×

83
84

Early thoughts on "Eucalyptus"?General Discussion (self.TheNational)

submitted by ClemencyArtsIncludes a little bit of hell

Yep, just want to hear everyone's opinion.

Now, I've enjoyed Tropic Morning News and New Order T-Shirt. In fact, I enjoyed them a lot, I think they are very good songs, but... Holy moly, Eucalyptus is amazing. It feels so distinctly "The National" to me. The deeply sorrowful, almost mournful tone, the escalating instrumentals in the final third of the song...

I read some criticism on New Order T-Shirt that Matt wasn't letting the instrumentals breathe with constant lyrics, and I understood that criticism, but it's safe to say that here, Matt is giving the amazing guitar and drums all the space they need to dance with his voice in this beautiful crescendo of a song.

I still have to warm up to the way Matt sings some of the lines (specifically the "If I miss it, I'll visit" part), but my first impression has me very, very excited for what is yet to come from this album.

all 128 comments
sorted by:
best
topnewcontroversialoldq&a

[–]RylanGotSomeSun 58 points59 points  (6 children)

While listening, I kept getting little flashes of other classic National songs. All the Wine and Abel come to mind. I love the track, I've like all 3 so far, but I think this one is my favorite so far.

[–]kingofpunDreaming in Total Darkness 8 points9 points  (1 child)

Yep. I've really liked all the new singles but Eucalyptus grabbed me in one note and transported me into the TN universe!!

And now I can learn to spell eucalyptus without the help of autocorrect. 😉

[–]RylanGotSomeSun 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah hearing this one with the two other singles, really gave a good picture of the new ideas the band is playing with mixing with the classic sound and feel of the band. Eucalyptus is an autocorrect only word for me lol

[–]adannel 7 points8 points  (1 child)

The guitars and drums reminded me a lot of the Alligator era stuff. I saw this one live last year and was luke warm on it, but I really like the studio version.

[–]RylanGotSomeSun 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I've sorta felt like lyrically, this new stuff resembles the alligator era of the band. Alligator lyrically, meets Sleep Well Beast in terms of the music.

[–]blue_friend 3 points4 points  (1 child)

I get Terrible Love from this song. Others as well, but the fuzz, and subtle distortion on the drums… it feels like a similar production. I also think it may play a similar role both on the album (some intentional static, a song that takes a while to “hit” in its full lyrics) as well as live. I have a feeling this is going to feature some screaming from Matt in live efforts.

[–]bloodbuzzz 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It reminded me of Terrible Love as well! I think this one will be amazing live.

[–]tropicmorningin a lemonworld 50 points51 points  (12 children)

For anyone who wants to know more about the lyrics, Matt describes it as:

“‘Eucalyptus’ is about a couple splitting up their possessions after a breakup—like, ‘What are we going to do with the spring water we get delivered, what’s going to happen to all these plants?’ It’s about all those little things you end up having to think about when you’ve become so connected to someone.”

I really like it. At first, I was a bit disappointed about the delivery of certain lines toward the end like "if I miss it, I'll visit" because it was so loud and emotional on stage but now I'm appreciating how he sounds more defeated in the studio version, like how he'd sound if he was speaking directly to someone. I love that I can expect different listening experiences from studio vs live versions of so many songs.

[–]kingofpunDreaming in Total Darkness 21 points22 points  (2 children)

The splitting of possessions is so schizophrenic and Matt captures it perfectly. You want nothing and you want everything. Spite, sadness, anger, hate, love and so much I don't give a fuck about this minuta. All the emotions.

The worst is the figurative splitting of the kid. That crushed my spirit.

This hit very close to home. I just went through the dissolution of a 7 year marriage recently. It took 10 minutes via WebEx, no joke.

[–]madcaplarksLives in a lemonworld 🍋 3 points4 points  (0 children)

And aaall the emotions are all for me

[–]hornfan83 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hang in there, it gets better!

[–]unclebrandyThis isn't working, you, my middlebrow fuck-up 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I love how in the second last line of each verse he wedges in a hopeful line to maybe change her mind about splitting up. “What if we moved back to New York?” “What if I reinvented again?” And then the absurdity of even mentioning the rainbow eucalyptus tree that grows 200+ ft high. Like maybe he’s grasping at straws to convince her to stay.

[–]Dammit-Hannah 5 points6 points  (1 child)

“If I miss it, I’ll visit” is more compelling because it’s whiny imo

[–]Leninpest 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, my initial reaction was to cringe but now i love it because he sounds so frustrated. It makes me laugh every time because, yeah man, I’ve been there!

