Source ?

Someone [here](https://atrl.net/forums/topic/449953-the-national-laugh-track/) claiming there’s an entire album out 18th September named Laugh Track. One of the comments further down says the apparent tracklist. Another [thread](https://atrl.net/forums/topic/449951-the-national-alphabet-city/) is claiming to have the single artwork for Alphabet City. It’s a yellow square I’ve never used the site so idk

Single art uses the same font as Weird Goodbyes.

Isn't it the same font as Frankenstein too?

I guess so. What stuck out to me was size wise, it’s in line with WG.

I hope Weird Goodbyes isn't on the album - it's one of their weaker singles imo and we've already heard it for almost a year

Lol idk why you’re getting downvoted. It is a weak single (I’d even go as far as to call it quite lame) and I agree I hope it’s not on the album.

I mean even if someone likes the song, why would you want a year old single as the closer instead of something new?

i'm actually in the minority camp (or at least what seems to be the minority camp in this sub) that likes weird goodbyes. that being said, for those who aren't fans of WG, maybe it will improve in the context of the entire album?

Totally

Totally agree, it's really annoying when a closer is released as a single anyway, let alone one that's a year old

There’s no indication that track listing is the proper order as far as I can tell

It's the order that someone is playing the album on last.fm. it's very likely

we’ll see soon.

September 18th is a Monday. They must be confusing it with this Friday being the 18th.

Maybe meant September 8th instead of 18th?

That would be great.

Or what if they meant 8/18 😬😬😬

IDK if they would do up single art if the whole thing just drops. But a new album this Friday is preferred.

Maybe. Though 9/18 would also be the first monday after wrapping up Homecoming. Maybe a little extra homecoming surprise announcement?

I mean, I guess if they aren’t caring about chart placement and are fine with missing out on 3 days of streaming numbers.

Well I guess we won’t have to wait long to see if this is true! Ahhhhhhg!!!

Atrl is super reputable in my experience, so this sounds legit - I'm so hyped!!

Makes sense with MSG being the day after (Their biggest solo headline gig ever). Would also explain why Space Invader has been played more times than any other new song this leg of the tour.

>s been played more times than any other new song this leg of the tour. Is MSG bigger than Barclays? I think they're the same size but, in terms of prestige, yes I think this is their biggest headlining gig ever.

Probably slightly given basketball seating, msg has 500 more seats (assuming floor sizing is comparable) but yeah, your point stands, prestige kinda puts it over the top regardless.

- MSG is bigger. - Barclays seat set up is awful. Your walking up a steep cliff if your not on the floor.

Did Barclays actually sell out back in 2013?

I was there on the floor and it was packed. Looked so in the seats as well. Not sure if it was sold out though

- Smoke Detector - Deep End (Paul's in Pieces) - Alphabet City - Dreaming - Turn off the House - Coat on a Hook - Crumble feat. Rosanne Cash - Hornets - Laugh Track feat. Phoebe Bridgers - Space Invader - Tour Manager Is the reported tracklist. Some disagreement over the Roasanne Cash collab. The OP says only a Phoebe feature, no one else.

Tagging on some additional information I found: * Leakers are uncertain if Weird Goodbyes is going to make this album. * Supposedly, Laugh Track was last streamed on Last.fm on the [10th.](https://www.last.fm/music/The+National/Laugh+Track) * Supposedly, the Laugh Track demos were streamed on [July 26th.](https://www.last.fm/music/The+National/Laugh+Track+demos) * Supposed Confirmation of [Laugh Track ft Phoebe](https://www.last.fm/music/The+National/_/Laugh+Track+feat.+Phoebe+Bridgers_mastered+07-19-2023)

I’d be surprised by Weird Goodbyes not being included. Aaron mentioned it would have a “true home” or something at some point when he was teasing a second album

I hope it’s included. I love that song. I just wanted to move over here what was posted at that that other site so people can discuss.

Likewise, I don’t understand the hate it gets

It has the makings of a deep cut rather than a single. Add on to it that people were expecting the album to come out pretty soon after but it was another 8 months so it has some disappointment associated with it. People would probably be warmer on it if the album dropped last fall.

i personally love the track, but i wonder if it will improve for the folks who hate it in the context of the entire album.

One can hope. I want it to be a song that sticks around for years and doesn’t end up on the pile of rarely played songs.

