The National have readied their next album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein. The follow-up to 2019’s I Am Easy to Find is out April 28th via 4AD, and it comes with a lengthy run of 2023 tour dates. What’s more, first single “Tropic Morning News” is available to stream now.
For a while, it seemed like First Two Pages of Frankenstein — or any new National album — was an impossibility. As the band explains in a press release, lead singer Matt Berninger experienced “a very dark spot where I couldn’t come up with lyrics or melodies at all. Even though we’d always been anxious whenever we were working on a record, this was the first time it ever felt like maybe things really had come to an end.” Fortunately, however, he made it through, and the resulting album — featuring huge names like Sufjan Stevens, Phoebe Bridgers, and Taylor Swift — marks what The National is calling “a new era for the band.”
The National will support First Two Pages of Frankenstein with a summer tour that includes stops in the US, UK, and Europe. Notably, an August 18th show at Madison Square Garden features “very special guest” Patti Smith, while the other tour dates boast support from Soccer Mommy, The Beths, and Bartees Strange. Tickets go on sale Friday, January 27th at 10:00 a.m. local time, with a Live Nation pre-sale taking place one day earlier on Thursday, January 26th (use code SOUND). Get tickets via Ticketmaster or Stubhub.
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Written by Berninger and his wife Carin, “Tropic Morning News” tackles morning doomscrolling with a deceptively light instrumental. “When Matt came in with that song in the depths of his depression, it felt like a turning point for us,” Aaron Dessner said of the track. “It’s almost Dylan-esque in its lyrics and it’s so much fun to play; everything suddenly felt like it was coming alive again.” Listen to “Tropic Morning News” and check out the artwork and tracklist for First Two Pages of Frankenstein below.
Last year, The National teamed up with Bon Iver for the track “Weird Goodbyes,” and remixed NEU!’s song “Im Glück” for the Krautrock band’s 50th anniversary box set.
First Two Pages of Frankenstein Artwork:
First Two Pages of Frankenstein Tracklist:
01. Once Upon a Poolside (ft. Sufjan Stevens)
02. Eucalyptus
03. New Order T-Shirt
04. This Isn’t Helping (ft. Phoebe Bridgers)
05. Tropic Morning News
06. Alien
07. The Alcott (ft. Taylor Swift)
08. Grease in Your Hair
09. Ice Machines
10. Your Mind Is Not Your Friend (ft. Phoebe Bridgers)
11. Send for Me
The National 2023 Tour Dates:
05/20 — Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre *
05/21 — Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre *
05/24 — Washington, DC @ The Anthem *
05/26 — Boston, MA @ Boston Calling Festival
05/28 — Napa, CA @ Bottlerock Festival
05/30 — Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre *
06/02 — Troutdale, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield *
06/03 — Troutdale, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield *
06/04 — Redmond, WA @ Marymoor Park *
06/05 — Burnaby, BC, Canada @ Festival Lawn at Deer Lake Park *
08/01 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia ~
08/03 — New Haven, CT @ Westville Music Bowl ~
08/07 — Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit ~
08/08 — Madison, WI @ The Sylvee ~
08/09 — Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory ~
08/11 — Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom ~
08/15 — Nashville, TN @ Ascend Amphitheater ~
08/16 — Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park ~
08/18 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
09/21 — Dublin, IRE @ 3 Arena *
09/23 — Leeds, UK @ First Direct Arena *
09/24 — Glasgow, UK @ OVO Hydro Arena *
09/26 — London, UK @ Alexandra Palace *
09/29 — Amsterdam, NL @ Ziggo Dome ^
09/30 — Berlin, DE @ Max-Schmeling-Halle ^
10/01 — Munich, DE @ Zenith ^
10/04 — Madrid, ES @ WiZink Center ^
10/05 — Porto, PT @ Super Bock Arena ^
10/06 — Lisbon, PT @ Campo Pequeno ^
* = w/ Soccer Mommy
~ = w/ The Beths
^ = w/ Bartees Strange