[–]wav_24 4 points5 points  (1 child)

i'm so excited to see this played live, i've only seen them once and it appeared to me that they really give a different life to their live versions (like bringing out those horns more!!) and deliver vocally in a really grabbing way. i heard someone describe the national as "playing it safe", to them i would say give it another try and go see them live

[–]blue_friend 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I can understand why someone would say that, but I think the magic of the national happens in the nuance and subtleties in their music. I can absorb and “experience” the national in new ways over and over, and I can talk about their music for actual hours at a time.

To each their own, though.

[–]IceRat23 -3 points-2 points  (3 children)

the context/background behind the lyrics is very important for a song like this to work

it hardly works as well without this

[–]tropicmorningin a lemonworld 11 points12 points  (1 child)

I can see how the first verse might be confusing but I feel like the subject of the song becomes more clear with every chorus and the bridge…

“You should take it cause I’m not gonna take it” “You should take it, if I miss it, I’ll visit” “I don’t want it, I don’t care” -these lines seemed obvious to me before they shared the news release but sometimes it just takes a few listens.

[–]Businesspleasure 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I honestly don’t get much of Matt’s lyrics but the meaning of this one broke through and hit me after the first few listens or so. It’s such a powerful hook

[–]blue_friend 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Really? I felt the breakup context on the first listen and I hadn’t read the commentary yet.

[–]inquisitorbronte 29 points30 points  (1 child)

Beautiful and sad — so quintessentially The National. I especially love the last minute or so, with repetitions of “it wouldn’t be fair… I’d be so alone without you there… there’s nobody home, I’m already there” so good!!!!!!!

[–]O-MesmerineI missed you for 29 years 6 points7 points  (0 children)

fuck me i havent even listened to the song yet but that lyric felt like a bullet in the chest to read. goddamn it matt youve done it again

[–]solace77 27 points28 points  (1 child)

Cool that this was partially recorded live at the Port Chester show last year:

“Part of the reason the song has that visceral live feel is because it was partially recorded during a live performance last fall at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York. According to a press release, Bryce Dessner had sent the song to Berninger so long ago that he’d forgotten about it, but Berninger wrote lyrics a few hours before the show and asked to perform it that night. “We rehearsed it twice without ever having had a demo and played it to the audience that night, and what you hear on the album was partially recorded during that performance,” Dessner says. “It’s got this raw, immediate feeling, and it made sense to leave the rough edges instead of trying to perfect them.”

[–]blue_friend 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is an amazing bit of context and adds a ton of depth to the track. Wow.

[–]piadoingthingsLives in a lemonworld 🍋 18 points19 points  (1 child)

I genuinely loved it. Listening to it on a loop right now. The lyrics are so melancholic, sad, and somehow sweet. You can hear the frustration in every bit.

[–]ClemencyArtsIncludes a little bit of hell[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My thoughts exactly. It's very emotional, which is beautiful.

[–]farad_ay 16 points17 points  (0 children)

For me it's an spectacular song. It's emotional but also punchy, and has a lot of energy. The guitars are amazing, too. Absolute banger!

[–]Caiteoc 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Was at the Fallon taping and they played this song before playing Tropic Morning News. Was immediately obsessed with it. Very glad I can listen to it on repeat now. That's all

[–]Trailbreaker 13 points14 points  (0 children)

It’s one of my favourite songs they’ve released in a while. It has a great balance between the arrangement detail of IAETF with the guitar tones and drum work of Alligator/TWFM. Really good National songs have a feeling of pulling and pulling to break away from some restraint, then it all gets set free by drums. This one has that - everything starts to let loose as the drums open up. Love it.

[–]COdoubleMON 11 points12 points  (0 children)

“If I miss it, I’ll visit” is heartbreaking.

[–]Love2PoopHate2Wipe 10 points11 points  (0 children)

It’s very, very good.

[–]badbadntgd 10 points11 points  (0 children)

It's a pure, unadulterated The National banger. It hearkens back to their classics while adding a new artistic dimension. The Sad Dads can't be stopped.

[–]ally1707 9 points10 points  (0 children)

This might be my least favorite out of the singles so far. But it is an emotional gut punch. I can already tell it‘s a grower and I‘m sure I‘ll come around on it.

There‘s something so sad about Eucalyptus if you‘re looking at it in the context of their previous works and the progression in the lyrics. Eucalyptus has a finality to it that really hurts.

[–]coffee_and_flowersdaisy fresh and arrow straight 40 points41 points  (10 children)

Honestly after a few listens I can't say that I'm a fan of Eucalyptus. It's very repetitive and the mixing/production is off to my ears. I guess I'm in the minority here though. I wish I loved it, but for now I'm struggling to even like it...

[–]Lightningstruckagain 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I agree with you about the repetition. I kinda wanted to fast forward toward the end to see if changed up a bit.

