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The National

First Two Pages of Frankenstein

Written by: KRS on 13/12/2023 11:09:05

As The National returns with their ninth album, “Two First Pages of Frankenstein”, the classic noir book from Mary Shelly inspired Matt Berninger to help find the album sound during his struggle with writer's block. “Two First Pages of Frankenstein” touches precisely on the battle with depression and writer's block that haunted Matt Berninger for some time and questioned whether The National would exist. The band fought against the odds, and the band came together to the delight of the fans.

The album’s opener, “Once Upon A Poolside,” features Sufjan Stevens and sets the mood with a hauntingly beautiful piano ballade that highlights Berninger’s struggle with depression and his role as a performer. “Eucalyptus” serves as a break-up anthem, where the listeners would relate to the aftermath of heartbreak and dividing stuff. “Tropic Morning News” is delightful, with its optimistic synths perfectly and catchy guitar riffs. In the other half of the album, Taylor Swift, yes, Taylor Swift, appears due to her long-standing collaboration with Aaron Dessner. She lends her voice to “The Alcott”, which starts as a tender piano ballade but gets alive towards the chorus, where it picks up the pace with a few more instruments.

If one misses The National's old sound, “Grease In Your Hair” helps one with the withdrawals and stands out on a rather sad album. Suppose Taylor Swift and Sufjan Stevens weren’t enough features for the album. The National called Phoebe Bridgers for two tracks, “This Isn’t Helping” and “Your Mind Is Not Your Friend”. Phoebe Bridgers is more there for moral support and backing vocals on “This Isn’t Helping”, but during the bridge, the rest of the band join in on vocals. Credit is due where credit is due, and “Your Mind Is Not Your Friend” is where Matt Berningers makes room for Phoebe Bridgers on vocals. Or rather, someone does. The melancholy piano keys sound attributed to words that Matt Berninger's wife and film producer, Carin Besser, continually told Berninger during his hard times, Your mind is not your friend, and that goes for everyone.

Yes, “First Two Pages of Frankenstein” might not be up to the standards of many fans of the bands and indeed has moments where it gets too sad, but it’s okay. “Two First Pages of Frankenstein” isn’t the album fans might be screaming from the top of their lungs during their sold-out shows worldwide. But it’s the album one listens to during hard times. But if we don’t compare it to The National's earlier material, the album isn’t half bad and worth a few spins because it’s certainly a grower and deserves to be acknowledged. Plus, after 20-odd years as a band, they can do whatever the fuck they like.

Download: The Alcott, Grease In your Hair, Once Upon A Poolside
For the fans of: Matt Berninger, Sufjan Stevens, St Vincent
Listen: Facebook

Release date 28.04.2023
4AD