The world in which the five members of The National—and, I suspect, at least 90% of AD readers—live and move and gesture towards being is a wide, wide space with very low ceilings. It is a world in which many things are possible but very few of them provide any kind of lasting satisfaction, and [...]

The National craft mood music. In the span of four albums and an EP they have created a niche of elegant and dark atmospheric rock bolstered by vocalists Matt Berninger’s languid baritone and everyman poetics. These are the 21st century blues for those of us who grew up in the ‘80s. A world view framed [...]

What is it that makes us want to deconstruct art by units of time? Lists. We love making them. We love arguing over them. And here, on the verge of a new decade, we’re in a position to do the same again. What were the best albums of the past ten years? Here at AD, [...]

via daytrotter session Download: MP3: The National :: Pretty In Pink (via Daytrotter session) ————– + Download The National via eMusic’s 25 free MP3 no risk trial offer ——————————————————————————————————————————

I took the bus to work today because my car broke down, and I found myself in downtown Los Angeles, hemmed in on all sides by skyscrapers, alone with my bag and the headphones that covered my ears like an electric bulletin. Most artists milk the dusty landscapes of the open road or the same-same-sameness [...]

This is a re-post per multiple requests following the 2007 White Session posted a couple of weeks ago. The following should be required listening for National fans; its material taken from the Cherry Tree EP and, mainly, Alligator (my favorite album from 2005), from which the band were touring in support of at the time. [...]

Studio 105, Maison de la Radio – Paris, France, May 24, 2007 Download: MP3: The National :: Start A War MP3: The National :: Slow Show MP3: The National :: Brainy MP3: The National :: Squalor Victoria MP3: The National :: Apartment Story MP3: The National :: Racing Like A Pro MP3: The National :: [...]

Heads up. One pair of tickets to give away to The National show, this Friday, at The Wiltern. If you have yet to win anything (recently) from A.D.; shoot an email to aquariumdrunkard @ gmail dot dom. St. Vincent opens… Download: MP3: The National :: Murder Me Rachael MP3: The National :: Cold Girl Fever [...]

I originally found these tracks on Muzzle of Bees in 2005, listened to them incessantly, and then promptly misplaced them…until now. Consider the following required listening for National fans with material taken from the Cherry Tree EP and, mainly, Alligator, which they were touring in support of at the time. Download: MP3: The National :: [...]

Caveat Emptor: The National’s third LP, Alligator, remains my favorite album of the past two years. Nothing has touched it. The National craft mood music. In the span of four albums and an EP they have created a niche of elegant and dark atmospheric rock bolstered by vocalists Matt Berninger’s languid baritone and everyman poetics. [...]