The National: Laugh Track (Limited Edition) (Pink Vinyl) EU Link

Without much advance notice, The National release their new album »Laugh Track«. The “sister album” or supplementary work to “First Two Pages Of Frankenstein”, which was only released in April .

The songs for both albums were written at the same time. Many of the tracks included here were further developed and completed during the performances in the last few months. “Weird Goodbyes”, the collaboration with Bon Iver, was released as a single in August 2022, but to the surprise of fans it was not found on “First Two Pages Of Frankenstein”. On “Laugh Track” the collaboration fits seamlessly into the great duets with Phoebe Bridgers and Rosanne Cash.

Thematically, there is no intentional separation between “Frankenstein” and “Laugh Track.” While singer Matt Berninger was more looking for a refuge on “Frankenstein”, here he has a new, clear view of what matters. If “Frankenstein” was a sign of the restoration of trust between the band’s individual elements, the lively and curious “Laugh Track” is the confident product of that process and a statement of intent for now and the future.

»Laugh Track« is perhaps the most musically unconditional album The National have made in years. It’s defiant yet light-hearted, but it contains as much rare, unbridled beauty as it does desolation.