Tuesday, 28 Sep 2010
The National play the Orpheum Theatre tonight in Madison (tickets still available). They’re also in playing a short set at the Obama rally taking place later today at the Library Mall on the UW campus. I saw the band on Sunday night in Chicago catching them tear up the Riviera. The night ended with a blistering version of “Terrible Love,” concluding with Matt Berninger circling atop the back bar on the main floor. Unforgettable.
Below, I’ve listed my favorite songs by the National in no particular order. In doing so, I completely realize this is a list that is ever changing. That being said, I thought it would be a fun discussion to have so please feel free to share your favorites in the comments.
Terrible Love (listen)
Mr. November (listen)
Squalor Victoria (listen)
Conversation 16 (listen)
Fake Empire (listen)
Slow Show (listen)
Secret Meeting (listen)
Looking For Astronauts (listen)
Lemonworld (listen)
Murder Me Rachel (listen)
Lucky You (listen)
Bloodbuzz Ohio (listen)
Pretty In Pink (Psychedelic Furs Cover) (listen)
Daughters Of The Soho Riots (listen)
Abel (listen)
The National will release an expanded edition of High Violet on November 22nd that includes a bonus disc featuring unreleased material and live songs. Details here.
MP3: The National – “Bloodbuzz Ohio”
++
Buy: The National – High Violet
September 28th, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Solid list… one addition for me is “Wasp Nest.” That was the first song I heard from the group, and hooked me from the start.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvElMzWNJGc
September 28th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
no “Apartment Story”? That would definitely be near the top of my list. So excited to see them tonight though! I’m hoping to hear all these songs actually.
September 28th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
judging by your tweeted pic – i must’ve been near you on Sun night. . .
great list – although i’d probably have ‘available’ and ‘thrilling of claire’ on there somewhere. . .
there’s just so many gosh darn good songs. . .
September 28th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Yep, that’s a strong list alright.
Here are a few to add to your list.
Cold Girl Fever
Start a War
Apartment Story
All the Wine
Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks
September 29th, 2010 at 9:11 am
I would have to add “So Far Around the Bend” to my list, and was a little bummed that I didn’t get to hear it last night…. still a killer show though!
September 29th, 2010 at 10:17 am
“Looking for Astronauts?” Really? I consider that one of their stinkers in a catalog that has very few weak songs.
I would add “Available,” “90 Mile Waterwall,” Afraid of Everyone,” “Wasp Nest,” “All the Wine,” and maybe “Thirsty.”
I guess it is difficult to get it down to only 15!
September 29th, 2010 at 10:51 am
“About Today” is without question the best National song. And just when I thought they weren’t going to play it, oh yeah, they played it.
Seen them several times and never was the stage banter so playful — I think the band must have been pretty charged up from the afternoon’s rally.
September 29th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Abel
All The Wine
Apartment Story
Available
Baby, We’ll Be Fine
Driver Surprise Me
Fake Empire
The Geese of Beverly Road
Lit Up
Mr November
Pay For Me
Secret Meeting
Slow Show
Sorrow
Theory of the Crows
September 29th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
In no particular order:
01. “So Far Around the Bend”
02. “Mistaken For Strangers”
03. “Abel”
04. “Mr. November”
05. “Squalor Victoria”
06. “Terrible Love”
07. “Lemmonworld”
08. “Bloodbuzz Ohio”
09. “Afraid of Anyone”
10. “England”
September 29th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Was at the show Sunday too and touched Matt as he ambled back to the bar!
Your list is missing:
“Runaway”
“Karen”
“All the Wine”
“Apartment Story”
What am I thinking? How could anyone make a finite list of great National songs? This is the best band out there – it’s ridiculous how incredible they are.
September 29th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Yeah, you can never really pick a top x-amount of anything, really, that is definitive, but of the songs you haven’t listed, there are 2 that i would definitely have listed; ‘Start A War’ & ‘About Today (live version)’
The recorded version of About Today doesn’t really do too much for me but that extended live version finds its way through me every time and has never really left me in some ways, especially with the brilliant live video Vincent Moon (of LaBlogotheque) caught of it. Feels more loose, and i guess more honest, and more human, if that makes sense. Probably sounds real corny saying things like that but i don’t know how else to say it. It’s just one of those songs that doesn’t feel as though it’s separate from you (me). I dunno. I guess that’s how i feel about it, anyway.
September 29th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
A little sappy, but the when the violin kicks in on 90 Mile Water Wall, it always gets me.
So how could your hair
Have the nerve to dance around like that, blowing
And how could the air
Have the nerve to blow your hair around like that
September 29th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
I was at the show last night in Madison, but had to head out during Fake Empire (baby sitter needed to go home). What else did they play? Does anyone have a set list?
BTW, they were AMAZING. My first time seeing them.
September 30th, 2010 at 8:22 am
anything from any album besides High Violet
September 30th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Stage set list for the other night read:
Runaway
Anyone’s Ghost
Mistaken for Strangers
Blood Buzz
Slow Show
Squalor Victoria
Afraid of Everyone
Available
Conversation 16
Apartment Story
Sorrow
Abel
Daughters
England
Fake Empire
Vanderlyle
Secret Meeting
Mr. November
Terrible Love
I seem to remember them playing something in place of Secret Meeting.
October 6th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
Favorite Songs recorded and live different (Terrible Love, Squalor Victoria, and England would make the live list), but top 15 on record
Secret Meeting
Karen
All The Wine
Abel
Mr November
All Dolled Up In Straps
Fake Empire
Mistaken For Strangers
Green Gloves
Slow Show
Apartment Story
Anyone’s Ghost
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Lemonworld
Runaway
October 9th, 2010 at 11:31 am
Abel
About Today
All the Wine
Apartment Story
Available
Baby, We’ll Be Fine
Brainy
Conversation 16
Daughters of the Soho Riots
England
The Geese of Beverly Road
Karen
Lemonworld
Start a War
Walk Off