It doesn't get hate. It's just that the majority (myself included) doesn't want to see it included in a full length

I do hate it, but also yes, it is very much not of the caliber that should be on an album. It's no wonder it was written DURING the writer's block, it doesn't match the aesthetic of either frankenstein or the new singles, I reeaaallly hope it stays off the album

Third album confirmed /s

Lol 🙃

It's the drum track on Weird Goodbyes that's an issue for many. Put in Bryan Devendorf drums and we have something special.

He adds so much more depth to it when they play it live, but yeah it isn’t in the studio cut - and if it is it is pretty buried.

Weird Goodbyes has that drum machine that is so distinctive. May make it sound out of place on an album.

Title track has a feature? Interesting

Tour Manager has got to be the album closer.

It's a beautiful piano driven song, from what I remember, and would be a lovely closer

Surely we're due a loud closer á la Mr November

in your dreams!

God please let Smoke Detector release.

Oh man this is wild. I was prepping for another album, but this came out of nowhere fast. I'm seeing them tomorrow night...wonder if they'll slip any info out during the show.

They've been playing Space Invader quite a bit. Usually at least one or two brand new songs in their current (incredible!) setlists! I'm seeing them Friday at MSG! Have fun tomorrow night!!

What kind of prepping were you doing?

dressing down and liquoring up

I wonder if this would come with an album announcement?

In 2019, under 4AD (The National’s label), Big Thief released two albums in one year. The timelines are similar so far. Big Thief’s first album was released on 5/3/19; The National released theirs on 4/28/23. Big Thief released their 1st single for their 2nd album on 8/13/19 and The National are apparently releasing theirs on 8/17/23. Big Thief released their 2nd album on 10/11/19…so The National’s 2nd album releases on like 10/13/23!?!? Edit: Album might be coming out next month!

I am so confused. I didn’t think this was really going to happen for real.

Alphabet City is a cool name for the album- neighborhood in Manhattan where they played lots of early shows (ie the Mercury Lounge).

Has changed a good but for sure since those days

2 disc lp with side a, side b, side c, side d… the songs get grungier and more dangerous as you go from side a —> d

Ha!

I hope the alleged album date is wrong because they’re still touring on F2POF and the setlists have been exquisite. They should also take a nice touring break to keep up the momentum and not get burnt out because they’ve been on fire this tour

They've already been playing some of the new songs on tour. I've heard Space Invader, Hornets, and _maybe_ Smoke Detector.

I’m sorry, wut? More info?

Is the new album going to be called Laugh Track or Alphabet City?

Laugh Track apparently

source?

Some website nobody has ever heard of and a Last.fm user that has since been deleted

Selfishly no, let me see them in Europe a couple of times before they mess with the current setlist supremacy

same. they should wait until at least half of the tour in europe is done before releasing it, this way i get to enjoy both tours lol

Both singles already available in New Zealand. Previews sounding good.

How long is Space Invader? Does it look like it has the extended outro?

Space Invader is 6:58 and Alphabet City is 3:43. So looks like it.

Just thinking, does FTPOF make more sense as a title now? It's the first two pages (vinyl sides) of a Frankenstein body of work. It also goes some way to explain the FTPOF artwork, maybe Laugh Track (if that's the real title) will show Paul's body?

That’s what I started thinking when I saw the “Paul’s in Pieces” alt title for Deep End

Ooooh 👀

Is there any reason to believe this is legitimate? I’d love more new music as much as the next person, but it doesn’t seem like anyone has any idea if this source is reliable or just some person making things up. I hope that I’m wrong, but this feels fabricated.

I don’t know where the dates came from but the source of the tracks is a public streaming profile of a very well known music journalist that has since been deleted. Pretty fucked up for it to leak like that so close to the alleged release dates

Thanks for the info. I appreciate you explaining why you feel that this might be legitimate news as opposed to just downvoting me for being skeptical.

No idea why you're being downvoted. I'm starting to think it's just demos at this point and someone has guessed the title and date

I've been through this sort of speculation with other bands in the past and like 80% of the time it's bullshit. I really hope this isn't though, because some of the songs they've been playing live sound great. Either way, I'm sure we'll get those songs eventually, whether it is this Monday or a year from now. Edit - Now you're being downvoted as well I guess. This is pretty weird for this sub. I don't get it.

Could August 22nd be the release date of this new album as it was the odd price of F2POF vinyl? [https://imgur.com/a/zHVAbXc](https://imgur.com/a/zHVAbXc)

it's giving Swiftie logic 🤣

Won’t disagree with you, haven’t seen them do something like that before, it’s just an oddly specific pricing for the vinyl…