I do like the production though and it builds in a way that reminds me of a lot of classic TN songs do (or Arcade Fire for that matter).

This one won’t be an automatic skip for me like New Order T Shirt will be, but I probably won’t seek it out like I already do for Tropic Morning News.

[–]ClemencyArtsIncludes a little bit of hell[S] 11 points12 points  (1 child)

I think the repetition is kind of the point. It's someone telling themselves over and over again that "It wouldn't be fair". It's desperate; someone who genuinely doesn't know what's left now. That makes it very emotional, which I adore.

In the end, it comes down to preference. So if you don't like the style, that's perfectly fine, of course. I hope the album will include something for you as well and I'm certain it will! :)

[–]coolcool246 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Could also be a sign of going in circles when you’re going through a breakup, repeating the same thing again and again. I know from my personal experience, my ex and I often said “it wouldn’t be fair” during our break up.

[–]209299 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Totally agree, I also thought the guitar solo was a bit too basic somehow. From the three singles, I like Tropic Morning News best, but to be honest, I'm still playing Weird Goodbyes on repeat and was a bit disappointed that it isn't included on the album. I'm listening to Eucalyptus now, and I have to say it grows on me the more I listen to it.

Hopefully there will be a few 'faster' songs on the album, like Graceless, Abel or Mr. November. The speed of the drums often creates something magnetic in their music.

[–]YinzJagoffs 7 points8 points  (1 child)

Yes I hate the repetition

[–]stoverspIt's in my honey, it's in my milk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I understand where you're coming from and thought I would agree until the lyrics really hit me and I could really feel the story being told through the song. The repetition makes the song a little more powerful to me.

[–]HalfwayThere91 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I'm in agreement. The repetition is bugging me. Maybe it will grow on me...I don't know.

[–]joie_de_beavre 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It is very repetitive. Seems kind of low effort lyrically, which is a shame because the music is great!

[–]smittydoodle 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It sounds like an Arcade Fire song to me.

[–]Practically_Hip 1 point2 points  (0 children)

100% agree with you. I think it is a lazy effort. The chorus is off putting at best. Don’t care for the vocals on this one at all. The instrumentation ramp up toward the end is pure formulaic for them- nothing that surprises you, or grabs you in the chest. They can’t all be winners.

[–]GracelessBeast 6 points7 points  (5 children)

Love it! Brings so many emotions that it’s kinda hard to put them in words so soon after first few listens. Guitars, drums, lyrics and the manner in which Matt almost tearfully cries out words – pure brilliance from start to finish. Pictures of something tragic and bitter just flash before the eyes with every new line. Also think that the song is quite reassuring for the fans who weren’t sure about the direction of last albums and singles. That’s probably the most ‘The National’ song since TWFM. Also the video complements the song in the best possible way. Couldn’t be more excited for the new album, bring it on!

[–]ClemencyArtsIncludes a little bit of hell[S] 2 points3 points  (4 children)

It's very emotionally evocative, in a similar way to the songs of I am Easy to Find. That's the kind of The National song I love, so I appreciate it immensely.

May I ask which song TWFM is (I'm not that familiar with all the abbreviations)?

[–]GracelessBeast 3 points4 points  (2 children)

TWFM – Trouble Will Find Me. Did not mean any specific song from this album, but probably overall mood. I can see where you are going with I am Easy to Find parallel and I also think you have a point. All in all, Eucalyptus sounds like a perfect mix of old and new, it’s like many things put in one song, but at the same time it does not seem stretched or forced, it all comes in a very natural way as the song progresses.

[–]ClemencyArtsIncludes a little bit of hell[S] 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Ah, I see, thanks! I've found that I seem to have a very different taste than this subreddit, since I think the newer albums are better than the old ones (I like High Violet, but I just don't get the deal with Boxer, for example) and for example, I really don't like Pink Rabbits, but adore songs like Rylan and Light Years.

So I was curious to hear what other people thought of Eukalyptus since it was one of those rare love-at-first-listen kind of songs for me.

[–]chamberk107 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Boxer takes a minute to warm up to, but once you're in it, it's perfect

[–]kunk75 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Absolute banger. Love when he sings off key in that live in salt/pink rabbits register

[–]Low-Kaleidoscope-149 6 points7 points  (0 children)

By far my favorite of the 3 new songs (to me it's like HV, TWFM, and SWB all kind of mixed together in a good way). I was generally excited for the album from the first two singles but worried that nothing was really gonna "wow" me and this song totally proved me wrong. They clearly still have some juice!

[–]coolcrowe 12 points13 points  (1 child)

I still have to warm up to the way Matt sings some of the lines (specifically the "If I miss it, I'll visit" part),

I kinda felt this at first but I think for me it's that thing where something seems strange / off on the first few listens, but eventually becomes one of the parts of the song you love the most once you know it well.

