of The National.
Showing posts with label Matt Berninger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matt Berninger. Show all posts
21 February 2011
Song to Love: The Forms Feat. Matt Berninger - Fire to the Ground
This is my current favorite song. I've listened to it probably 30 times in the past two weeks.
The Forms (whose style Wikipedia considers "math rock"), are a Brooklyn band that formed in the early 2000's and have since released two albums with a third on the way.
The song features The National's Matt Berninger and the combination could not be better.
At just under three minutes, the song goes on for just the right amount of time to leave you wanting more.
The Forms (whose style Wikipedia considers "math rock"), are a Brooklyn band that formed in the early 2000's and have since released two albums with a third on the way.
The song features The National's Matt Berninger and the combination could not be better.
At just under three minutes, the song goes on for just the right amount of time to leave you wanting more.
Radiohead vs. The National
I absolutely adore Radiohead's new music video for their recent single "Lotus Flower" that, by the way, already has nearly 4 million views on Youtube and was only released 5 days ago(!) but I can't help but think it is too closely related to The National's video for "Bloodbuzz Ohio" that depicts frontman Matt Berninger awkwardly dancing around in black and white.
Although Berninger was better dressed and better bearded, I've been a longtime fan of Thom Yorke's crazy dancing abilities which puts me on the fence. On the 2009 Grammy Awards, Yorke danced his way through "15 Step" and it was rather awe-inspiring. It's the kind of thing you can't take your eyes off, whether you're enjoying it or not. There's something so odd about his face and tiny, little body that it keeps your attention. "Lotus Flower" as a whole is a great song but I'm disappointed it sounds so similiar to everything we've come to expect from Radiohead. Maybe that's not giving it enough credit, since it's definitely one of the best songs to come out recently, but without this fantastic video I'm not sure that I would even be paying much attention to it. The National's "Bloodbuzz Ohio" wasn't really a departure for them either. On music blogs last year the real discussion was whether or not the video was arrogant or humorous. Basically, it seemed like the conversation was mostly about the visuals rather than the song. Regardless, I still listen to it all the time over a year later.
I think the bottom line is no amount of sophistication and good looks are going to trump Thom Yorke's exceptional dancing abilities. Did he get inspiration from Matt Berninger? That remains to be seen.
Although Berninger was better dressed and better bearded, I've been a longtime fan of Thom Yorke's crazy dancing abilities which puts me on the fence. On the 2009 Grammy Awards, Yorke danced his way through "15 Step" and it was rather awe-inspiring. It's the kind of thing you can't take your eyes off, whether you're enjoying it or not. There's something so odd about his face and tiny, little body that it keeps your attention. "Lotus Flower" as a whole is a great song but I'm disappointed it sounds so similiar to everything we've come to expect from Radiohead. Maybe that's not giving it enough credit, since it's definitely one of the best songs to come out recently, but without this fantastic video I'm not sure that I would even be paying much attention to it. The National's "Bloodbuzz Ohio" wasn't really a departure for them either. On music blogs last year the real discussion was whether or not the video was arrogant or humorous. Basically, it seemed like the conversation was mostly about the visuals rather than the song. Regardless, I still listen to it all the time over a year later.
I think the bottom line is no amount of sophistication and good looks are going to trump Thom Yorke's exceptional dancing abilities. Did he get inspiration from Matt Berninger? That remains to be seen.
11 September 2010
10 August 2010
01 May 2010
Ten Things I Love About Matt Berninger of The National:
01. He's able to turn a simple, two minute song into a treasure (see: "Fashion Coat")
02. His beard.
03. The business chic attire on stage and in all these new publicity photos.
04. Awkward, nervous, confident, quiet, pensive, creative, etc. personality.
05. "I leaned on the wall and the wall leaned away."
06. Lives in the tri-state area.
07. This description of him from a recent article: "Their focal point is a frontman who admits he finds the idea of being the singer in a rock band 'sort of embarrassing'."
08. His desire for the new album to sound like "loose wool" and "hot tar".
09. His outrageous antics on stage (carrying a microphone stand on his back, throwing alcohol across the stage at a New York Magazine gala).
10. The sound of his voice.
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