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News
The National announce new album
First Two Pages of Frankenstein is set for release in April and features appearances from Phoebe Bridgers, Taylor Swift and Sufjan Stevens
After much fan speculation, The National have confirmed news of their ninth studio album, First Two Pages Of Frankenstein. The release follows 2019’s Trouble Will Find Me, though talk of a new album began to snowball last August after the single ‘Weird Goodbyes’, featuring Bon Iver.
Last weekend the buzz was reignited when the fans realised that the Brooklyn band’s website featured two short clips of unreleased music and a book that featured the names “Mrs. Bridgers,” “Uncle Sufjan” and “Taylor”. Today, the band announce that the album will be released on 27 April, featuring not-so-surprising collaborations with Phoebe Bridgers, Sufjan Stevens and Taylor Swift. The National have also shared their new lead single, ‘Tropic Morning News’.
Alongside news of the the album, The National have also announced a UK tour for September 2023, stopping at Leeds, Glasgow and London.
In a statement, the band outlined that the album came after a difficult creative crisis that put strains on their relationship. “Instead of fighting, we were caring for each other and for the songs, almost like you’d care for your family,” says guitarist Bryce Dessner. “We
managed to come back together and approach everything from a different angle, and because of that we arrived at what feels like a new place.”
Speaking on the album’s title, Matt Berninger explains how its namesake helped break a bout of writers block. “The book starts off with the narrator on a voyage near the Arctic Circle, and that image of being adrift helped me to write about feeling disconnected and lost and lacking in purpose. Once I started confronting that strange, blurry panic of not having ideas, everything began to crack open a bit.”
First Two Pages Of Frankenstein tracklisting:
1. Once Upon A Poolside (feat. Sufjan Stevens)
2. Eucalyptus
3. New Order T-Shirt
4. This Isn’t Helping (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)
5. Tropic Morning News
6. Alien
7. The Alcott (feat. Taylor Swift)
8. Grease In Your Hair
9. Ice Machines
10. Your Mind Is Not Your Friend (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)
11. Send For Me
The National head on a UK tour 23-26 September 2023. Tickets are on sale here at 10:00, Friday 27 January.