[–]autojournoCurrently selling apples and ice water at the temple 5 points6 points  (0 children)

To me, it works as the narrator growing just a little frantic, raising their voice just a little, then pulling it back regretfully. A totally normal part of one of those thousand little early-separation discussions as you’re both starting to move on and still longing for what isn’t really there anymore.

[–]aspindleadarkness 22 points23 points  (2 children)

I’ve not said this about a National song for a very long time, but fucking hell, I adore this song. I thought Tropic Morning News was very good and New Order T-Shirt was a bit rubbish but this right here has got me bloody excited for the new album. It is utterly amazing.

[–]Hall-Additional 0 points1 point  (1 child)

My thoughts exactly

[–]refur 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I love it on first listen!! It’s classic National.

[–]shadowpapi9890 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My fav so far.

[–]AltruisticFee9770 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It’s great! Now I need a song with some bass Matt vocals!

[–]thfcspurs88 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Holy shit, I love this.

I wasn't super excited from the first 3, I do love TMN, but this one is on a different level.

[–]thebrokenwolf 3 points4 points  (1 child)

I really love the "I don't want it, I don't care, I don't want it" part

I love the song as a whole too but for some reason that part above, a little silly as it is, gets me giddy every time

[–]fad_jab 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Jon Snow would love it

[–]kunk75 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This album will beat up swb and iaetf

[–]MoreIronOre 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's giving me massive 'The Cure' vibes. Both in terms of the music and Matt's singing.

[–]TimmonsInc 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Of the 6-7 new ones performed live last summer, this was the most exciting of the bunch (TMN was the second - but I dug all of the new tunes) and IMO, they nailed it. Sounds great. Plus it sounds different enough from how they were later playing it live. That gives the album a new life on the road. which excites me.

[–]extracted-venom 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This one is my fave out of the songs released so far!

[–]junglebunglerumble 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I like it, would probably rank the 3 singles as TMN -> Eucalyptus -> New Order T Shirt

This sounds like a cross between Lemonworld and Terrible Love to me - fuzzy guitars, shouty vocals and similar tempo

Only thing im not keen on is the production - it sounds pretty muddy even on my high end headphones, meaning the end isnt as great as it should be (I think this is what people are getting at when they say the live version is better)

Overall I think this album is shaping up really well, though I feel like I tend to enjoy different National albums/songs to many on here. My favourite National albums are SWB and IAETF, with my least favourite being TWFM (always thought that sounded more like a cross between The National and Coldplay for some reason...), so these moody tracks are just what I want from the band

[–]regularcelery20🌊 it takes an ocean not to break 3 points4 points  (2 children)

I love it. This one is my favorite so far. But like I said in a previous post, I've said that about both of the other songs at different times, so I really can't be trusted. I think I will stick with my judgment this time, though... after I sit with it for a few days, at least.

It's beautiful, sorrowful, and quintessentially The National. I'm going to listen to it a few more times, but I'm trying not to listen to any of them too much... I really want to hear them and get to know them in the context of the album. But that's getting harder as time goes on, so I may break my rule.

[–]Aquarian_Girl 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Part of what has made them an enduring band for me is that my favorites shift around over time. They have so much good material that there seems to be something for nearly every mood I'm in or whatever sort of musical phase I'm into in a particular month.
I *think* this is my favorite of the new releases so far? Though I really like TMN, too.

[–]regularcelery20🌊 it takes an ocean not to break 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My favorites shift over time, too. Well, Terrible Love is always my favorite. Cliché, right? But I’ve also been randomly listening to Mr. November A LOT right now. I’d call it my favorite right now Can’t get enough of it. I always have new favorites. Before that, it was Green Gloves then Pink Rabbits then VCG and it goes on and on.

I always make Best of playlists with my favorite artists in my Apple Music. The problem with The National is that I want to put EVERY song of theirs in my Best of The National playlist. I listen to and love the other top 4 of my top 5 artists just as much, but I can narrow their songs down. I just can’t do the same for The National. Their songs are ALL just… special and unique in a way that nobody else’s seem to be.

But I think it’s between Eucalyptus and New Order T-Shirt for my favorite on this album thus far.

I love Taylor Swift (liked The National since Cherry Tree and liked Taylor Swift some since 2014-2019 but didn’t become a massive fan of TS until the albums Aaron produced came out in 2020, but I like ALL of her discography now) so I’m very excited for The Alcott!!! I’m sure being a Taylor fan is not a popular opinion around here, but I’m not ashamed of ANY music I love so I don’t care about that!

And I’m a fan of Sufjan Stevens and Phoebe Bridgers to a lesser extent as well, so I’m also very excited to hear their collaborations.

