New Live National - "Slow Show" (Fair Game Session)

Last week we spoke about White Hinterland playing pretty tunes on Fair Game and later getting her gear stolen while still in New York City. Well, it's the National's turn, though luckily they didn't lose their gear. (Knock on wood,... Fair Game Session)'">CONTINUE READING NEW LIVE NATIONAL - "SLOW SHOW" (FAIR GAME SESSION)»

Posted on February 18, 2008 in MP3 (9 comments)
Tags: The National

Camp R.E.M. Talk "Supernatural Superserious," Unveil Accelerate Album Art, Tour With The National & Modest Mouse

Well shit how's that for a post title. Let's just take it in order: We poked our heads into the wine shop on the LES that R.E.M. invaded while filming their "Supernatural Superserious" with La Blogothèque field general Vincent Moon;... Accelerate Album Art, Tour With The National & Modest Mouse'">CONTINUE READING CAMP R.E.M. TALK "SUPERNATURAL SUPERSERIOUS," UNVEIL ACCELERATE ALBUM ART, TOUR WITH THE NATIONAL & MODEST MOUSE»

Posted on January 28, 2008 in Album Art, Tour Dates (7 comments)
Tags: Modest Mouse | R.E.M. | The National

Stereogum's 30 Favorite Live Shows Of 2007

We saw a lot of concerts this year! You probably did too, if you're the sort to be checking music blogs on your downtime over holiday break, so let's all trade notes. Stereogum's Amrit Singh kicks things off with a... CONTINUE READING STEREOGUM'S 30 FAVORITE LIVE SHOWS OF 2007»

Winners Of The 2007 Gummy Awards

Finally, a list you'll hopefully enjoy -- after all, you made it. This year's Gummy voters came out in record numbers, meaning more statistically sound results than ever (the album rankings surer, the hotties hotter). But before we get... CONTINUE READING WINNERS OF THE 2007 GUMMY AWARDS»

Paste Picks Boxer As Year's #1

AAA lovin', no-really-it's-up-to-you subscribin' music rag Paste doesn't offer up the year's first best-of list of the year (that honor goes to Stylus, may they R.I.P.), but they do offer the first in what may be a hott trend this... CONTINUE READING PASTE PICKS BOXER AS YEAR'S #1»

Posted on November 26, 2007 (187 comments)
Tags: The National

Who's The Boss Listening To?

We showed Against Me! some wine-drenched love a ways back and got mostly grief for it. First comment: "This is absolute dog shit." Sigh. If only Bruce Springsteen were a regular Stereogum commenter! We recently mentioned everyone covering the Boss,... CONTINUE READING WHO'S THE BOSS LISTENING TO?»

Marla Hansen/The Forms/Doveman/Elvis Perkins/The National @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg, Brooklyn 10/12-13/07

Took us a few weeks, but finally we hopped the L across the river and had ourselves a night at Bowery Presents' renovated-Northsix digs. Actually, we had ourselves two of 'em -- on account of the National's drawing power,... CONTINUE READING MARLA HANSEN/THE FORMS/DOVEMAN/ELVIS PERKINS/THE NATIONAL @ MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN 10/12-13/07»

Posted on October 15, 2007 in Concert (3 comments)
Tags: Doveman | Elvis Perkins | Marla Hansen | The Forms | The National

NBC's Chuck Is Trying Really Hard To Woo You And According To The Ratings, It's Not Working

Not watching Chuck? That's for the best, although the suits at NBC would be shocked and saddened to hear it, especially since they've decided their 40 Year Old Virgin-meets-The Bourne Ultimatum (but not as good as that sounds) comedy appears... CONTINUE READING NBC'S CHUCK IS TRYING REALLY HARD TO WOO YOU AND ACCORDING TO THE RATINGS, IT'S NOT WORKING»

Austin City Limits '07: Sunday In Photos, "Best Of" List

At some point we called this year's Austin City Limits festival "Friday and Sunday heavy," but that shit ain't right; this year's ACL dance-card was tilted entirely toward the tail end. In fact, pretty sure we saw more bands... CONTINUE READING AUSTIN CITY LIMITS '07: SUNDAY IN PHOTOS, "BEST OF" LIST»

New National Video - "Apartment Story"

Sorry if the Stereoserver's Parse Errors meant you had to get some work done this morning. Let's make amends with a clip from our favorite Brooklyn thrummers. Here's the pitch: The National are playing a dim-lit cocktail party with folks... CONTINUE READING NEW NATIONAL VIDEO - "APARTMENT STORY"»

Posted on September 11, 2007 in Video (8 comments)
Tags: The National

Feist Gets Folks From Broken Social Scene, The National, Grizzly Bear, The New Pornographers, Mates Of State, And Nicole Atkins To Dress In White And Perform "1234" On Letterman

While our tech people are determining if that is the most post-title-characters in Stereogum history, set aside a few minutes and enjoy the spectacle: Feist and friends, on Letterman, doing "1234." Leslie sounds better than she did on Conan and... CONTINUE READING FEIST GETS FOLKS FROM BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE, THE NATIONAL, GRIZZLY BEAR, THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS, MATES OF STATE, AND NICOLE ATKINS TO DRESS IN WHITE AND PERFORM "1234" ON LETTERMAN»

