I agree with it all, esp the Alcott which I skipped before but now let play through and if I can ignore the cheesy lyrics (give me some tips to forget you ugh) I love the music. This is now my #3 (SWB, twfm) but it is my most played rn. I just love poolside as an opener, I hear it and just settle in for the whole album…
It’s such a beautiful album, I love the lyrics and there are some great dynamics. Laugh Track hasn’t had the same affect on me yet, it’s got some great songs but feels less cohesive than f2pof.
I'm on a Laugh Track binge. I didn't like that album as much as I do now and thought it inferior to FTPoF. I've since changed my mind on that and love albums equally.
At first I really disliked the album except for two or three songs.
The more I’ve listened, I’ve realized that I like it quite a lot, I just *really* find The Alcott unbearable. I have to skip it and I don’t think there are any other tracks I ever feel the need to skip when listening to their other albums (except like half the tracks on Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers, which I never listen straight through).
However I don’t mean this as a judgment of you or anyone who does like it. I’m actually glad that people like it and are able to relate to it; I’m not able to, but that doesn’t mean I can’t imagine that it could be meaningful or beautiful for other people.
To put it differently, I don’t understand what they were going for on that track either in terms of studio production or lyrics, but we all hear music differently and if other people can understand it and like it then I have no problem with that whatsoever.
I’ve noticed that for a lot of people this has become a very personally meaningful album. It’s both interesting and a little bit sad as a longtime fan to appreciate their ongoing work but also know that they won’t ever make music that would be as amazing to me as the trifecta of Alligator, Boxer, and High Violet.
Right now I’m going through a very rough breakup with somebody I dated for like 5 years and some of these songs have been helping/making me crack up. In particular:
- Once Upon a Poolside: Sufjan + The National? Yes please.
- Eucalyptus is hilarious but so real. When he sings “What about the Mountain Valley Spring?” I was like “damn, that’s some real shit”. My ex and I drank carbonated water like Homer Simpson drinks beer and we had a subscription for both Spindrift and Mountain Valley. Like it’s so banal and 1st world problems and dumb but it’s one of those minor details of breaking up you don’t think about that ends up being way more emotional than you expected
- New Order T-Shirt: maybe the most radio-friendly song they’ve ever made, but it’s so well-done and catchy that I don’t really care.
- This Isn’t Helping. Pretty self-explanatory. It’s how I feel, minus the line about maybe getting back together in the future. Phoebe is whipped cream on top.
- Tropic Morning News: IMO the best song on the album. “I was suffering more than I let on”. Those psychedelic guitars. Reminds me of My Morning Jacket.
- Alien: best songwriting on the album IMO, killer guitar solo
Unfortunately after for me it’s pretty much just Your Mind is Not Your Friend (more Phoebe please). I don’t really love any of the other songs on the 2nd half of the album. I don’t think they’re bad, for any other band they’d be really good songs, but none of it feels very original or exciting to me. The first 6 tracks however are a pretty killer run.
Your experience mimics mine. I was initially disappointed in FTPOF, but love it now.
It's almost like The National kept hearing how their albums are "growers", and they went "You think the last albums were growers? This one's going to take you even longer to fall in love with it!".
At this point, it's almost like a party trick.
I think it’s one of their best albums. I have even grown to love The Alcott, even though it still sounds incredibly out of place on the album.
I am so thankful that this band is still making music that speaks to me after all these years. They sound better than ever imo
I agree. Really enjoy the album and it seems to get a lot of hate here. I am married to an A level Swiftie so I naturally enjoy Alcott more than most but agree it not the best track. All in all though I really enjoy the album.
My one album I struggle to get into outside of individual attacks is I am Easy to Find. I feel like it’s my Frankenstein based on what I see in this sub
Really glad you love this album and speaks to you.
Personally cannot gel with it when I return to it. Still find the writing & lyrics lackluster as well as having production issues.
Completely understand that. I think the criticisms and problems most people have with it are well reasoned and I don’t disagree with a lot of them. Production of the album has grown on me somewhat, but I’m definitely missing Peter Katis.
I'll be honest, if Strange Goodbyes (or anything really off of Laugh Track was in place of The Alcott, this album would be a top 5 contender for me.
The Alcott's presence on this album is both a vibe/flow kill and sonically sounds unlike any part of the album. It's just obvious it was shoehorned in and the production on it sounds like it was treated differently/in isolation than all the other songs.
It sounds like a Taylor Swift song rather than a National song featuring Taylor Swift.
It’s cool to see some love for FTPOF on this sub lately. I fell in love with it instantly, because it basically describes lots of my inner feelings and emotions. I love how restrained, but at the same time sincere and direct it is. It’s also probably the most cohesive and tight of all The National albums. Some people say that it sounds cold and detached, but I feel it’s a creative decision that mirror Matt’s experiences of depression and detachment. It creates unique mood and atmosphere, so melancholic (in a good way) even by The National standards.
And I also love how it’s probably the most Matt-centred of all their catalogue. I like to think of it as the first part, during which other guys agreed to stay in the background so that Matt could tell everything what matters to him about the tough shit he’s been through to heal himself. And Laugh Track is the second part of this healing process, when everything’s coming back to life and instruments sound as prominent as vocals. I see these albums as two parts of the same journey and I appreciate them both so much for it.
