You’re probably asking yourself, ‘Just how quirky is Sufjan Stevens’ new Christmas compilation, Silver and Gold: Songs for Christmas, Vols. 6-10?’
Well, rather than spoil the fun and answer that question for you, let’s take a look at a few tracks.
Tag: The National (1-7 of 7)
Nov 13
2012
03:30 PM ET
Sufjan Stevens Christmas compilation - Hear It Here
- Comments +
- Add comment
Aug 27
2012
03:35 PM ET
Campaign 2012 music news update: U.S. Presidential candidates joined by Kid Rock, Journey, the National, and more
Today’s announcement that erudite Brooklyn indie rockers The National (left) are opening for President Obama at a campaign event Iowa on September 1 marks the most recent development in the 2012 race’s musical circus — and one of the few examples of a music/candidate pairing that hasn’t resulted in somebody totally freaking out.
The band, who previously opened for Obama in 2008 alongside Ben Harper, bring a much-needed boost to the Democrats’ so-far-disappointing musical retinue.
The party generally known for its Hollywood connections and A-list support has had trouble attracting major entertainment names this year — significantly fewer celebrities are slated to attend its National Convention in Charlotte next week; the event’s relatively low-wattage lineup so far consists only of James Taylor, America’s Got Talent stars Inspire the Fire, and Duke University alums Delta Rae. (Compare that to 2008, when Kanye, Fall Out Boy, Black Eyed Peas, Rage Against the Machine, and Death Cab for Cutie all performed in Denver.) READ FULL STORY »
Sep 13
2011
09:13 AM ET
'Grey's Anatomy Vol. 4' soundtrack feat. Cee-Lo, Lykke Li, the National and more -- stream it here EXCLUSIVE
Oh, those crazy doctors and their anatomies!
While Grey‘s returns for its eighth season on Sept. 22, the show’s famously synced-up soundtrack is now on its fourth volume, out today.
Grey’s Anatomy Vol. 4, the series’ first outing in four years, contains a calvacade of alt and indie names — Lykke Li, Cee Lo Green, Peter Bjorn & John, the National, Scars on 45, and more.
You can order it on iTunes by clicking here, and get a full, free streaming sneak preview only on EW.com, below, along with the complete tracklisting: READ FULL STORY »
Jun 15
2011
08:00 AM ET
Mumford & Sons covers The National's 'England' on 'VH1 Unplugged' -- EXCLUSIVE VIDEO
Mumford & Sons doing The National? Yes, please.
The buzzy English folk rockers are the latest to take the plunge on VH1′s recently rebooted Unplugged series, and EW has the exclusive video of their cover of stately Brooklyn-based indie outfit The National‘s song “England.”
It turns out that the Mumford boys have admired The National for a long time. “We’re big fans,” says Mumford & Sons vocalist Marcus Mumford just before performing “England” in the video, embedded below.
“Last summer,” he continues, “we got to see them, like, five or six times, and really loved High Violet as an album and that song ['England] obviously sticks out for us cause we’re English. Still trying to figure out if it’s offensive towards English people, but yeah, we’re making it non-offensive. We’re making it sort of like a real Britannia song today.”
“When we were asked to play a cover, it just sort of jumped out. As opposed,” he jokes, “to playing Ween’s version of ‘Waving my D— in the Wind,’ which we thought we’d save for another time.” Watch it here:
Mar 9
2011
02:10 PM ET
The National team up with John Slattery from 'Mad Men' in new video: Watch it here
It’s not easy to make an entertaining video when you’re an acclaimed-but-mopey indie band, more known for inducing introspective lethargy than turning frowns upside down. With that in mind, the “Conversation 16″ music video from The National, starring Mad Men‘s John Slattery and Daily Show contributor Kristen Schaal, is a real achievement.
It’s also not often that such a self-loathing song (sample lyric: “I tell you miserable things after you are asleep”) is accompanied by visual gags like a female president packing a teddy with a presidential seal on it (and we’re not talking Beanie Babies). Watch it here: READ FULL STORY »
Feb 16
2010
10:41 AM ET
Sasquatch 2010: MGMT, Vampire Weekend, and My Morning Jacket join Pavement
With festival season heading into full swing, Sasquatch—the indie music madness that takes place at the Gorge in George, Washington over Memorial Day weekend each year—announced the line-up for its festivities this year. According to Spinner.com, MGMT, Vampire Weekend (at left), and My Morning Jacket are the biggest acts to join the line-up, which includes the previously announced headliner,Pavement. The acts were announced at a show held at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle last night.
Also signed on: Broken Social Scene, the National, the Hold Steady, Band of Horses, the xx, Dirty Projectors, Passion Pit, Miike Snow, Ween, Public Enemy, Tegan & Sara, LCD Soundsystem, and Massive Attack.
Who’s missing, Music Mixers? Will you be gearing up for Sasquatch 2010? If you could choose one late-add (or several!), who would it be?
(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
‘My Sharona’: the real Sharona remembers late Knack singer Doug Fieger
Tonight’s “We Are the World” update: Watch footage from inside the recording
John Mayer is very sorry about his explicit sexual and racial comments; do you believe him?
Janelle Monae walks a funky ‘Tightrope’ with Big Boi
Sugarland’s new Olympic single goes for the gold: Watch an exclusive preview here!
Linkin Park’s stark Haiti video: Watch ‘Not Alone’ here
May 4
2009
04:34 PM ET
'Dark Was the Night' at Radio City Music Hall: Bon Iver steals the show
The National’s Aaron and Bryce Dessner and Red Hot Organization’s John Carlin have plenty to be proud of. Their years of hard work not only produced Dark Was the Night, a 31-track double album featuring brand-new songs from some of the biggest names in indie rock (including Bon Iver, pictured), but also a terrific benefit concert last night at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. (At the show, Carlin said they have collectively raised over $10 million benefitting HIV/AIDS awareness and research.) So, how was last night’s concert? In a word: fantastic. In another word: collaborative. Click through the jump for an artist-by-artist breakdown of the night’s festivities.
