13 Essential Songs by the National

A highlight for me in 2022 was seeing the National perform at Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Denver, CO. The venue is amazing, and the band played all the bangers. Seeing a show there really should be a bucket list item for any music lover (the sound is amazing!).

Since this was a tour a couple years removed from an album release (no one was doing much touring in 2020-1) the set included a nice mix of old and new, including some brand new songs.

Here are my favorite National songs and the albums you can find them on:

Alligator (2005)

Lit Up

I was late to the party on this album but after seeing the video for this, I needed Alligator in my collection. This song has a rawer sound than more recent work. The production sounds like they are playing it live in the room with you. This gives the song a sense of immediacy that works nicely with the driving guitars.

Mr. November

Partly inspired by anxiety leading up to the November 2004 elections this song is always a barnburner live. Singer Matt Berninger often ventures into the crowd with this one. He is one of the few rock and roll vocalists whose voice can go from achingly beautiful to screaming and back again and sound good doing it. This song highlights the screaming side. Don’t listen if sensitive ears are nearby…sweary chorus alert.

Boxer (2007)

Fake Empire

With its syncopated piano part running throughout, this song is unlike anything else out there. Just when your brain has attached itself to a 4 beat pattern the drums kick in with 3/4 time and the bass playing 6 eighth notes while those four dotted eighths from the piano fade into the background. Part of this band’s songwriting genius is to take something simple and make it sound complex and vice versa.

Mistaken for Strangers

If I had to create a desert island disc for this band, this would definitely make the cut. It’s a bit of a shame that they don’t have more straight out rockers like this one because they do it so well. It starts out like a freight train and just keeps barreling on.

Slow Show

This song is like two in one, and the second half actually is a revamp of a song from a previous album. The first half is a midtempo catchy little acoustic pop song. On it’s own it wouldn’t make this list but then we get part 2 where the piano kicks in and the line that would make anyone weak in the knees “you know I dreamed about you, for 29 years before I saw you.”

High Violet (2010)

Anyone’s Ghost

There was a time in my life when I couldn’t listen to this just once, I had to replay it at least 2 or 3 times. That’s one of the hallmarks of a perfect pop song–it leaves you wanting more. Perhaps one of the most straight up catchy pop songs in their entire catalog, it is a bit of anomaly, but one I can’t do without.

Conversation 16

I affectionately call this one the zombie song and it is one of my all time favorite National songs. “I was afraid, I’d eat your brains; cause I’m evil.” The band had a fun Halloween graphic made along the zombie theme one year.

If you listen carefully to National songs, they sometimes mess with conventional song structure. Here they have something along the lines of Vs1-Prechorus-Vs2-Prechorus-Prechorus#2-Chorus-Vs3-Prechorus-pause-Prechorus#2-Chorus. It’s often not until I try to play one of their songs on the piano or guitar that these little details become apparent.

And let’s take a moment to appreciate the tone of that bass in the pre-chorus–so rich my arteries are clogging just listening to it.

Trouble Will Find Me (2013)

I should live in Salt

A hallmark of a great band is when songs that previously didn’t hit you suddenly become essential listening. This is a song that moved onto the essential list after the Red Rocks show. “I should live in salt for leaving you behind.” One of the most understated yet effective guitar solos.

Heavenfaced

Speaking of songs that have structures that are unusual yet feel really natural, this one takes the prize. It never repeats a section. It goes something like Part: A-A-B-C-C-D. Part C, with it’s “She’s a griever, my believer…” is simply stunning.

Pink Rabbits

This is another song I have a hard time listening to just once. From it’s swaying piano riff to its closing coda “said it would be painless, a needle in a doll, said it would be painless, it wasn’t that at all” this one has it all. Humor and pathos. Humor in the form of “you didn’t see me, I was falling apart, I was a white girl standing in a crowd of white girls in the park.”

Sleep Well Beast (2017)

Nobody Else Will Be There

An atmospheric gem that highlights Matt’s ability to make your heart ache with his voice. There’s really nothing else to say. Go and listen.

The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness

Can you tell I like the rockers? If they have ever written a radio friendly hit, this would have to be it. Catchy and has a slow ramp up towards the chorus and guitar solo before taking it back down and building one more time. I can’t explain it any other way–I just love this one.

I Am Easy to Find (2019)

Light Years

Another lovely ballad closes this album. This is somewhat reminiscent of “I Need My Girl” (2013). Not to repeat myself, but they do gorgeous ballads so well.

Of course this list is my highly subjective opinion and this is just a small selection of what makes this band so great. If you have been hearing about the National but weren’t sure where to start, I hope I have given you a nice assortment of the old and new; and ballads, rockers and pop songs.