[–]kaan2814 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I like the reference on Luck You

[–]iwaitfortheclick 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It makes me cry. I feel so surprised by my reaction, because lyrically I think it's pretty straightforward and not that interesting, but the music sounds so, so sad. The entire feel is so melancholy but also...defeated? And the "I don't want it, I don't care" part sounds so sad and exasperated to me, particularly the "I don't care." The way Matt sings it so perfectly encapsulates the kind of hopelessness that arises at the end of a relationship, when you realize that this is it, there's no future, you're not getting back together, it's just done. That raw moment when you just feel so fucking tired, and you want all the things that come with a break up, like dividing possessions, even the ones you don't even care that much about, to just be over with already. Like, who really cares about the albums or the fucking ceiling fans? Isn't the more important thing that the actual person who occupied the space with you and all these possessions is gone? And that awkward, "you take it," "No, YOU take it," kind of exhaustion stands in the way of saying the things that might matter. I am having some interesting reactions to the new music so far. Weird Goodbyes may not be on the album, but I love it (though I often think this is because the content feels particularly resonant and I think Justin's voice is used to perfect effect). NOTS and TMN are not bad songs to me, and they've been growing on me (and I've said before that I think some of Matt's best lyrics in a long time are on those songs), but my initial reaction was pretty lukewarm. This is the first song from the album where I felt a strong emotional response all the way through.

[–]mi0128za 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The bridge that gets repeated again at the end is fantastic. Hooked me immediately.

"It wouldn't be fair
I'd be so alone
Without you there
It wouldn't be fair
There's nobody home
I'm already there
It wouldn't be fair"

[–]Daftpunk78 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My first National album was High Violet, and to me Eucalyptus is the single that could most closely fit into the feel of that record, versus anything released from TWFM, SWB or IAETF.

While I think you could make a fair argument that this isn’t a band at their absolute peak (Alligator through to at least TWFM is an amazing run in anyone’s books), I’m really glad they are still making music and looking forward to hear the full record. I would still have loved a surprise drop though so it could all be discovered in one hit - rather than the crushing weight of expectation for each “single” dropped.

[–]Ailite 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Pretty much immediately became one of my favorite songs by them. Wish I had had it to listen to two years ago when I went through a long, painful breakup. It’s fucking great and the lyrics and vocals are really raw and emotional. Not going to speculate about their marriage because it’s none of my business and they’re great writers who can write in character but I will just say I hope they’re doing okay.

[–]Ashlikesstuff 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Love the verses and bridge, not a fan of the chorus though. Some odd vocal line choices and the lyrics feel a bit first drafty. The band though, Holy shit. Superb instrumentally on this song, sounds absolutely huge.

[–]GracelessBeast 4 points5 points  (2 children)

Just another thought regarding the repetitiveness. I always thought that repetitiveness for Matt as an author was one of the ways to strengthen the emotional impact of the song. It is used on Available, Squalor Victoria, Mr November, Abel, Day I Die, The System Only Dreams, Empire Line and some other great tunes to create a certain mood. It does not necessarily mean that everybody has to love it, but it is definitely not a new thing and seems like a deliberate choice. Also it brings a nice balance with two other singles that are so full of words in a way that resembles Matt’s manic inner monologue. Eucalyptus hits as a dialogue between two people in crisis and it seems only appropriate that in such kind of dialogue we might often repeat a lot of stuff or say similar thing over and over.

[–]Low-Kaleidoscope-149 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yeah I think the complaints about repetitiveness are a little strange given the fact that Matt employs repetition in lyrics and melodies in like 75% of the National songs lol

[–]Aquarian_Girl 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree and tend to like the repetitiveness in his lyrics. Afraid of Everyone jumps to mind here, too.

[–]b0xcard 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I need more time with it, but I think it'll grow on me. Love the torrential energy of it.

[–]happyforawoman 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I love it so much and find it so powerful and heartbreaking I could melt into a puddle.

[–]Organic-Date 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I love it tbh.

[–]cardinal_song 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You described how I feel perfectly. It stunned me. It felt familiar in a sense. Just so quintessentially The National. But I also completely agree that it'll take me a bit to get used to the way "If I miss it, I'll visit" is sung haha

[–][deleted]  (1 child)

[deleted]

    [–]magpiemilk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    I’m there with you on the too perfect rhyme of “if I miss it, I’ll visit” it really takes me out of the song because it feels so silly in such a melancholic song

    [–]itscarlayall 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    It's my favorite single from the new album so far. New Order T-Shirt and Tropic Morning News are catchy, but Eucalyptus just kills you with the lyrics and lets you bury yourself with the "it wouldn't be fair...". A piece of art.

