Their self-titled debut album"The National" (Brassland 2001) was recorded and released before they had played even a single show. They cut the album with engineer Nick Lloyd and formed a label with writer Alec Bemis, so those recordings could be released. Kerrang! magazine gave it four Ks, calling it "the stuff underground legends are made of."
The National made a second album, "Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers" (Brassland/Talitres 2003). The staff was the same, though Peter Katis, who produced "Turn on The Bright Lights" and "Antics" by Interpol, helped produce and mix, and Australian composer Padma Newsome from Clogs collaborated on arrangements and strings.
Following the first session of several for Bernard Lenoir on France's Radio Inter, an in-between EP was released, Cherry Tree, containing what would become the blueprint for the sound on their next record and the session of Sad Song's standout Murder Me Rachael. After these accolades and being impressed by their live show, Roger Trust signed them to Beggars Banquet.
A show at their favorite bar became a van ride to neighboring cities, became a plane ride to Europe, became two summers overseas. Their ties to those good jobs slackened. And they continue on their own path, moving out even further out in Brooklyn to Ditmas Park, where there is space and familiar suburban streets and even Geese on Beverly Road. Their album, "Alligator", much of which was recorded at their homes in Ditmas Park, was engineered by Paul Mahajan, who has worked with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and TV on the Radio. Padma Newsome camped out for a month with the band, and Peter Katis added more production and mixed the record at his house in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Berninger's potent baritone still intones about matters fraught and funny and sad; about record collections, missing persons and medium-sized American hearts. But the record's not simply gothic or miserablist -- more like the plays of Tennessee Williams, it's full of peculiar intimacies and awkward grace. Alligator's heroes are reckless and possessed seducers, but they are apologetic ones. In The National's imaginings, in songs alternately lush and spare, there is something twighlit and dreamy worked out in the basement of our brains.
"Abel," "Secret Meeting," and "Lit Up" were released as singles.
On May 22, 2007, The National released their follow-up to Alligator, Boxer, on Beggars Banquet. Taking advantage of the fact that nobody had heard their first album and earliest demos, Matt proceeded to steal lyrics and melodies from them and give them the attention they deserved while keeping the intimacy that made them special. They even managed to convince new friend Sufjan Stevens to lay down some piano tracks for them, and recorded the album in a scant 6 months after coming off the long post-Alligator road.
"Mistaken for Strangers", "Fake Empire" and "Apartment Story" have been released as singles. The band have just finished touring North America and are on a large European autumn/winter tour after playing high slots at several large festivals. In their Dec. 07/Jan. 08 issue, Paste magazine named Boxer best record of 2007.
The band's fifth album, High Violet, was released on May 10, 2010 by 4AD Records. "Bloodbuzz Ohio", "Anyone's Ghost" and "Terrible Love" were released as singles.
In 2013 their sixth studio record Trouble Will Find Me was released and named "Best New Music" by Pitchfork. The album contained the single "I Need My Girl". In 2015, the album outtake "Sunshine On My Back" was released.
Four years after Trouble Will Find Me, marking the longest timespan between albums in their career so far, they released their seventh album Sleep Well Beast on September 8th, 2017 and were yet again met with great critical success.
The National homepage: http://www.americanmary.com/
The National blog http://tntl.tumblr.com
The National on Twitter http://twitter.com/TheNational
The National on Instagram http://instagram.com/TheNational
Brassland homepage: http://brassland.org/
Beggars Banquet homepage: http://www.beggars.com/
All the Wine-The National
The National Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Big wet bottle in my fist, big wet rose in my teeth
I'm perfect piece of ass
Like every Californian
So tall I take over the street, with high beams shining on my back
A wingspan unbelievable
I'm a festival, I'm a parade
And all the wine is all for me
And all the wine is all for me
I'm a birthday candle in a circle of black girls
God is on my side
'Cause I'm the child bride
I'm so sorry but the motorcade will have to go around me this time
'Cause God is on my side
And I'm the child bride
And all the wine is all for me
And all the wine is all for me
And all the wine is all for me
I carry the dollhouse, safe on my shoulders
Through the black city, night lights are on in the corners
And everyone's sleeping upstairs
All safe and sound
All safe and sound, I won't the let psychos around
All safe and sound, I won't let the psychos around
I'm in a state, I'm in a state
Nothing can touch us my love
I'm in a state, I'm in a state
Nothing can touch us my love
The National's song "All the Wine" is a reflection on the complexities of the human experience, with lyrics that explore themes of confidence, power, and vulnerability. The opening lines set the tone for the song, with the singer proclaiming themselves to be "put together beautifully" and holding "big wet bottle" and "big wet rose" in their hand and mouth, respectively. This image of confidence and self-assuredness is continued throughout the song, with the singer describing themselves as a "perfect piece of ass" and "so tall" that they "take over the street". The singer's persona is like a festival and a parade, an unstoppable force.
Despite this confidence, there are moments of vulnerability throughout the song, which adds complexity to the singer's character. The chorus rings out "And all the wine is all for me", suggesting that the singer may be using alcohol as a way to cope with their insecurities. The singer also compares themselves to a "birthday candle in a circle of black girls", which can be interpreted as a moment of feeling isolated and out of place. However, the singer quickly switches back to a stance of power and declares "God is on my side" as if to say that their insecurities are inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.
The final verse sees the singer carrying a "dollhouse" on their shoulders through the city, despite "psychos" being around. This sense of duty and responsibility towards others suggests that the singer has more depth than simply being a singular figure, and that they may have a desire to care for others despite their own vulnerabilities.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm put together beautifully
I am physically attractive and look very good.
Big wet bottle in my fist, big wet rose in my teeth
I am drinking and enjoying life to the fullest and have an abundance of love.
I'm perfect piece of ass
I am a sexually attractive person and very desirable.
Like every Californian
I am like every attractive person you see in California and am confident in my beauty.
So tall I take over the street, with high beams shining on my back
My presence is commanding, and I have an exceptional presence that draws attention.
A wingspan unbelievable
I am strong and powerful, with exceptional abilities.
I'm a festival, I'm a parade
I am a big occasion that brings out the best in everyone and is worth celebrating.
And all the wine is all for me
I am the center of attention and everything revolves around me.
I'm a birthday candle in a circle of black girls
I am unique and stand out among everyone else.
God is on my side
I am blessed and have good fortune on my side.
'Cause I'm the child bride
I am young and innocent, with a lot ahead of me to experience.
I'm so sorry but the motorcade will have to go around me this time
I am standing my ground and won't be moved because of my confidence.
I carry the dollhouse, safe on my shoulders
I am responsible and can handle the weight of the world on my shoulders.
Through the black city, night lights are on in the corners
I am able to navigate through the darkness and see things that others cannot.
And everyone's sleeping upstairs
I am able to keep those around me safe and secure.
All safe and sound, I won't the let psychos around
I am protective and aware of my surroundings, ensuring that those around me are safe.
I'm in a state, I'm in a state
I am lost in thought and deep within myself.
Nothing can touch us my love
I am in a powerful, strong mood where nothing can harm or bring me down.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: AARON B. DESSNER, BRYAN DEVENDORF, BRYCE D. DESSNER, MATTHEW D. BERNINGER, SCOTT D. DEVENDORF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind