The National
Rome
4AD [2024]
“From baritone ballads to raucous anthems, Rome proves why The National reign supreme on stage.”
Album Overview: Releasing a live album isn’t a new concept for The National. From their Cherry Tree music club, which compiles concert snippets on vinyl for members, to the peculiar A Lot of Sorrow—a 9-LP art installation featuring 105 performances of “Sorrow”—the band has explored various ways to document live performances. Their catalog also includes traditional live albums like the early Daytrotter Session (2007) and Boxer (Live in Brussels). The latest addition, Rome, falls firmly into the traditional category and is their most extensive live release to date (excluding the 3-cassette box set Juicy Sonic Magic). Spanning 21 tracks—or 26, if you snag the Cherry Tree fan club edition—Rome covers two decades of material, from 2003’s Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers to their most recent 2023 albums, The First Two Pages of Frankenstein and Laugh Track. While the album doesn’t dive into improvisational experimentation and may feel predictable at times, it’s a powerful testament to the band’s dynamic range. They shine with high-energy performances of their heavier tracks and deliver tender moments with their softer ones. Will it blow minds? Probably not. But will it make you want to see them live for the first time—or all over again? Absolutely.
Musical Style: In this live setting the songs do expand beyond the stage. Helmed by Matt Berninger’s baritone, The National has always been couples therapy the band. The band presents their characters and songs like classical painters while maintaining driving guitars and drums.
Evolution of Sound: As a live album, Rome showcases The National’s evolution within their established niche. “Sad Dads” of rock dart between piano ballads and high-energy bangers. Few bands sound quite like The National, and the live arrangements bring a surprising energy and uplifting quality to their often-tragic narratives.
Artists with Similar Fire: Rome was recorded during their co-headlining tour with The War on Drugs, a contemporary with a similar vibe. Fans of The Antlers, Frightened Rabbit, and Spoon will also appreciate the mid-tempo, airy, melancholic rock that defines The National’s signature sound.
Pivotal Tracks: For fans who’ve seen The National live, Rome feels like a nostalgia trip. Picture Berninger pointing out the Kentucky Aquarium during a Cincinnati performance of “New Order T-Shirt”—moments like this exemplify the band’s unique connection with their audience. The album’s highlights lean heavily on earlier material. A standout is “Humiliation,” transitioning seamlessly into Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers’ “Murder Me Rachel,” where horns erupt as Berninger howls, “Tomorrow won’t be pretty.” The Alligator anthem “Mr. November” is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser with its defiant chant, “I won’t fuck us over, I’m Mr. November.” Other gems include multiple tracks from the seminal High Violet and Boxer. The live version of “Bloodbuzz Ohio” confirms that The National will forever play this fan favorite, while “Fake Empire” evokes simpler times with a full-throated audience sing-along. The set closes fittingly with two tracks from High Violet: the explosive “Terrible Love” and the crowd sing-along “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks.” The latter has become a staple of their live shows, a poignant moment that encapsulates why The National excels as both a studio band and a live act.
Lyrical Strength: The National is always known for their themes of fighting couples, lovers lost, and characters who wonder why they didn’t get the girl or where it all went wrong. This bummer band can craft a story but also their self awareness makes them endearing too.
THE NATIONAL REVIEW HISTORY
Laugh Track (2023) / First Two Pages Of Frankenstein (2023) / I Am Easy To Find (2019) / Sleep Well Beast (2017) / A Lot Of Sorrow [Box Set] (2015) / Trouble Will Find Me (2013)
THE NATIONAL LINKS
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