First Two Pages Of Frankenstein (studio album) by The National

The second National album in a row that has not connected with me. I've been obsessed with the band since the Boxer. I guess they have moved in a different direction that does nothing for me. It's clean, perfectly recorded but on the way the band seem to have smoothed out their edges.

From Strangel 07/19/2023 01:20

They don’t know how to write a bad album. This is another well curated piece of work that has created a real atmosphere reflective of Matt’s musings.

Although it loses its focus somewhere between Alien and Ice Machines, this is still a solid album, with a warm sound cared for in every detail. Tropic Morning News is the best track by far.

This is album is really bland and uninteresting to me. The songs feel clunky at times as well. Taylor brings a high on “The Alcott”, but outside of that there’s not much to bring home.

I, like a lot of others, came into this album with a lot of apprehension. The National have gradually become a candidate for my favourite band over the years, but none of the singles really hit me particularly hard. Each one feeling like something they’d done better in the past.

I’m very happy to say that the album lives up to their reputation, being a much more gentle album representative of what Matt appears to have been going through these last few years. The singles themselves find a home on the album, being integral to the gentle, slow flow that the album finds - one which probably won’t be to everybody’s tastes.

In all, I’m really enjoying the album, and while I think it slumps somewhat in the 3rd quarter, most of it is a really enjoyable, tender ride that I’m sure will sit comfortably in my record collection very soon.

First listen and loving it. A real return to form for one of my favourite bands.

I wasn’t really a fan of the last two studio albums and although this isn’t up there with boxer or high violet, it’s on a par with alligator and that’s not bad company to keep. Album of the year so far

I like big expensive sounding albums with A-star features so this was a real box ticker for me !! Feel it could be a little sharper in places after a first listen but this doesn’t stop it being another treat from The National !!

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Was expecting it to be average after the last two national albums but this is brilliant, sounds perfect having a beer with it playing on vinyl so chilling , aoty for me so far

From VictorVale 05/01/2023 15:02

Fantástico. Fui completamente absorvido pelo álbum!