There's a reason why Katie is writing for Billboard and this dude is writing for some e-zine. And sure, I'm probably a bit biased, but that review was facking horrible.

yeh i read that. berninger's lyricism is much more up my alley than it is for popmatters. just looking at metacritic, it looks like reviews on them is all over the board. i just think they tell stories and the lyrics are better taken on the whole.

and i hardly think their arrangements are uninspired.

there's no other reason i'm writing for billboard besides dumb luck.

Saw the viddie for Abel last night.

What a god-awful mess.

Yes, that's the reason I meant.

Well, it was from Popmatters after all.

They're no Billboard I hear.

hi all. just joined this board today. glad to see the national being discussed. i love the national's alligator -- second in my playlist only to arcade fire right now.

i saw the popmatters review too. it was obviously either a pop music writer who basically had it out for matt's voice or some little twerp who wanted to sink his teeth into it. i know another writer for popmatters and apparently there was quite a big response to that review -- both fans and other staff of popmatters getting upset. it's possible not to like alligator or the national...but there is a lot to it both musically and lyrically. the national's sad songs was in their top albums of 2003 after all. the metacritic rating will go up when the Uncut (5 stars), Mojo (4stars), Q (4 stars), Entertainment Weekly A - and so on ..reviews go up. you can see i am an obsessive national fan...there is a national fan group on yahoo if anyone wants to check it out.

anyway, katie your article and review were great. nice writing.

greetings dimitri, how'd ya find us?

a writer friend of mine sent me the link and said there was some good discussion going here....which it seems there is. i live in new york city....do some research work for a histroical society here and hyperactively blog about my favorite bands....the national is at the top fo the list!

I like the National record an awful lot. And I'm not really a huge fan of Pop Matters, but really, when did Billboard become a beacon of exemplary music writing? I certainly don't mean any offense to you, Katie, as I enjoyed your article. As a former webzine guy, though, I guess I just get a little defensive.

I simply meant that Billboard has an established presence, both in print and on the internet. I didn't mean any offend to webzine folks (hey, I used to try and run one of my own), but any Joe/Jane Schmoe can have a webzine. There's no quality control. Billboard at least has editors and is a real-deal thing.

For every good song on this album (Baby, We'll Be Fine is the pick of the bunch) there's an absolutely embarrassing one.

How anyone can listen to 'Abel' for instance and not immediately think of a fat Meatloaf sweatily shrieking into a microphone beats me but it certainly sends a unpleasent shudder down my spine.

I can't predict the future with any confidence but I'd imagine this will have to grow on me a whole lot to get near my Top Twenty of 2005.

Taste is a funny thing. I absolutely love Abel. Reminds me of the Pixies fronted by Bruce Springsteen or something. Meatloaf?

Two songs into that album and boy...was I underwhelmed. Is it a grower? Cuz the droning voice was starting to get to me after the second song.

not a grower for me. i loved it from the first notes i heard.

if you don't like his voice then that's about it. it's not gonna change, the other albums are like that too, nothing much that you can do. it doesn't bother me but i can think of bands where i can't get around that.

popmatters???
Billboard?!?

this album is a must-have. and Tania, I think it could be a grower for you. Give it at least three listens.

I'm willing it to give it a shot -- can someone YSI it for me, please?

PM sent.

Grassy ass, Tommy!

loved 'sad songs for dirty lovers' and 'cherry tree.' i think this album is ok in spots but in general i think they lost their way a bit. lyrics are still great, but the vocal melodies don't grab me this time around, and the rockier songs just don't seem to go anywhere. the quiet stuff (what there is left of it anyway) is still awesome though.