timsimmons Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 (edited) I rearranged the tracklist and cut some stuff. I think it makes for a much tighter record. 1. Quiet Light 2. Oblivions 3. You Had Your Soul With You 4. The Pull Of You 5. Hey Rosey 6. I Am Easy To Find 7. Not in Kansas 8. So Far So Fast 9. Hairpin Turns 10. Rylan 11. Light Years I did enjoy this record, but I'm pretty positive they are my favorite band and probably have been for longer than any other band I've loved in my life, so I'm being a bit of a homer here. I guess this is a weaker album from them, but everything but s/t is an 'A' record (either A+, A or A-). So I guess this is A-? Edited April 2, 2020 by timsimmons hobbesthecat 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsimmons Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 (edited) My album rank. A+ Alligator High Violet A Boxer Cherry Tree EP Sleep Well Beast Trouble Will Find Me A- I Am Easy To Find Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers C/C- s/t Edited April 2, 2020 by timsimmons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbesthecat Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 A+ Alligator Boxer SSDL A High Violet (would have been A+ if they kept the guitar solo outro for Geeks and didn’t use a demo version for Terrible Love) A - TWFM B+ SWB B S/T D IAETF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsimmons Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 I also think the way they do Pull of You live is way better than on the record. If matt did the live shouty bits on the record too, it would have been a bigger standout and injected some excitement in whats a pretty even tempo record. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toomanyrecords Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 To me, Sleep Well Beast is a colossal snoozer compared to their other records. System and Guilty Party are the only two stand outs, the rest all feels like the same song over and over. I'd give a nod to Turtleneck for being the most aggressive song but it doesn't land for me. Day I Die and Walk It Back are pretty good too. I like it, but it's their worst album. I'm shocked at all the IAETF hate in here. The female vocalists add such a beautiful and unique layer to the sound they've built over many albums. The first 7 songs are among the best National songs of all time, and the titular track is in my top 3 (next to All The Wine and Slow Show) - the 2nd half is a bit more experimental and less tight but I really enjoy everything. I hope some of you National fans can come around to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepperonigin Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 I like Sleep Well Beast way more than IAETF, I think it's one of their best albums start to finish. I'm shocked anyone could thing that's more of a snoozefest than IAETF. Regardless it's always a good sign when the opinions of a band's discography are so diverse and varied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billya Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 I wish that the songs from IAETF did as much for me on the album as they did when I saw them live the first time. Hey Rosey, Where Is Her Head and the title track stand out so much more live than on the record. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldKentuckyShark Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 I like all National albums. But for me it’s SSFDL and then everything else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsimmons Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Interesting. Have you been a. Dan since that record? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldKentuckyShark Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 34 minutes ago, timsimmons said: Interesting. Have you been a. Dan since that record? Oh yeah. Liked everyone since then to a varying degree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamover Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 I didn't fully appreciate IAETF until I listened to it at home on vinyl. Now I spin it all the time. It's really grown on me. Also, I just received Cherry Tree Vol 2. It appears to be the full recording of this show: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-national/2019/mission-ballroom-denver-co-3b9ca494.html hobbesthecat 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toomanyrecords Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 (edited) Spinning Vol 2 right now. Sounds incredible. It's criminal that we don't have more live National on vinyl. Disk 2 has a slight visual warp but doesn't affect how it sounds thankfully. All the Wine and Day I Die (currently spinning) his voice is sounding a little shot though... Edited April 3, 2020 by Kanye West Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lethalenforcer Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toomanyrecords Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Yeah, having finished this now, his voice is super off for the second half. No idea why they chose this outside of the fire setlist. Kinda a bummer since his voice is so integral to the band's sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbesthecat Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 22 minutes ago, Kanye West said: Yeah, having finished this now, his voice is super off for the second half. No idea why they chose this outside of the fire setlist. Kinda a bummer since his voice is so integral to the band's sound. if this is true, after I take a listen, I may end up not renewing my membership - not worth the $50 yearly fees and honestly I don't go to concerts much anymore rather put more money towards radiohead when / if they ever come back to northern CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbesthecat Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 @lethalenforcer can you let us know your thoughts on Matt's vocal after you give it a spin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsimmons Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Just got mine. Hows the pressing? I see its pressed at GZ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lethalenforcer Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 3 minutes ago, hobbesthecat said: @lethalenforcer can you let us know your thoughts on Matt's vocal after you give it a spin? I stole the pics from Reddit, my copy will be here tomorrow but I'll add my input too. According to threads on there (and actual reviews from the show) his voice does indeed break down as it goes. The pressing itself is scoring good reviews, though. hobbesthecat 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbesthecat Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 1 minute ago, lethalenforcer said: I stole the pics from Reddit, my copy will be here tomorrow but I'll add my input too. According to threads on there (and actual reviews from the show) his voice does indeed break down as it goes. The pressing itself is scoring good reviews, though. thanks!!! why the f would they pick a show where the lead singer's vocals are strained...wtf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsimmons Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 His voice goes out most shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toomanyrecords Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 12 minutes ago, timsimmons said: Just got mine. Hows the pressing? I see its pressed at GZ. Pressing sounds excellent which is why it's even more of a shame about Matt's voice for the final third. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbesthecat Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 6 minutes ago, timsimmons said: His voice goes out most shows. i guess i got lucky seeing them at the tour opening for TWFM didn't know this timsimmons 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Barkley Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 The beanie is pretty rad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsimmons Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Agreed. Love it. Shame it’s spring. But also we’ll be indoors For the next 6 months so I can still wear it everyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsimmons Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Matt needs to stop smoking, and maybe save shorty songs until the encore. Maybe get a vocal coach too. save that voice bro. Probably why they don’t play Abel anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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