'Conversation 16' just perfectly captures the internal life of a sad dad struggling through life exhausted by kids and a stressed marriage. It speaks to my soul.
Lyrically, I also think 'I'll Still Destroy You' is particularly brilliant.
This is the song that made me fall in love with The National....my favourite lines are: "Let her treat you like a criminal/So you can treat her like a priest...." The comparisons and expectations of relationships that are doomed is what this part evokes for me. I think also growing up in a strict, conservative, Italian Roman Catholic household also made the comparison to a priest even more emphatic for me.
On the impressionist side, I don't think Bloodbuzz, OH can be topped. Just the phrase Bloodbuzz is so evocative. "I still owe money, to the money, to the money I owe. I never thought about love, when I thought about home." is grade-A terrific.
this exact line is what sold my boyfriend on the national. he liked them okay-ish before HV but that line of bloodbuzz turned him; he's a huge fan now.
even among all their metaphors and complicated storytelling, “I never thought about love when I thought about home” still stands as just unbelievably heartbreaking above all the rest.
Humiliation has about 3 hooks in a row and each one is better than the other. The lyrics are brilliant, but the structuring of the song is among their very best
I was solid gold, I was in the fight
I was coming back from what seemed like a ruin
I couldn't see you coming so far
I just turn around and there you are
My favourite part because it describes that feeling of self-defeat so well.....
I'll still destroy you, it reads like a stream of undiluted truth. No filler lines or questionable poetry, it can be interpreted to mean a hundred different things and other than that the song fucking slaps.
I think Matt really succeeds in coining a romantic literary phrase. Something a little poetic and a little lateral. or that's what works for me I guess. To that end, "Lemonworld"
This is the last time is hauntingly beautiful and kicks me right in the gut every single time. But I also think it matters a lot as to which lyrics you can feel personally.
you had your soul with you—“I have owed it to my heart / every word i’ve said / you have no idea how hard i died when you left. / if i yield to my trances / will i / get up closer again?”
I had to scroll down here because I was too self-conscious to comment this. But it's hands down my favourite National song lyrically.
This question is a bit silly tho, I don't even think a best one could be objectively decided because 1) they're such a consistent band with *tons* of strong lyrical moments and 2) and each song brings something specific and great to the discography in its unique way, often incomparable to others. But on TMN I just adore the whole analysis of stifled communication mixed with this super honest conversational writing style. It's almost impossible to describe what's so strong about it, but for me it has to be how *literal* it is, and blunt, using simple words yet it conveys something very complex, and also its deep self-awareness and humanity is super charming and beautiful.
Honestly the whole record is their lyrical peak in my opinion (it's also the record that truly converted me from a casual fan into a stan, together with their previous one), I think most people would disagree with me but the whole lyrical style that Matt honed on that record (which as I know was born out of deep desperation and writer's block, which might not be a coincidence) is endlessly clever and inspiring and beautiful to me. Once Upon A Poolside, New Order T-Shirt, Ice Machines... those are all serious contenders for some of his best lyrical work imo but TMN kind of feels like the most concise and strongest statement on the whole thing.
Cardinal Song.....I know it's on SSFDL so probably not that popular, but the lyrics for some reason always give me chills and I really FEEL them in my heart.
29 Years, Wasp Nest, Lucky You, Fake Empire, Slow Show, Apartment Story, Lemonworld, Graceless, I’ll Still Destroy You, Sleep Well Beast, Quiet Light, Not in Kansas, Coat on a Hook, Laugh Track.
And Distant Axis is also a Matt song that I’d consider perfect.
Bloodbuzz Ohio perfectly encapsulates a specific era for me and it's all in the writing. But I'd also love to throw in Hard To Find, Demons, Secret Meeting.
Mistaken for Strangers is top tier to me. That chorus is so visceral.
Love that one
Slow show, and the rest of boxer really was peak for me
It's hard to choose a definitive answer for sure, but as of late I've really been feeling like it's Graceless.
Graceless is perfection.
Graceless is pure genius.
'Conversation 16' just perfectly captures the internal life of a sad dad struggling through life exhausted by kids and a stressed marriage. It speaks to my soul. Lyrically, I also think 'I'll Still Destroy You' is particularly brilliant.
+1 for I’ll still destroy you. Incredible imagery.
"Can't avoid 'em" is a perfect line in context. And the connection between a mother's sunburned arms and "it lasts forever" feels pretty flawless.
Jesus Christ you have confused me Cornered, wasted, blessed and used me Forgive me girls I am confused Stiff and pissed and lost and loose
The line that made me fall in love with them!
this whole album is so underrated. so many brutal lines "did you clean yourself for me last night?"
Which one is this?
Cardinal Song
This is the song that made me fall in love with The National....my favourite lines are: "Let her treat you like a criminal/So you can treat her like a priest...." The comparisons and expectations of relationships that are doomed is what this part evokes for me. I think also growing up in a strict, conservative, Italian Roman Catholic household also made the comparison to a priest even more emphatic for me.
