn't hear the high-hat at all. Their drumming is such an important part of the end product and it was completely buried by the guitars which was disappointing. The singer is great and charismatic live, however. The horn section was fantastic throughout the entire show and added a lot. Oddly, some of my personal favorite songs of theirs like "All the Wine" and "Apartment Story" weren't that great live which was strange. For me the highlight was "Fake Empire" which built to the most amazing finale/climax. "Mr. November" was also awesome. Overall, they're a great band and I highly recommend any fans check them out.

As a side note, I took a friend competely unfamiliar with them and he wasn't impressed. His first comment after the show was "They have a lot of songs that sound alike" which to be fair is true. But, the incredible thing about the National's music is how it grows on you with repeated listens. All of those mid-tempo boring-at-first songs really are some of the most amazing things going on right now.

I was thinking, too, that the new stuff didn't seem too impressive, but that's probably because I haven't listened to it over and over yet.

I thought the mix sounded fine. Then again, the Tabernacle is generally spotty for sound. I shudder to remember TV on the Radio's sound when I saw them there last October-ish.

The cover the National did for a tribute album for Mark Mulcahy is great. The did "Ashamed of the Story I Told".

I think this song is a pretty good indication of the direction they're heading in. Only a slight change at that, but a whole lot more piano is involved in their sound these days, along with some more great string work from Padma Newsom.

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

quote:

I was thinking, too, that the new stuff didn't seem too impressive, but that's probably because I haven't listened to it over and over yet.

Curses Chamberk! I was just about to comment on this very thing, thinking I was all original and stuff. Ah well, I'll just say I agree and leave it at that.