    [–]unclebrandyThis isn't working, you, my middlebrow fuck-up 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Incredible song. This album might end up being one of their best. We’ll see…

    [–]coolcool246 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Wasn’t too keen at first but after listening to it on loop a few times, I’m in love. It reminds me of SWB in all the best ways and now I’m v excited for the new album!

    [–]j4321g4321 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    It’s beautiful. Before I listened to it I expected to enjoy it but I was floored by how amazing it was. I agree that the Tropic Morning News and New Order T-Shirt are good but Eucalyptus is on another level. Haunting, melancholy, evocative. Classic The National.

    [–]madcaplarksLives in a lemonworld 🍋 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    I absolutely love it, it's also the closest thing to a Bobs Buskers song to make it onto an album

    [–]Low-Kaleidoscope-149 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    I find it fascinating that this song seems to be so polarizing. To me, it sounds like the most invigorated they've been in a while which is super exciting. TMN and especially New Order T Shirt sound way more by-the-numbers compared to this. Idk maybe I'm entranced by the song sounding like a mixture of High Violet and SWB. It makes me remember why I initially fell in love with this band so much in the Boxer/High Violet era

    [–]Gentleinsurgency 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Incredible track 🤯 🥁💜

    [–]chveya_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    I really like the bridge and outro. I think the backup vocalists in the chorus is interesting and I like that they are experimenting with that. I would love to hear a studio version that was a bit screamier in the chorus, though. I agree with others that it is a little repetitive.

    [–]Quaznarg 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Clearly it's awful because it has a drum machine in it. Duh. (Jk, it's great)

    [–]IsThatToastOverThere 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Perfection. The horns mingling with the strings & Bryan. Matt’s voice. Just beautiful.

    [–]Scared_Mirror5967 1 point2 points  (1 child)

    I love the song, it’s different. Does it have a terrible love quality to it? Meaning it sounds muffled, I only listened to it in my car and I can’t get it to come in clear lol. Could just be my car stereo though idk

    [–]junglebunglerumble 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    No it definitely is muffled and does remind me of Terrible Love too. The song is good but I with the production was better. The vocals are too buried in the mix and struggle to stand out against the heavy fuzzy guitars

    [–]erik_edmund 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    I love it. Far and away my favorite of the three new songs, and I've liked them all.

    [–]madcaplarksLives in a lemonworld 🍋 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    I absolutely love it, it's also the closest thing to a Bobs Buskers song to make it onto an album

    [–]Pink_Rabbits2012 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    It's pretty great, best of the 3 new singles. New Order T shirt was pretty meh, Tropic morning news is good but it does suffer from some questionable production choices

    [–]yerLerb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    First listen was quite mixed feelings.

    The "what about the X" lyrics were interesting for about 4 lines, then I started wanting it to go somewhere else... So I was a bit underwhelmed when verse 2 was more of the same. Felt a bit like Matt was phoning it in lyrically, cause I feel like I've heard him do so much more, historically.

    Enduring that though and getting to the final 1/3rd of the song... wow. It's the kind of incredible music I didn't dare hope The National would still be capable of producing, purely out of fear of being let down. Incredibly happy and excited to be proven wrong.

    So a bit of a rollercoaster, but very positive on balance. I'm very ready and excited for the new album.

    [–]GrandpaSweatpants 5 points6 points  (2 children)

    I'm starting to think I've fallen out of love with The National. SWB and IAETF both didn't do much for me and all 3 singles from this album haven't done anything for me either. I was super excited that after their last album, they might be moving another direction but that doesn't seem to be the case. I don't dislike them but they don't bring me the emotional hit that I'm used to with their older material.

    I know this is an unpopular opinion but just putting it out there. I honestly wish I loved the stuff in the last 10 years a bit more. It bums me out :(

    [–]warwornA girl inside my cake 🍰 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    i'm in the same boat and i'm super bummed too. like, i want to be liking this as much as everyone else is

    [–]MallisterDu 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    I feel the same about SWB and IAETF. I have made myself listen and like them for some time after they came out , but now I find them a chore to listen. Not all songs but 80% at least. However Eucalyptus and Tropic Morning News both excite me in a raw, non reasoned way. I still think they could be produced better, and I think this is the main reason people will dislike them. I wish for an album of Aligator or TWFM level of quality (as percived my me). But as long as we get something better then the last two I will be happy.

    I honestly don't think they are capable of reaching the heights of Boxer and HV. But that's ok, if albums like that were easy they wouldn't be so freaking good.

    [–]Green_Dark5049 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    Not very good

    [–]Ambitious_Bad998I leaned on the wall and the wall leaned away 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Honestly? The first couple times I listened to it I was frustrated by how clean and polished everything sounded. Even Matt's rawness of his vocals - the timbre, the way his voice moves and flows -- felt too clean and polished. And while I loved the instrumentation and sound of it -- it just sounds like the crispness I look for isn't there. I also wasn't digging the repetition of the lyrics because it felt like a story was building that never got an ending.

