The National: Is the hype deserved?

Our Web Warrior, Austin, jokes that we should start a band called The Hype. When we take the stage, we can say, “Hi, we’re The Hype and you’re probably sick of us already.”

In this line of work, it can be easy to subscribe to hype and forget that only 0.0002% of the American population knows who The Black Kids are, and only 0.00014% knows that Kate Nash has already covered their song, “I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You.” But this year there were a lot of hyped-up artists on the indie and mainstream scenes alike: Lily Allen, Peter Bjorn & John, Paolo Nutini, Amy Winehouse, Grizzly Bear. But there was one band in particular that I couldn’t wrap my head around: The National.

When I first heard The National’s latest album, Boxer, I was indifferent and underwhelmed. It was harsh on my ears, I couldn’t understand the nearly mumbled lyrics and the album art was too boring for my liking.

But much our staff—especially Paste‘s deputy editor, Jason Killingsworth—freakin’ loved it. Jason even recorded an acoustic version of the band’s song “Apartment Story.” This all made me panic because I was left to wonder: What is it that I am not hearing? Jason has a great ear, great judgment and great taste. Clearly, something was wrong with me? Or was The National just the hype and the new bandwagon to jump on? I couldn’t decide.

I tried very hard to like The National before I actually did, like trying to date someone you don’t like but everyone else adores. I even went to see them live… TWICE! The first show was at a big venue (during their tour with Arcade Fire), and the second show was in a smaller, sold-out venue. But neither time could I get behind it. I was bored.

But that was then, and this is now, and now, as the year comes to an end, I like The National. I feel strange saying that. I like The National?

This is a new revelation, obviously, one that came to me only after watching a Take-Away Show from The National, made by the team at La Blogotheque. I was surfing around the site and clicked on the link for the video version of “Start a War,” off Boxer.

The take-away show looks more like an art house flick than a music video. As I watched it I was startled because I liked what I was hearing and wondered if maybe I had loaded the wrong link. This can’t be The National, I reasoned… I don’t like The National.

I continued watching and was awestruck. I felt as though I was floating in that dimly lit room, watching the people below with their wine glasses half raised, cigarettes burning lazily. I wondered what those young people thought as they sat around the table and listened to Matt Berninger moan out the words in his deep and somber tone, with his head bowed and eyes closed. The sincerity, the contrasts and the beauty were stunning. Director Vincent Moon’s films are always fantastic, but never before was I so profoundly affected by his work. Wow, I thought, this is what all the fuss is about...

Suddenly I had a heightened interest in the band and replayed “Boxer,” starting with “Fake Empire.” Like the other times I listened to it, it seemed off beat to me on the first try, as if the parts didn’t match up. But something clicked with the next listen – there were layers of sound there that I just hadn’t heard.

“Mistaken for Strangers"… “Green Gloves"… “The Apartment Story"… I get it now....

Then “Start a War” came on.

“We expected something, something better than before
We expected something more.
We were always weird but I never had to hold you
by the edges like I do now.”

It made my heart ache when listened to that. It hurt and I didn’t expect it to.

Now I want to listen to that CD – in my car, at the airport, when I am reading in the park. I like The National.

Paste named “Boxer” the best album of 2007. When I tell friends and acquaintances this, sometimes they squint their faces in displeasure, much like I used to. I’m not here to convert anyone to the Church of The National, nor was it my favorite album of the year (or in my Top 10 even), but I do think it requires multiple listens. So go watch the Take-Away Show then listen again. And again. And then one more time, just to let it sink in. Then you won’t need me or Paste telling you to listen to it; maybe you’ll do it on your own.