http://www.americanmary.com/music/ Abel is my favourite track at ze moment

Una, nice one. I was gonna raise a thread on these. I havent heard a thing on them. Are they that good. Who do they sound like, who do you think they are influenced by

Whelans gig in November I think. Maybe the 17th?

Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes. The National are so under-rated its just criminal. Although many people cite 'Alligator' as their best album, I prefer 'Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers'. The gig is on in Whelan's on Sat Nov 19th.....Road Recs have plenty of tickets!!!!

They sound like: when you hear a new rock band, and they're trying to do the basic rock and roll things, but they just don't get it right, or maybe get it right a couple of times (like BRMC's first album), well, I think The National get it right ALL the time. It's a bit old-fashioned rock and roll. Heavy, with vocals that are a bit depressed, but then really upbeat guitars, like on 'Abel', which is just a great rock track with excellent drumming. So they can do the durrrty rawk thing (Abel) and then they have songs like 'All The Wine' that are soft kind of self-hating and really melodic. They're not particularly experimental or avant guarde, just solid. I suppose The National appeal to the rock teen in me. Murder Me Rachel http://www.americanmary.com/mp3s/murder_me_rachael.mp3 All The Wine http://downloads.betterpropaganda.com/download.php?file=The_National-All_The_Wine_128.mp3 Wasp Nest http://www.americanmary.com/mp3s/01%20Wasp%20Nest.mp3 Slipping Husband http://www.americanmary.com/mp3s/slipping_husband.mp3 Cold Girl Fever http://www.americanmary.com/mp3s/cold_girl_fever.mp3 I don't have an mp3 link for 'Abel', but here's the video (Quicktime) http://www.partizan.us/musicvideos/ais/national.html

Mr.November, Alligator album closer, is one of the songs of the year. Gan diggity, gan dabht.

Nothing worthy to add except to say that I agree, Looking for Astronauts is my song..(not literaly of course)

Ok, ive gone out and bought alligator...it had better be good or im going to call around to you all personally and shout loud obscenities at ye!!! :)

2 songs in...ye have me

Here's a live review of them on their current tour: http://pitchforkmedia.com/features/live/n/national-05/

They're the business. They sound like they're comfortable in their skins. AMAZING at Reading. Mr. November was mind-blowing. The Geese Of Beverly Road, and All The Wine. Aaaaahh....

They've always reminded me of the tindersticks (now, there's a band) and nick cave to be honest. I picked up their first album (eponymous) last year instead of 'sad songs..' and it is really good too. Must go gig for november. Anyone familiar with 'grand national', the english duo. Well worth checking out for those who like phoenix.

Despite the fact that I named them as the current gig of the fortnight it had been a couple of months since I'd listened to Alligator. I just gave it a listen, forgotten how good it was, really looking forward to this gig.

Anyone else there last night? I really loved it, just pips Caribou as my best non-festival gig in Ireland this year. From where I was standing you could see them looking down at their instruments grinning like mad when the crowd started singing along.

Wow, these guys are amazing. Much better than anthing I have heard in a long time.

Fantastic gig! The singer looks like he's about to keel over after every song; genuine madness, take note pete doherty... And is it finally the backlash against the bloody talkers that invade all the gigs! Everyone was telling them to shut up it was music to my ears!

yeah, twas fantastic alrite!! It's great when bands look like they hadnt expected the reception they got. Never seen a frontman so awkward on stage. Endearingly so, mind. They really put everything into it. I've only got Alligator (been looking for Sad Songs... for weeks in Dublin to no avail) and I loved the stuff I didnt know too! Nice badges as well.

For once me and Una are in agreement ! The National Are Great ! and underrated yes quite ! I missed the gig on Saturday which I had been really looking forward to for the past couple of weeks which sucks, but hey....

Due to previous engagements, I missed the gig, so please stop talking about it, or I will have a large dry cleaning bill from vomitting with jealousy. :(

My God was that gig amazing... I've never seen such persistence from the crowd for an encore... Got some brilliant videos, was right at the front, the file size is massive though, just trying to work out a way to get them up for all you poor b*stards who missed it.. Anyone have any comments on the support, Film School? Only got the last half of their set but sounded solid, and the base player was pretty hot ;p

My mate was in to see them and said they were very standard fare... Your average indie rock band

I placed a bug in the dressing room beforehand and here's part of the transcript Film School guy: OK dudes, what we'll do tonight is play something that sounds like a bunch of 80's bands and then finish it with a big noise wigout. We'll do that for every song, that way people will think that we're OK but nothing special. Rest of band in unison: Sounds like a plan.

I keep thinking Crash Test Dummies when I hear the singers voice, puts me off....

I was able to pick up both the previous ablums in Tower last night if anyone is on the lookout for them.

Ive been looking for ages! Could only find Cherry something. Cherry Tree? Anyways, thanks!

Saw them on Jools Holland last night, thought they seem pretty interesting. I'm currently downloading some of the mp3s put up by Una, via the blistering speed of my 56k modem.

Bit underwhelming on Jools I thought. Wish they'd done Mr.November. Wouldve won quite a few converts I think.

Agreed Norman, I thought it was an odd choice.. although Lit Up is still a great up tempo song, Mr November or Abel might have attracted more eager ears... I thought Secret Meeting opening the gig in Whelans was great, but it didn't seem to project well on Jools, I suppose they were just trying to display their versatility, what with one big pop song and then the more delicate sound. Then again my housemate watched it with me and for someone who had never heard them before, he was still impressed.

Methinks Matt Berringer repeatedly screaming "I won't f**k us over" wouldn't have gone over too well with the Jools production team so that's probably why Mr. November didn't get played.

Bah! It's post-post-watershed! If that was the reason, tis no reason at all!

the greatest band on this planet.