The National (W/ Doveman) Bring "Fake Empire" To Letterman

They're all grows up! We're just getting over having seen the National on MTV with Aziz, Rob, and, Paul (and Ashlee Simpson looming over Matt's shoulder, no less), but seeing 'em with Dave Tuesday night? With Doveman? Sorry, we're a... CONTINUE READING THE NATIONAL (W/ DOVEMAN) BRING "FAKE EMPIRE" TO LETTERMAN»

Posted on July 26, 2007 in Video (12 comments)
Tags: David Letterman | Doveman | The National

The National Cover Psychedelic Furs

We'll be suckers for covers forever more, and especially when they're of tunes that inspire John Hughes films. So by all means, head to Daytrotter for their session with the mighty National, who offer up two from their album-of-the-year contender... CONTINUE READING THE NATIONAL COVER PSYCHEDELIC FURS»

Posted on July 9, 2007 (3 comments)
Tags: Psychedelic Furs | The National

Bonnaroo: Thursday 6/14/07

Greetings from Manchester, Tennessee, where the sun is shining and the restaurants are closing way too early. As they're saying in Centeroo, Thursday is the new Friday: Bonnaroo has gone from a three-day fest with a "pre-night" to a full-on... CONTINUE READING BONNAROO: THURSDAY 6/14/07»

Posted on June 15, 2007 in Concert (8 comments)
Tags: Bonnaroo | Rodrigo Y Gabriela | The National | The Whigs

The National @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC 5/31/07

"How does it sound out there?" Matt Berninger asked after kicking off last night's sold-out Bowery show with a one-two "Start A War"/"Brainy" Boxer combo. A female voice shouted, "Bring up the vocal a little!" After a few laughs, bassist/guitarist... CONTINUE READING THE NATIONAL @ BOWERY BALLROOM, NYC 5/31/07»

Posted on June 1, 2007 in Concert (41 comments)
Tags: Aaron Dessner | Bryce Dessner | The National

The National @ The Human Giant MTV Marathon 5/19/07

Everywhere we looked Friday night was a mind explosion. The surreality of the scene at MTV studios was best captured by Aziz and Fred Armisen squaring off in a Guitar Hero challenge -- using the Times Square big screen as... CONTINUE READING THE NATIONAL @ THE HUMAN GIANT MTV MARATHON 5/19/07»

Arcade Fire @ Radio City Music Hall 5/9/07

Each time through our fair city, Arcade Fire's pulpit gets a little higher, their congregation grows a little bigger (read: prettier), the surrounding hysteria spirals more furiously. But the band aims for the intimate, which means Win wants you in... CONTINUE READING ARCADE FIRE @ RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 5/9/07»

New National Video - "Mistaken For Strangers"

At this point we know a lot more about the National's day jobs than we do about this first clip from the band's excellent album Boxer, but after watching we're gonna guess the shoot stayed under budget. "Mistaken For Strangers"'s... CONTINUE READING NEW NATIONAL VIDEO - "MISTAKEN FOR STRANGERS"»

Posted on May 4, 2007 in Video (17 comments)
Tags: The National

The National Set To Open For Arcade Fire

Hold on to your checkbooks. Hope you already Craigslisted your way into Arcade Fire tickets, 'cause the market's about to get unbearable. The National, who have already sold out a five-night run at Bowery next month, will open for the... CONTINUE READING THE NATIONAL SET TO OPEN FOR ARCADE FIRE»

Posted on April 13, 2007 in Tour Dates (16 comments)
Tags: Arcade Fire | Beyoncé | Modest Mouse | The National

Quit Your Day Job: The National

Anyone who skimmed yesterday's Premature Evaluation -- which came pretty close to that other "e" word -- oughtta know how Stereogum feels about the National. The quintet's fourth full-length album Boxer, a sumptuous trek into a surrealistic Cheeverian realm (count... CONTINUE READING QUIT YOUR DAY JOB: THE NATIONAL»

Posted on April 4, 2007 in MP3, Quit Your Day Job (16 comments)
Tags: The National

Premature Evaluation: The National - Boxer

A couple years ago Alligator put the National on the map for many listeners, largely through a combination of vocalist Matt Berninger's Jack 'n' Coke baritone, novelistic lyrics, and tendency to lose his voice on shadowy, boiled-over rock songs like... CONTINUE READING PREMATURE EVALUATION: THE NATIONAL - BOXER»

Posted on April 3, 2007 in Premature Evaluation (21 comments)
Tags: Aaron Dessner | Bryce Dessner | The National

New National - "Fake Empire"

Oh yes, the first track from Boxer is here. Though the record's a star-studded affair (Sufjan on piano for a few tracks, Doveman lending his keys to others), pretty sure this one is pure National. Sounds like Matt's got Big... CONTINUE READING NEW NATIONAL - "FAKE EMPIRE"»

Posted on March 22, 2007 in MP3 (22 comments)
Tags: The National

The National Live Video - "Start A War"

Just like you, one of our favorite records from '05 was The National's Alligator, and their next effort Boxer is out in just months (5/23 on Beggars Banquet). We've heard about as much of the new as you (read: none),... CONTINUE READING THE NATIONAL LIVE VIDEO - "START A WAR"»

Posted on March 20, 2007 in Tour Dates, Video (3 comments)
Tags: The National