nick059 Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 I'm on my third listen of Sleep Well Beast, and I feel like the parts I don't like on this album currently outweigh the parts I enjoy. There are definitely some fantastic songs, but at the album's end, I'm just remembering the parts I dislike, which tarnishes the record in retrospect. I absolutely adored Trouble Will Find Me, so this is coming as a pretty big disappointment to me. I have hopes that with subsequent listens it will sink in and get better though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek™ Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 What parts are there to dislike on this album, out of curiosity? I'm finding that it fluctuates between tracks that are incredible and tracks that are amazing. jonnywreck, Thomas³, drewberinger and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsimmons Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 Its weird that this is totally a divorce record, but Matt isn't divorced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drewberinger Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 Yeah he actually co-wrote a lot of the songs with his wife i just think it’s an honest look at how fucking hard it is to stay in and maintain a marriage or really any kind of long term relationship tvham 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattisr1984 Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 after 10 or so listens, id say this record is definitely good but its not "trouble will find me" or "high violet" good. walk it back, guilty party, carin at the liquor store and dark side of the gym are the album highlights for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesewoodenideas Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 Seems to be some very divided opinions on this one. Particularly for those who loved TWFM. Whereas those who felt disappointed by TWFM seem to see it as a return to form. Opinions eh? I'm just happy to have another good album from these guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oblivions Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 19 minutes ago, thesewoodenideas said: Seems to be some very divided opinions on this one. Particularly for those who loved TWFM. Whereas those who felt disappointed by TWFM seem to see it as a return to form. Opinions eh? I'm just happy to have another good album from these guys. I feel like there has been unanimous praise for SWB, at least from critics and people I know in real life and with whom I have geeked out over this album. I was expecting more of a backlash, to be honest. The National are a band that get so much positive praise that they would serve as a great target for people who want to knock things down a peg and, even though they do it really well, adding a bunch of electronic sounds to your rock band is asking for strong critiques. As far as the comparisons/contrasts to High Violet and TWFM, I think High Violet is their weakest post-Sad Songs album. There are some great songs on it but I think the band miscalculated on the arrangements and production on some tracks. It's the closest they've gotten to being a bit over-polished yet under-cooked. So, I'm glad that SWB shares little aesthetic with HV. TWFM is much better than HV, IMO, as it walked back some of HV's choices that would have been hard to sustain for them but it slightly suffers from being a lateral move sound-wise. It's an incredible guitar-based dad rock record that treads water. Conversely, SWB breaks into a new dynamic and feels more like a master stroke that matches the quality and subtle re-invention of the National's insane Alligator > Boxer breakthrough. You can say HV was a master stroke into a bigger, bolder arena rock sound and you'd be right but I was just not a fan of that choice so I am permanently omitting it from this long boring post. TL;DR: I'm OK with SWB letting down people who consider HV/TWFM their favorite National albums. SWB is great and continues the subtle re-invention tradition of Alligator and Boxer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick059 Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 1 hour ago, Derek™ said: What parts are there to dislike on this album, out of curiosity? I'm finding that it fluctuates between tracks that are incredible and tracks that are amazing. I think for me it really is just Turtleneck that I dislike. I know it returns them back to the days of Alligator and whatnot, but it just feels like it doesn't belong on this record. The song seems disjointed and not well put together in my opinion. And after the cohesiveness and general smoothness of Trouble Will Find Me, it's an unwelcome change in my mind. But I'm sure other people really love that song, so.........Opinions eh? untiliwakeup 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oblivions Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 5 minutes ago, nick059 said: I think for me it really is just Turtleneck that I dislike. I know it returns them back to the days of Alligator and whatnot, but it just feels like it doesn't belong on this record. The song seems disjointed and not well put together in my opinion. And after the cohesiveness and general smoothness of Trouble Will Find Me, it's an unwelcome change in my mind. But I'm sure other people really love that song, so.........Opinions eh? I think, for people who love/hate/mildly have opinions about Turtleneck, placing it right in the middle was the smartest choice. I like the song and it functions as a nice intermission between both halves of the album. To be nitpicky, it fits in the least as far as the songwriting and production, so I won't begrudge anyone who dislikes it. Admerr 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shitty Rambo Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 7 hours ago, freedumb said: Potential door hanger variant game: What in the actual fuck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oblivions Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 The irony is that, if we can't enjoy a silly Do Not Disturb door hanger promo item for a dour dad-rock album titled Sleep Well Beast, then we truly are beasts in need of a Do Not Disturb door hanger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethereal Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 cancelled with quickness. very shady on b&n's part... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YouTwo Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 7 hours ago, freedumb said: Potential door hanger variant game: Are you sure that's not just front and back? The hanger is facing the opposite way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lethalenforcer Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 3 minutes ago, YouTwo said: Are you sure that's not just front and back? The hanger is facing the opposite way. The different ones are for left- and right-handed doorknobs jonnywreck, The Saint, Ranch Cat and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew_VB Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 i went to rough trade in brooklyn and they had the 7" flexi with the album. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrodan Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 fuck man. the more I listen to this, the more I love it. cannot wait to see them at the greek in Berkeley next month. will be my second time, and the first time in Barcelona was one of the top 5 shows I have ever seen in my life. also, I like Turtleneck now. haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek™ Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 44 minutes ago, jrodan said: fuck man. the more I listen to this, the more I love it. cannot wait to see them at the greek in Berkeley next month. will be my second time, and the first time in Barcelona was one of the top 5 shows I have ever seen in my life. also, I like Turtleneck now. haha National and Slowdive next month. Let's gooooo. jrodan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrodan Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 13 minutes ago, Derek™ said: National and Slowdive next month. Let's gooooo. I am gonna PM you and we should meet for a drink or something. I will be at the National with my lady as well as my best friend and then Slowdive with my brother. party! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobannaboc Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 11 minutes ago, Derek™ said: National and Slowdive next month. Let's gooooo. I'll be at both of these as well. Pretty sure this will be my third time seeing The National at the Greek. Not upset about that AT ALL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drewberinger Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 Was able to scoop a flexi today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toomanyrecords Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 58 minutes ago, cobannaboc said: I'll be at both of these as well. Pretty sure this will be my third time seeing The National at the Greek. Not upset about that AT ALL. I am likely going to be at that show with my GF. VC meetup?! tvham 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shamrocks Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 my opaque blue US edition is possibly the cleanest disc ive ever played, literally no surface noise first time through Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyhi Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 Was it mentioned there's a tour splatter version of this or did I imagine that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitvinyl Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 (edited) Managed to grab a copy on my way home from work. I'm really bummed out because I've been waiting since the announcement to finally sit down and listen to the whole thing. But I'm currently spinning side A on the white pressing and there's a very annoying scratching noise/really harsh surface noise throughout, only on the left channel. Most noticeable at the beginning of the first and second track. Tested various other records thinking it may have been dust on the needle or tracking force was off but it's only this record. Anyone else? On a side note, they (and Pentagram) really hit it out of the park in terms of packaging for this. The little debossed logo on each insert is a beautiful detail. Edited September 9, 2017 by rabbitvinyl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oblivions Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 I checked with one of my local shops about the 7" flexi and they said they saw nothing about any bonus or additional items being available when they ordered the blue indie exclusive copies. Does anyone know if they were offered by 4AD to specific shops or if certain distributors chose their favorite stores or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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