I personally love the album. The lyrics really connect with me, and I think the album flows really nicely. It doesn't break any new ground (which may be why PJ finds it boring), but it's as well-crafted of a rock album as you're likely to hear this year. Right now, it has an easy place in my top 5, and it could easily walk away with the Album of the Year title.

It's tough to debate taste, though. Personally, I always found Slint pretty damn boring.

quote:

Originally posted by Portable Joystick:

quote:

Originally posted by Shadrach:
So, anyway, Mr.Joystick. All aggression aside, I'm curious what think is not boreing. It's obvious you have a different viewpoint, and we are always looking for new and different music.

I'm not sure what you're asking for. Do you want me to make a list of my favorite artists?

Sure. I'm just wondering what it is that you are comparing The National to that makes you come to the conclusion that it's boreing. Like I said, I'm honestly curious, I'm not challenging you or anything.

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:
It doesn't break any new ground (which may be why PJ finds it boring)

I'm certainly not one to suggest music has to break new ground to be good or worth listening to. Hell, one of my favorite straight-up rawk albums of recent years was Sleater-Kinney's The Woods, in all it's catchy guitar riff raunchiness. But there certainly wasn't anything groundbreaking about it.

There's just nothing about the National that strikes my ears as good.

quote:

Originally posted by Shadrach:
Sure. I'm just wondering what it is that you are comparing The National to that makes you come to the conclusion that it's boreing. Like I said, I'm honestly curious, I'm not challenging you or anything.

Erm. Well, recently I've been listening to Cendre by Fennesz and Ryuichi Sakamoto that I like quite a bit. I dig the new Carlos Giffoni. Guitarists like Keiji Haino and Derek Bailey rawk my world. I have a soft spot for bands like Pussy Galore and Arab on Radar. No wave in general is pretty damn cool. And I can always go for some Sunn O))) or Boris. Yeah.

quote:

Originally posted by Portable Joystick:
Whoah there bud. Who said anything about changing people's opinions? I don't think anyone in their right mind goes into conversations or message boards discussing subjective topics and is looking to change someone else's opinion. It's simply about expressing your own. And if you're going to convince me that it's not bland, generic indie rock, you're going to have to do more than tell me "uh, a lot of people like it! weeeee!"

So basically you're just trolling, eh?

This album keeps climbing for me, but there's a definite difference in how the album is experienced. I've noticed it sounds a lot better on vinyl than digitally.

quote:

There's just nothing about the National that strikes my ears as good.

Of course you're entitled to this view, but given the vast amount of this sort of generic yea-or-nay brand of opinionating, to simply state that you don't like it is almost no different from saying nothing at all.

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:
It's tough to debate taste, though. Personally, I always found Slint pretty damn boring.

Impossible to debate taste really unless someone makes some concrete arguments as to why they like or dislike something, not just vague pronunciations about subtlety. Also, Slint is unbearably boring. Except "Washer." That's a pretty good song. Bit too long but good nonetheless.

quote:

Originally posted by goathouse:

quote:

There's just nothing about the National that strikes my ears as good.

Of course you're entitled to this view, but given the vast amount of this sort of generic yea-or-nay brand of opinionating, to simply state that you don't like it is almost no different from saying nothing at all.

It's pretty comical that I'm expected to defend my decision when I say I don't like something. Yet posts that essentially amount to nothing more than "It's a really good album, one of my favorites of the year" are the norm and don't require any sort of explantion.

Besides, I read the points you made and told you flat out some of the reasons I didn't like it. So get off my back already.

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:
Also, Slint is unbearably boring. Except "Washer." That's a pretty good song. Bit too long but good nonetheless.

Sorry, I'm going to need more concrete reasons than "boring" and "bit too long" to accept your analysis. Otherwise I'm gonna have to label you as an angry troll.

I think PJ explained himself just fine, I don't see why there's such a fuss. We wouldn't grill Mark to this degree about his opinion on the album.

Sometimes you folks have to realize there are differences of opinion you can't change.

quote:

Originally posted by Chamberk:
We wouldn't grill Mark to this degree about his opinion on the album.

Sure we would!

Well, maybe not. Then I'd have to answer his questions about why I don't like the Soundtrack of Our Lives.

Probably because you're a heathen and never saw them in concert (plus, maybe you ARE a Pitchfork sycophant ). No comment on Boxer. But Armchair Apocrypha and The Stage Names fill my need for "subtle, mature rock" just fine. At least I can enjoy the vocals on those.

Troll signing off...

Oh Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez!!!
The vocals on Boxer are one of it's biggest draws. Everyone knows Andy Bird's lyrics are convoluted, and the biggest reason to listen to his music is the whistling.

Everybody can just @%*# off.

There is no one who everybody likes. It's really not a big deal. Boxer will win the Members' Poll. It won't bother me in the least. I believe in Freedom of Choice. (Yeah... even mine!)

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
Boxer will win the Members' Poll.

You think? I think Radiohead might edge it out.

I like the album because everybody else does.

Isn't that the best reason to like an album?

But, the fact that we can still have a passionate discussion about the album months after its release says something about it's quality. You may like it, you may not. But, it has certainly struck a chord with many people.

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
Boxer will win the Members' Poll.

You think? I think Radiohead might edge it out.

If that's true, then God Bless the Head!

quote:

Originally posted by Portable Joystick:

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:
Also, Slint is unbearably boring. Except "Washer." That's a pretty good song. Bit too long but good nonetheless.

Sorry, I'm going to need more concrete reasons than "boring" and "bit too long" to accept your analysis. Otherwise I'm gonna have to label you as an angry troll.

Jesus Christ. Back off, dude. I never even criticized you in any way. Quit looking for malice in every comment.

I like The National, but Boxer is not one of my favorites this year. Berninger's voice is good, no doubt, but a little too monotone/emotionless for my taste. I prefer, for example, this year's Spoon and Okkervil River albums. And for some reason, that first song on Boxer reminds me too much of The Killers - and that kind of bugs me.

There! See that! An intelligent criticism, with clear reasons to support it. That wasn't so hard was it? I disagree, but that's neither here nor there.