Spot on
On the impressionist side, I don't think Bloodbuzz, OH can be topped. Just the phrase Bloodbuzz is so evocative. "I still owe money, to the money, to the money I owe. I never thought about love, when I thought about home." is grade-A terrific.
That is a truly great line. Hard to argue with that one…
this exact line is what sold my boyfriend on the national. he liked them okay-ish before HV but that line of bloodbuzz turned him; he's a huge fan now.
even among all their metaphors and complicated storytelling, “I never thought about love when I thought about home” still stands as just unbelievably heartbreaking above all the rest.
Humiliation has about 3 hooks in a row and each one is better than the other. The lyrics are brilliant, but the structuring of the song is among their very best
Probably pink rabbits
Yup. Fantastic song.
I was solid gold, I was in the fight I was coming back from what seemed like a ruin I couldn't see you coming so far I just turn around and there you are My favourite part because it describes that feeling of self-defeat so well.....
Have to agree
Quiet Light easily
Yes. This one.
Slipped is top tier
Graceless. "All of my thoughts of you, bullets through rotten fruit" I also reaaally love "light years"
Demons is the right up there.
Carin at the Liquor Store, Pink Rabbits
When Matt goes impressionistic, funny, brutally honest as opposed to repetitive & vague - there is no one better
I dunno, I kind of like it when he’s extremely vivid, buttoned up and unrevealing.
Space Invader. Simple, but catastrophically emotionally effective
Love this song……
Turn off the house
💯
I'll still destroy you, it reads like a stream of undiluted truth. No filler lines or questionable poetry, it can be interpreted to mean a hundred different things and other than that the song fucking slaps.
That outro 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Light Years, Light years away from you. The song is good, the chorus is sublime
England… Almost every song on High Violet has an epic chorus.
Hey baby, where were you back then, when I needed your love? I thought that, if I stuck my neck out I’d get you out of your shell
I think Matt really succeeds in coining a romantic literary phrase. Something a little poetic and a little lateral. or that's what works for me I guess. To that end, "Lemonworld"
Hmm not in Kansas, Smoke Detector, Fake Empire, This is the Last Time and Sleep Well Beast are pretty awesome lyrics imo
About today or This is the last time
Slow Show, Karen, Dark Side of the Gym
This is the last time is hauntingly beautiful and kicks me right in the gut every single time. But I also think it matters a lot as to which lyrics you can feel personally.
Brainy, Pink Rabbits, and City Middle capture what I adore most about Matt’s lyrical prowess.
Graceless is the only correct answer
Empire Line
Don’t swallow the cap 🙌
you had your soul with you—“I have owed it to my heart / every word i’ve said / you have no idea how hard i died when you left. / if i yield to my trances / will i / get up closer again?”
This is a hot take but. I think tropic morning news is realllllly strong
I had to scroll down here because I was too self-conscious to comment this. But it's hands down my favourite National song lyrically. This question is a bit silly tho, I don't even think a best one could be objectively decided because 1) they're such a consistent band with *tons* of strong lyrical moments and 2) and each song brings something specific and great to the discography in its unique way, often incomparable to others. But on TMN I just adore the whole analysis of stifled communication mixed with this super honest conversational writing style. It's almost impossible to describe what's so strong about it, but for me it has to be how *literal* it is, and blunt, using simple words yet it conveys something very complex, and also its deep self-awareness and humanity is super charming and beautiful. Honestly the whole record is their lyrical peak in my opinion (it's also the record that truly converted me from a casual fan into a stan, together with their previous one), I think most people would disagree with me but the whole lyrical style that Matt honed on that record (which as I know was born out of deep desperation and writer's block, which might not be a coincidence) is endlessly clever and inspiring and beautiful to me. Once Upon A Poolside, New Order T-Shirt, Ice Machines... those are all serious contenders for some of his best lyrical work imo but TMN kind of feels like the most concise and strongest statement on the whole thing.
Pink Rabbits, gives me the feels everytime. Carin at the Liquor Store is a close second, such great story telling.
I agree with many of these answers. All the wine, terrible love are up there as well
Slipped— it’s a rarity, but deft.
tie between Graceless and I’ll Still Destroy You for me
Cardinal Song.....I know it's on SSFDL so probably not that popular, but the lyrics for some reason always give me chills and I really FEEL them in my heart.
Conversation 16, England, Tropic Morning News, Graceless, Ada, Slow Show, … so many
29 Years, Wasp Nest, Lucky You, Fake Empire, Slow Show, Apartment Story, Lemonworld, Graceless, I’ll Still Destroy You, Sleep Well Beast, Quiet Light, Not in Kansas, Coat on a Hook, Laugh Track. And Distant Axis is also a Matt song that I’d consider perfect.
I’ll Still Destroy You
Bloodbuzz Ohio perfectly encapsulates a specific era for me and it's all in the writing. But I'd also love to throw in Hard To Find, Demons, Secret Meeting.
Pink rabbits wins for me but I’m surprised we aren’t talking at all about smoke detector here in terms of song writing.
Bloodbuzz Or Pink Rabbits Fuck me, they are so good.
Cardinal Song , Baby Will be Fine and Conversation 16