National Steel
National Steel is the solo recording project of New-York City singer/songwr… Read Full Bio ↴National Steel is the solo recording project of New-York City singer/songwriter/producer, Michael Hattem. The band existed as a live act from 2005 to 2006, but has always been focused on recording. Hattem self-produced two albums from 2006 to 2007.
The first album, Anhedonia, was an innovative record that was very much a "studio album," taking Hattem's rootsy Americana-based songs and dressing them up in orchestral instruments, mellotrons, synths, and samples, all played by Hattem except for the bass, which was played by the amazing Rich Stillwell. The result was called "freaked-out Americana" by one internet reviewer. For the second record, "VVT," Hattem went completely solo, playing all instruments on the record. The record further consolidated the "National Steel sound," which is built on acoustic guitar arrangements layered with organs, mellotrons, strings, and horns.
For all of the music, it is the songwriting of Hattem that makes the records stand out as something different from your average roots-rock, alt country, or indie rock records. Mixing country and folk songwriting influences with musical influences from 60s baroque pop and late 90s-early 00s indie pop, National Steel ends up with a distinct sound to match its distinct lyrics.
Highly poetic, Hattem's impressionistic lyrics conjure images in the listener's head with almost each line. The combination of ethereal instrumentation and "cosmological poetry” creates what one reviewer called a "pop quality that hearkens back to a more carefree time where a little bit of wistfulness went a long way." Another reviewer summed up National Steel by saying, "What's perhaps most appealing about this artist is the earnestness and genuine feelings expressed. No cynicism, glibness, self-indulgence, wallowing, gimmicks or swagger - just a refreshing feeling of open-hearted, self-reliant, intelligent, reflective, old Americanism. And a great voice and musical ability to deliver the feeling."
The first album, Anhedonia, was an innovative record that was very much a "studio album," taking Hattem's rootsy Americana-based songs and dressing them up in orchestral instruments, mellotrons, synths, and samples, all played by Hattem except for the bass, which was played by the amazing Rich Stillwell. The result was called "freaked-out Americana" by one internet reviewer. For the second record, "VVT," Hattem went completely solo, playing all instruments on the record. The record further consolidated the "National Steel sound," which is built on acoustic guitar arrangements layered with organs, mellotrons, strings, and horns.
For all of the music, it is the songwriting of Hattem that makes the records stand out as something different from your average roots-rock, alt country, or indie rock records. Mixing country and folk songwriting influences with musical influences from 60s baroque pop and late 90s-early 00s indie pop, National Steel ends up with a distinct sound to match its distinct lyrics.
Highly poetic, Hattem's impressionistic lyrics conjure images in the listener's head with almost each line. The combination of ethereal instrumentation and "cosmological poetry” creates what one reviewer called a "pop quality that hearkens back to a more carefree time where a little bit of wistfulness went a long way." Another reviewer summed up National Steel by saying, "What's perhaps most appealing about this artist is the earnestness and genuine feelings expressed. No cynicism, glibness, self-indulgence, wallowing, gimmicks or swagger - just a refreshing feeling of open-hearted, self-reliant, intelligent, reflective, old Americanism. And a great voice and musical ability to deliver the feeling."
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
National Steel Lyrics
All I Could Take your time babe Getting where your going Don't get lost…
Chelsea Bars Faucets leak days going by What's to come is already gone I'…
Desperate Nights and Solemn Days Every time the siren calls and I'm finding my way…
Don't Leave Me Alone The cold dawn We were standing there in the rain The twiligh…
Dreams Come in Colours You run from reason, you run from life You've stopped believ…
Everything Every day is rolling by Every night disappears Every fear's …
F Train Honest like a mid-month's moon with nothing to lose It's lik…
Feel Like Getting On Every day I'm standing outside of you Fading fast away I…
Find You Tonite I'll gather the strength that is left in my name Let…
Heaven's Heart's Gonna Run I belong to a different time But I'll use what I've…
Hiraeth Take all the grievous signs when you’re down again All these…
I'll Make It Up to You I'll ride the wave and follow my soul I write these…
It's in the Way Why do my skies turn so gray Every time you go…
Loneliness Won't Kill You Mercy holds the night like a child Streaking sunlight from a…
N.O.W. The time is here and it's now…
No Memory There ain’t nothing left here for us now Nothing we can…
Nothing Takes the Place of You I moved your picture From my walls And I replaced them Both …
On Your Way Visions of light that rise all through the morning Reflect t…
Only A Fool My heart's left bleeding divine under these Catholic nights …
Return Lick the wounds that time can only heal Read the stories…
Some Days A Weary Eye The days are receding away from the gloaming I'm free from…
Spread the Light When your mind is in the way Are you gonna find…
Stand Lost at the end of a dream There's a place in…
Staring At the Sun Don't dream as the day's don't end It's the failure of…
This Old Heart There's a moment in time When everything falls away When th…
Those Days Live in dreams sleep in starlight I don't know who's at…
Time's Wasting Away The days of the sun reappear just in time to…
Under the Gun You can ride away with the night on your shoulder And…
We All Forgot Wrapped in a velvet night Under the light of a…
Without You When time gets in the way And the moments are gone All…
Yellow Roses You take all the life out of your days When you…