    Yet, when thinking of it though the lens of a breakup -- the song changed for me. I could feel the desperation in the lyrics and the way it stays with its repetition. It made me feel old memories of when I went through my worst break up -- of pleading, of begging and hoping to keep the relationship. Because it's familiar, it's comforting, it's stable; regardless of whether or not the bad began to outweigh the good. This felt like a moment when someone is hoping that they could do something to change it now, when really there was likely a lot that could've been done before to keep what was there. I've grown to appreciate the lyrics and the way the song builds and just ends like how I assume most, if not all, breakups do; with no real ending or sense of closure. That inevitably, it just ends.

    This song has grown on me to where I love it. I love the themes it presents, much like I love "New Order T-shirts" somber bittersweet reflection on an old love. Or like how "Weird Goodbyes" focuses on wanting to keep the past because no one truly figures out how to say goodbye to the spaces we have to move on from. I like the instrumentation -- it reminds me of SWB and TWFM as well.

    It's a good song -- I just wish it wasn't so polished. I wanted the desperation in the song to be matched with a rawer, more unclean sound. Still a good song that I think shows that, regardless of how 'new' this National sound is, we still have the band we've all grown to love.

    [–]maxatlof 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    I hate the chorus, doesnt fit the rest of the song at all imo. Feels forced like jamming a square peg in a round hole. Doesnt feel organic at all. Easily my least favorite of the 4 we've heard so far.

    [–]STILETT0_existsBuild a fire, Val Jester 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Eucalyptus is defo better than New Order T-Shirt in my opinion but it's pretty hard to top Tropic Morning News. Wonderful emotional crescendo but kills it with "If I miss it I'll visit"

    [–]bwslim69 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    I'm a little disappointed. I think it's the weakest of the 3 songs released thus far

    [–]niles_deerqueer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    This is actually the only single I’m not a fan of. The chorus doesn’t really do anything for me but the instrumentals are amazing.

    [–]itsbabylon 1 point2 points  (10 children)

    This sub makes me feel like I'm taking crazy pills at times. I honestly can't believe so many people enjoy these singles. I've been so disappointed by not only these singles but also I am easy to find. I feel like they've lost their touch and it makes me super bummed. I can't quite put my finger on what I dislike so much about their sound over the last ~4 years but it's consistent. With eucalyptus, I understand the reasoning for the repetition but man does it just not work for me. I am desperate for them to give me anything that puts me back in the head space of the times between boxer and sleep well beast.

    [–]Aquarian_Girl 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    I may be reacting to these singles more positively because I heard TMN and Eucalyptus performed live, so I have those versions in my head, too. I do wish Eucalyptus sounded more raw here.

    [–]Low-Kaleidoscope-149 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    It's interesting because I had a very viscerally negative reaction to Weird Goodbyes (and I still don't like it, it's just super lame to me). I think TMN is a banger but still wish there was no drum machine stuff because it sounds too poppy, and I think New Order T Shirt has incredible lyrics but the music is just fine, kind of bland. I love Eucalyptus because it's super heavy (for them) and I personally love the mania and repetition of it, particularly the back half of the song (it reminds me very much of HV mixed with SWB or something)...it's the most excited about a song of theirs I've been in quite a while, it at least has some roughness and bite to it. But, I can see where you're coming from, and I think a lot of the production stuff Aaron has been doing with his cadre of like sad singer songwriters has definitely bled into the production of the band for the worse, but I still enjoy the new stuff aside from Weird Goodbyes. The National operating at like 90% of their peak still rules and I don't need them to reinvent the wheel. But again, I see where you're coming from and think it makes sense.

    [–]ClemencyArtsIncludes a little bit of hell[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    It's a matter of taste, in the end. For example, I like the style of their newer albums much more than the old ones, as I discovered The National through Trouble Will Find Me, then moved to I am Easy to Find.

    In any case, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but music hipsters and gatekeepers who say that these singles are "objectively bad" or try to tell people not to like them because they don't are just flat out wrong.

    [–]iero_zero 1 point2 points  (3 children)

    If you check the indieheads subreddit post about eucalyptus you'll see a lot of criticism for it, the difference is pretty astonishing.

    [–]junkgarage -2 points-1 points  (1 child)

    Stan culture isn’t only confined to Popstars, I guess.