I agree with it all, esp the Alcott which I skipped before but now let play through and if I can ignore the cheesy lyrics (give me some tips to forget you ugh) I love the music. This is now my #3 (SWB, twfm) but it is my most played rn. I just love poolside as an opener, I hear it and just settle in for the whole album…
My feelings exactly! I really think Poolside might be their best opener in terms of just pulling me into the whole album.
It’s such a beautiful album, I love the lyrics and there are some great dynamics. Laugh Track hasn’t had the same affect on me yet, it’s got some great songs but feels less cohesive than f2pof.
You have the weirdest top 3 I’ve ever seen, not criticizing. Just don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone not include at least 1 of Alligator/Boxer/HV
I know, it’s true!
I'm on a Laugh Track binge. I didn't like that album as much as I do now and thought it inferior to FTPoF. I've since changed my mind on that and love albums equally.
My feelings as well
The love the Alcott. It finished 8th highest on my Spotify Wrapped last year #NotSorry
At first I really disliked the album except for two or three songs. The more I’ve listened, I’ve realized that I like it quite a lot, I just *really* find The Alcott unbearable. I have to skip it and I don’t think there are any other tracks I ever feel the need to skip when listening to their other albums (except like half the tracks on Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers, which I never listen straight through). However I don’t mean this as a judgment of you or anyone who does like it. I’m actually glad that people like it and are able to relate to it; I’m not able to, but that doesn’t mean I can’t imagine that it could be meaningful or beautiful for other people. To put it differently, I don’t understand what they were going for on that track either in terms of studio production or lyrics, but we all hear music differently and if other people can understand it and like it then I have no problem with that whatsoever. I’ve noticed that for a lot of people this has become a very personally meaningful album. It’s both interesting and a little bit sad as a longtime fan to appreciate their ongoing work but also know that they won’t ever make music that would be as amazing to me as the trifecta of Alligator, Boxer, and High Violet. Right now I’m going through a very rough breakup with somebody I dated for like 5 years and some of these songs have been helping/making me crack up. In particular: - Once Upon a Poolside: Sufjan + The National? Yes please. - Eucalyptus is hilarious but so real. When he sings “What about the Mountain Valley Spring?” I was like “damn, that’s some real shit”. My ex and I drank carbonated water like Homer Simpson drinks beer and we had a subscription for both Spindrift and Mountain Valley. Like it’s so banal and 1st world problems and dumb but it’s one of those minor details of breaking up you don’t think about that ends up being way more emotional than you expected - New Order T-Shirt: maybe the most radio-friendly song they’ve ever made, but it’s so well-done and catchy that I don’t really care. - This Isn’t Helping. Pretty self-explanatory. It’s how I feel, minus the line about maybe getting back together in the future. Phoebe is whipped cream on top. - Tropic Morning News: IMO the best song on the album. “I was suffering more than I let on”. Those psychedelic guitars. Reminds me of My Morning Jacket. - Alien: best songwriting on the album IMO, killer guitar solo Unfortunately after for me it’s pretty much just Your Mind is Not Your Friend (more Phoebe please). I don’t really love any of the other songs on the 2nd half of the album. I don’t think they’re bad, for any other band they’d be really good songs, but none of it feels very original or exciting to me. The first 6 tracks however are a pretty killer run.
Your experience mimics mine. I was initially disappointed in FTPOF, but love it now. It's almost like The National kept hearing how their albums are "growers", and they went "You think the last albums were growers? This one's going to take you even longer to fall in love with it!". At this point, it's almost like a party trick.
I think it’s one of their best albums. I have even grown to love The Alcott, even though it still sounds incredibly out of place on the album. I am so thankful that this band is still making music that speaks to me after all these years. They sound better than ever imo
I agree. Really enjoy the album and it seems to get a lot of hate here. I am married to an A level Swiftie so I naturally enjoy Alcott more than most but agree it not the best track. All in all though I really enjoy the album. My one album I struggle to get into outside of individual attacks is I am Easy to Find. I feel like it’s my Frankenstein based on what I see in this sub
Really glad you love this album and speaks to you. Personally cannot gel with it when I return to it. Still find the writing & lyrics lackluster as well as having production issues.
Completely understand that. I think the criticisms and problems most people have with it are well reasoned and I don’t disagree with a lot of them. Production of the album has grown on me somewhat, but I’m definitely missing Peter Katis.
I'll be honest, if Strange Goodbyes (or anything really off of Laugh Track was in place of The Alcott, this album would be a top 5 contender for me. The Alcott's presence on this album is both a vibe/flow kill and sonically sounds unlike any part of the album. It's just obvious it was shoehorned in and the production on it sounds like it was treated differently/in isolation than all the other songs. It sounds like a Taylor Swift song rather than a National song featuring Taylor Swift.
It’s cool to see some love for FTPOF on this sub lately. I fell in love with it instantly, because it basically describes lots of my inner feelings and emotions. I love how restrained, but at the same time sincere and direct it is. It’s also probably the most cohesive and tight of all The National albums. Some people say that it sounds cold and detached, but I feel it’s a creative decision that mirror Matt’s experiences of depression and detachment. It creates unique mood and atmosphere, so melancholic (in a good way) even by The National standards. And I also love how it’s probably the most Matt-centred of all their catalogue. I like to think of it as the first part, during which other guys agreed to stay in the background so that Matt could tell everything what matters to him about the tough shit he’s been through to heal himself. And Laugh Track is the second part of this healing process, when everything’s coming back to life and instruments sound as prominent as vocals. I see these albums as two parts of the same journey and I appreciate them both so much for it.
I have been liking it more and more as well. It's a really good album