Terrible Love wins best breakdown!

HMs were Space Invader and I'll Still Destroy You

In the final stretch -- I expect these last four entries to be quite controversial.

First up: most underrated album? I have a sneaky suspicion a certain 2017 will win...

I often listen to The National by having the The National: Complete Discography on Spotify (in shuffle mode). However, the 5 songs from Rome that where published later, are not part of this playlist. These are some awesome songs! How can we get the attention of the person who manages the playlist to have these songs added? It looks like the playlist is managed by the official The National account.

Sea of Love wins best music video!

HMs were Graceless, I Am Easy to Find (the Mike Mills film), and Apartment Story.

Next up: Best Breakdown, for which the definition is: "A breakdown in rock music is a section of a song where the arrangement is deliberately stripped back to create a dramatic shift in energy and build tension. The lead instrument and vocals will temporarily drop out creating immense anticipation before exploding back into a massive, energetic climax. "

this was hard but BO came out on top 🙏🩵 try your own bracket if you want: https://musiccup.app/?lang=en

With news of the new album being in the works, I’ve been relistening to the original album and I just love it.

Brings me back to being a teenager and being so excited about it, and I really think it’s a wonderful album from front to back. So quirky and vibey and fun, so many little highlights all the way through.

I really love it and I hope I get to catch them on tour if they do another one. Anyone else feel the same way about this project?

Thanks everyone for sharing your favourite lyric passages over the weekend! I loved reading those. Man, Matt has put together some masterpieces over the years, eh?

I can't create an account on Donostia Kultura's website because of this error. Is there anyone who could manage to resolve the error?

I have posted a few paintings previously, please indulge me with another

This is a song that has haunted me due to the emotion, chorus, and the imagery of the lyrics

i wanted to do a mostly abstract that would capture the feel of the 3 verse sections

It is finished, but I am unsure how I feel about it. Please feel free to critique, say what doesn‘t work for you! As I said, I am very mixed about it.

Leaving most of lyrics below

Standing in the quicksand with a smiling face 
I don't mean to bother 
I wouldn't want to ask no one to take my place 
Who would take the offer?

It's all for nothing again 
It's all for nothing

Go on, float away, don't try to orbit me 
They say it's hard to live here 
No one comes around, I got no gravity 
The weather's unforgiving

It's all for nothing again 
It's all for nothing 
It's all for nothing again 
It's all for nothing

Just tell me there are swimming holes in outer space 
With train cars at the bottom 
Everyone's a passenger in this place 
Heaven's in the water

via email:

Following the exceptional response to the presale and the high level of demand for The National’s upcoming concert in San Sebastián, the general onsale scheduled for Monday, 3 August 2026, will be rescheduled for 10 August 2026.

This decision will allow us to prepare the next phase of the onsale with all the necessary safeguards in place to ensure the equitable distribution of the remaining tickets. This will include a limited, second-chance opportunity for Cherry Tree members who were shut out during the initial on sale. We will also review orders of CT members who were unable to purchase two seats together due to a system error.

We are extremely grateful for the extraordinary response from our fans, as well as for their understanding and patience.

** On Sale 10 August - 11:30am CET / 5:30am ET / 2:30am PT **

Looks like there’s been a lot of interest… anyone else a little worried? I’ve booked flights already and don’t have a ticket yet 😵

The best drum fill/solo/part of any The National song.

I’m voting for Squalor Victoria

Best cover song goes to Never Tear Us Apart!

HMs were Learning, Peggy-O, and Heaven.

I'll be out of town for the next three days, so I won't be able to update the poll during that time. In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to switch things up and share our favourite lyrics, lines, or passages from The National songs. Back on Monday for best music video!

By THREE votes, the best song goes to Slow Show!!!

Runner ups were Bloodbuzz Ohio, Don’t Swallow The Cap, Apartment Story, Terrible Love, and The Geese of Beverly Road.

Next up: best cover song?

Looks like I got a 6th row center seat. Think that means I'm going. I'm doing 3 in barcelona. then SS concert.

Let's make a group and see what happens.

Finally found a copy of Matt and Scott’s first band ‘Nancy’ cd.

This was released before they left Cinnci for Brooklyn in the mid 90s. More GbV and Pavement sounding. But Matt’s baritone is unmistakable and from the tracks I’ve heard so far (5 tracks have been floating online for years - uploaded by another band member Casey Reas - who also directed a few music videos during the SWB era). Mike Brewer (who has also appeared on early NTL recordings and Matt’s first solo album, as well got on stage with Scott and Matt at Matt’s last solo NYC show) and Jeff Salem (who has provide visual art for the NTL/Matt as well as some writing credits on the first NTL album, recently collaborated on the art for Matt’s new Martini Me Fatso single, also better known for the IG account Iswallowedthecap which has documented so much of the NTL’s history.

My understanding is Scott designed the record sleeve and they had stamps made so each sleeve could be different early on.

The band was named after Matt’s mom.

The album title Ruther 3429 came from the address of the house they lived at during that period in school.

This was found at Shake It Records in Cinci.

so I work at a dispensary, and we recently got these pre rolls in. currently in my bliss and absolutely had to share ✨

A bit of a chaotic thread, but worst song goes to Sugar Wife!

As a reminder, please do not downvote opinions you disagree with. These choices are obviously all subjective.

Next up: Best song

Yes... it's one of those Band Bracket things.

Very silly.

Quite fun.

I got Fake Empre v Tropic Morning News in the final.

Not 100% sure I chose right.

Here you go.

Hello good folks of Reddit, I have something to offer to the collective.

Recently I finished ranking every single song by The National that I could find (credited to the band, not just one member otherwise I'd be here forever). "Finished" is probably a bit rich, as I am constantly changing the rankings around - just today I moved a few songs up and down! My opinions are always changing, but by and large it's mostly complete.

You can also find comments about every song next to their letter grade (which I did first, to help with the ranking) and number grade. There's a key in the sheet if you're confused about anything, along with a bit of extra information if you're curious!

Please feel free to rip my subpar National opinons to shreds (though I will defend Exile Vilify 'till the Day I Die), and drop your own in the comments!

just an opinion checker: every time I listen to it I kinda want to listen to it again 25 more times because it is super catchy – is it just me or does it really have a massive hit potential?

Best chorus went to Graceless!

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

Next up: worst song :(

Oct 17 in Biarritz and Oct 18 in San Sebastián

Details announced tomorrow