    [–]tropicmorningin a lemonworld 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Sorry but I have to laugh when I read comments like this and people say they hate the album and are missing the tour over a couple of singles…when the album isn’t even out yet. Re:”stan culture”–why is it so hard to believe that some fans genuinely love the new music? It’s entirely possible for that to be true while others to take longer to warm up to it, which is often the case, and for others to simply not like it. At the end of the day, this is a forum about the band so people will jump in on things they disagree about. If you’ve been such a longtime fan, give it time to grow and surely you’ll be heading to a show this summer.

    [–]junkgarage -1 points0 points  (0 children)

    You’ll get downvoted by people with national usernames but don’t fear; you aren’t alone. These new singles just aren’t hitting and this band is - to me - very clearly nowhere near it’s peak in regards to output quality. As someone who’s seen them 10+ times over the years, this is also the first tour I’m not going to go to and first album release I’m not really feeling any excitement for.

    [–]Aronfel -1 points0 points  (1 child)

    You're not the only one. The National have been one of my loves for over a decade at this point, but for me, their music has just gotten progressively worse since Sleep Well Beast.

    SWB was a decent enough record with a few strong songs on it.

    IAETF is just really not that good honestly. I think they featured other vocalists way too much to the point that I'd hardly even consider it a National album. The only way I'm able to enjoy it is by listening to a playlist I made where I removed half the songs and reordered it.

    And these newest singles really aren't doing it for me either.

    I'm not sure what it is exactly, and it's probably a combination of things. But The National have really lost their charm for me. Matt's vocal delivery has really changed for the worse, his lyrical quality has diminished and is far less interesting than it used to be (it feels like he's trying too hard to be... I don't know, poetic?), and the instrumentation just doesn't grab me much. I also think Aaron is more interested in producing for other artists at this point, and Bryce is more interested in his orchestral stuff. It just feels like they're not all that interested in The National anymore, and since they're the primary songwriters, I think that shows.

    If Boxer was their "make-or-break" album, and High Violet and TWFM were their peak to follow up Boxer, then these most recent records just feel like they're saying "we have nothing left to prove, so we're done trying so hard."

    I'm glad so many people are still finding enjoyment in their recent music, but it bums me out that I just cannot get into any of it.

    [–]itsbabylon -1 points0 points  (0 children)

    Thank you for saying what I've struggled with. Expertly put.

    [–]Halo_Chagrin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    It breaks my heart to say this but with every new song from this album I just feel so depressed. I know this is an unpopular opinion on here but I’ve spoken to a lot of friends who feel the same. It just all seems so stale, like they’re on autopilot or even at times like this is a parody of the band. The music, the lyrics, it’s all so generic and uninspired. There are glimpses here and there in the songs released so far of the greatness I’m used to but mostly it sounds like a band that are too comfortable to me. Very sad, they’ve been my favourite band for over a decade, I’ve seen them live more times than I can count, but these songs have left a very bad taste in my mouth unfortunately

    [–]h3ndr1x81 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Lyrically it’s brilliant - musically I’m still not sold on the new polished sound

    [–]Organic-Second-3266 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Very meh. Where's the edge, the grit, the umph

    [–]Laerfan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    I'll say up front that I typically find The National songs to be more grower songs than immediate songs for me. They're my favourite band, and I tend to get more out of their songs over time. So, what I'm about to say might be largely due to that.

    But... I'm not really digging New Order T-Shirt and Eucalyptus that much. I really like Tropic Morning News (but I definitely do have one big negative in that song too, the line "I would like to have nothing to do with it, I would like to be done and be through with it" just seems so totally uninspired to me and almost wastes the potential of the musical build up prior to it)

    These songs don't have the sonic nature of the National songs I love. I'm very much a Boxer and Alligator fan, and I have liked all the albums since but they would all be a tier below those two for me. And look, that's fine. I initially didn't take to Easy and that was a real grower. Some of my favourite National songs now are Oblivions and Quiet Light. So, maybe these two will grow too. But for now, it doesn't make me explode with excitement for the album like I was expecting I would be by now.

    I hope I'm wrong today, and grateful tomorrow.

    [–]LittleBabyJoseph 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    The dads are gonna have a sad summer

    [–]loiclecodec 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    I feel it's way too overproduced. I miss the simpler songs from Sad Songs and Alligator.

    [–]firesuitebaby -1 points0 points  (0 children)

    Listened half a dozen times. It's nice enough, but feels a little low effort I'm afraid, both in terms of the writing and production. This feels like something they could easily dust off in an afternoon. I really wish they let the drums rip a little more here, they do threaten it. I was really hoping for "Blood Buzz" type ripper for the immediate pre-album single drop.

    [–]reedspacer38 -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

    This has me worried about the features, specifically the Swift one as I already know This Isn’t Helping isn’t that great.

    Great song though.

    [–]sardonica96 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    I enjoy this a lot more than the last two tracks, feels like something is missing to me