The National (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = The National


Img_capt = Matt Berninger (2007)
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Cincinnati, Ohio; Brooklyn, New York
Genre = Indie rock
Years_active = 1999–present
Label = Beggars Banquet, Brassland
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.americanmary.com/ americanmary.com]
Current_members = Matt Berninger Aaron Dessner Bryce Dessner Bryan Devendorf Scott Devendorf
Past_members =

The National is a Brooklyn-based indie rock band formed in 1999, by friends from Cincinnati, Ohio.Influences range from Bruce Springsteen to Tindersticks. The band's morose, obscure lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger in a distinctive, deep baritone. The rest of the band comprises two pairs of brothers: Aaron & Bryce Dessner and Scott & Bryan Devendorf. Padma Newsome, from sister band Clogs, often contributes strings, keyboards, and other arrangements and instrumental flourishes.

History

When the band was formed in 1999 by a group of Ohio friends, it was called The National (although the domain name of the band's website is americanmary.com because, according to an interview with Better Propaganda, " [i] t's a song off our first record. We never thought of changing the (website) name, although we should have. The National is a pretty sucky name, but American Mary would have been worse)." [ [http://betterpropaganda.com/content.aspx?id=359 Better Propaganda Interview with Matt Berninger] ] Several of the members continued to work day jobs throughout the early years, being involved in New York's dot-com boom in the late 1990s. Their first self-titled album "The National" was eventually released in 2001 on Brassland Records, a label founded by band members Aaron and Bryce Dessner, along with their friend Alec Hanley Bemis. Their debut album launched the band's career, as they had performed few live shows before its release.Fact|date=July 2007 The release was followed two years later by another album, "Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers". In 2004, they released the "Cherry Tree" EP which included live favorite "About Today" and "All the Wine" which would also appear on their next record.

In 2005 the band quit their jobs and moved to a new label, Beggars Banquet Records, because the process of running their own label was becoming "too complicated" [http://sixeyes.blogspot.com/2005/08/national-interview_06.html] . Their first album on this label, "Alligator", was met with much critical acclaim and featured highly in "Album of the Year" charts in the LA Times, Insound, Uncut, and many other publications [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/national/alligator?q=the%20national] . This album gave the band increased exposure.

Their latest album, "Boxer", was released on May 22, 2007, and has also received widespread critical praise [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/national/boxer?q=the%20national] . The album features contributions from various guest artists including Sufjan Stevens and Doveman (aka Thomas Bartlett). It received #2 best album of the year by stereogum.com and #1 album of the year by "Paste Magazine". [ Paste Magazine issue #38 ] Their song "Slow Show" from "Boxer" was featured on NBC's new series, "Chuck" and the CW's "One Tree Hill" in its current fifth season.

In the summer of 2008, they, along with Modest Mouse, opened for R.E.M. on the promotional tour for the new R.E.M. album "Accelerate" as well as playing at many festivals in North America and Europe such as Coachella, Sasquatch, Glastonbury, Rock Werchter, Optimus Alive!, Oxegen, Benicàssim, Lowlands, O2 Wireless, T in the Park, and Lollapalooza.

In 2008, they designed a t-shirt for the [http://www.yellowbirdproject.com Yellow Bird Project] to raise money for Safe Space, a New York based charity that provides assistance to underprivileged children and families.

In July 2008, the band designed and sold a t-shirt with a picture of Barack Obama on it along with the words "Mr November", a reference to their song from "Alligator" and the month in which the presidential election occurs. All proceeds will be donated to the Obama Campaign Fund. [http://www.merchco-online.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=506_518]

On August 28, 2008 The National's song Fake Empire was the back music to a video that was shown at Invesco Field during the Democratic National Convention the night that Barack Obama accepted his nomination.

Discography

Albums

* "The National" (October 30, 2001)
* "Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers" (September 2, 2003)
* "Alligator" (April 12, 2005)
* "Boxer" (May 22, 2007)

EPs

* "Cherry Tree EP" (July 20, 2004)
* "The Virginia EP" (May 20, 2008)

Singles

* "Abel" (Beggars Banquet Records, March 14, 2005)
* "Secret Meeting" (Beggars Banquet Records, August 29, 2005)
* "Lit Up" (Beggars Banquet Records, November 14, 2005)
* "Mistaken for Strangers" (Beggars Banquet Records, April 30, 2007)
* "Apartment Story" (Beggars Banquet Records, November 5, 2007)
* "Fake Empire" (Beggars Banquet Records, June 23, 2008)

Interviews

* [http://www.bandega.com/band/view/the-national#interview 2008 The National Interview at Bandega.com]
* [http://www.99matters.de/the-national/ Video Interview with Matt Berninger: "What is really important to you?"]
* [http://cornellsun.com/node/23776 Cornell Daily Sun interview with lead singer Matt Berninger]
* [http://thescenestar.typepad.com/ss/2007/06/interview-matt-.html The National's Matt Berninger Interview w/ The Scenestar - June 2007]
* [http://www.musicomh.com/interviews/national.htm The National interview at musicOMH.com (2005)]
* [http://www.musicomh.com/interviews/national-2_0507.htm The National interview at musicOMH.com (2007)]
* [http://sixeyes.blogspot.com/2005/08/national-interview_06.html Matt Berninger Interview 1] - *Sixeyes Interview w/ Matt Berninger
* [http://www.3ammagazine.com/buzzwordsblog/2006/06/secret-meeting-in-basement-of-my-brain.html Matt Berninger Interview 2] - 3:AM Interview w/ Matt Berninger
* [http://sixeyes.blogspot.com/2007/05/national-sixeyes-interview-with-matt.html Matt Berninger Interview 3] - *Sixeyes Interview w/ Matt Berninger - BOXER 2007
* [http://www.krugermagazinetest.co.uk/component/option,com_alphacontent/section,14/cat,105/task,view/id,180/Itemid,10068/ Interview in Kruger Magazine]
* [http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/content/content_detail.php?id=1601&type=Interviews Aaron Dessner Interview in God Is In The TV Zine]
* [http://thepopcop.blogspot.com/2007/12/i-was-talking-to-helena-christensen-she.html Matt Berninger interview with The Pop Cop]

References

External links

* [http://www.americanmary.com/ www.americanmary.com] - Official band website
* [http://www.americanmary.com/music/ Album lyrics] .

* [http://www.myspace.com/thenational www.myspace.com/thenational] - Official band MySpace.com page
* [http://www.brassland.org/ www.brassland.org] - Brooklyn, NY based record label started by The National's Aaron & Bryce Dessner and writer Alec Hanley Bemis.
* [http://www.daytrotter.com/daytrotterSessions/881/free-songs-the-national Listen to Live Recordings of the National]
* [http://webinfront.net/?p=868 Podcast of The National's 2008 Lollapalooza performance]