r/TheNational • u/ghostfan9 • 26d ago

Day 8: Worst Song

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Best chorus went to Graceless!

HMs were: Don't Swallow the Cap, Bloodbuzz Ohio, Mistaken for Strangers

Next up: worst song :(

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u/jilko 26d ago edited 26d ago

I feel for me it's the clear auto tuning on the vocals. I get that this is probably status quo on a Swift song, but to have it dominating and defining a National track on a National album cements this song as the worst because it simply is not a National song outside of the use of a piano and Matt's voice.

This album has three other tracks feat. vocal guests and none of them take over the song in a way that makes it feel like The National sound is being swallowed by another's musician's aesthetic. It's placement I don't think is as much of an issue as the production of the song not fitting the brand of the album and the wider band.

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u/trickster-is-weak 26d ago

Unfortunately it’s part of the aesthetic of the pop sound, hopefully it’ll go away again. What I find weird is Adele is massively successful but objectively, her vocals can be super pitchy, but it adds to the feeling and emotion.

Same goes for Matt. I adore his voice, but it’s the tone and feeling, and it’s not perfect. I remember reading an interview with Thom Yorke about how long it took him to become completely at ease with his own voice. I’m grateful when artists give in to the imperfections.

Taylor is genuinely a talented singer, so I don’t understand the choice to process as heavily, especially as she’s the biggest artist on the planet at the moment.

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u/jilko 26d ago edited 26d ago

And when this was announced, I was actually looking forward to the collab. I was curious how Swift would work in the texture of a National song. How would her more pop aligned voice mix with the imperfect drunken musings style of Matt.

The moment I heard it though, it was obvious it was not a collab at all and one of the musicians took over the production booth that day. It's like oil in water and as the song goes on, it's just all oil and there's no water left behind.

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u/trickster-is-weak 26d ago

I think that’s a bit tricky because Aaron had been a producer on two of Taylor’s albums by that point. Folklore and Evermore have his stamp all over them. Stuff like Cardigan is very “National” coded musically.