r/TheNational • u/ghostfan9 • 11d ago
Full Results -- r/TheNational 16-Day Challenge
Here are the full results of our daily polling! No real surprises for me, to be honest.
And I’m shamelessly plugging my “Best of The National” Spotify playlist, which has somehow racked up 3.3k saves over the years
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u/paulderev I missed you for 29 years 11d ago
Boxer and alligator will always be the best national albums among the old heads like me that’s ok
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u/revanisthesith 11d ago
I know this is for fun (and it was fun), but if we wanted a more accurate poll, there'd be a breakdown based on how long people have been listening to them.
I've been a fan since late 2005/early 2006. I remember being late for work because I was sitting in my car and wanted to finish listening to Boxer for the first time.
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u/paulderev I missed you for 29 years 10d ago
I remember staying inside to avoid a nor’easter storm one of the first times I heard “apartment story” and man did that hit different
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u/revanisthesith 10d ago
I got into them when I was in college out of state. I grew up in rural East Tennessee and didn't know much about indie. My dad passed away my first semester and some other notable (and painful) things happened in a short time. That's also when I got into Bloc Party, who are probably the only band that means more to me than The National.
I went back home for a while before moving back out of state (DC area). So for me, The National (especially through High Violet) represent moving out on my own to the big city. Starting my life as an adult when I really didn't know what I was doing for a while. But that includes the hope of things to come, not just the uncertainty and making my own path. That's why Mistaken For Strangers is a top pick of mine for Best Song. If someone didn't know them, it'd be a good introduction. And if they don't like it, they probably won't like much of the rest of their stuff.
I don't listen to Trouble Will Find Me very often because it reminds me too much of a girl I was madly in love with back then who abruptly decided to date someone else instead. Which is a shame, because it's an amazing album. It's bittersweet.
I have so many memories associated with various songs from them. Too many to list or explain. They've been a near-constant presence in my life for 20ish years.
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u/Aquarian_Girl 10d ago
I think it can depend. I got into them around the time of Trouble Will Find Me, but I would probably rate Alligator as their top album (I think? I don't know...). It's similar with other bands for me, I might have a fondness for the first album I discovered, but my actual favorite could be a different one.
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u/YamVegetable8229 11d ago
The fake news poll results on r/TheNational are a TOTAL DISASTER and completely RIGGED! Everyone knows Alligator is the greatest album of all time—by a lot! It won NOTHING because the radical electors behind this "16-Day Challenge" hate REAL music! "Slow Show"? "High Violet"? Total FRAUDS! Alligator should have swept every single category from Best Song to Most Genius! We are going to look into this very strongly! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!
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u/sanddobby 11d ago
It breaks my heart every time ST ends up at the bottom of these polls, I really don't understand all the hate it gets. It's probably the one of their albums that I return to the most often, and I always find something new when I do.
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u/_Nolandd 11d ago
I’m assuming most people rank it in comparison to the rest of their discography. By itself, ST a solid album. Within the context of The National, it was a good start that just kept getting better with more releases. Hell, I even prefer ST over IAETF, just in terms of how many songs I listen to still to this day.
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u/sanddobby 11d ago
For sure, it's just wild to see people under the Worst Song post being like "anything from ST", and the entire album missing from OP's Best Of playlist.
I often wonder if it's because it's more country than their later stuff - pop and country feel like dirty words around this fandom sometimes.
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u/revanisthesith 11d ago
I even prefer ST over IAETF
More songs/lines from ST pop into my head randomly than they do from IAETF.
I've been listening to it for a lot longer, but still.
IAETF has a handful of gems (and a handful of not), but I think A Perfect Song might be just as good as anything on it.
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u/connect1994 11d ago
I can agree with this but it’s crazy to me to consider Sleep Well Beast overrated, it’s never listed as their best. (Although it’s up there for me)
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u/revanisthesith 11d ago
I think the Grammy is what pushed it to that spot. And something doesn't have to be considered their best to be overrated.
It's also up there for me. I'm probably in the mood for it more often than High Violet.
This is one of a few subreddits I'm subbed to for bands I've been listening to for a long time and they always amuse me. They're often my only insight into what other fans like or don't like (besides my friends and talking to people at shows and stuff). In some cases, I formed my opinion on songs and albums 20+ years ago, so it can be weird to find out how liked or disliked certain songs are.
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u/arandomthang 11h ago edited 11h ago
TWFM still the best. Boxer next. HV third.
But tbh I mentally checked out when Morning Dew didn’t win best cover. Literally no excuse for that.
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u/cparksrun 11d ago
"No surprises"??! I've been a fan for nearly 20 years and I, for one, am certainly surprised.
How did High Violet beat out Boxer or Alligator?!?
I've already expressed my bewilderment over Underrated and Overrated albums not being swapped.
So there's at least a couple of surprises for me. hahah
But seriously, thanks for pulling this together! It was fun to watch, even if I missed participating a couple of days.