“Eucalyptus” is an interesting track from Cincinnati’s The National. The track is interesting because it sounds a tad more lived in than some of the previous tracks released. I have to plug my hometown whenever I can, folks. You know, if more local bands wanted to contact and get a plug, I’d be up for it. However, not all tracks can smell like watered down patchouli.
Group member Bryce Dessner had sent the song to frontman Matt Berninger so long ago that he’d forgotten about it, but Berninger came up with lyrics and asked to play it during soundcheck hours before the Capitol Theatre show. “We rehearsed it twice without ever having had a demo and played it to the audience that night, and what you hear on thealbum was partially recorded during that performance,” he says. “It’s got this raw, immediate feeling, and it made sense to leave the rough edges instead of trying to perfect them.”
Like many songs on First Two Pages of Frankenstein, “Eucalyptus” finds Berninger drawing lyrical inspiration from the labyrinthine theme of fractured relationships. “Throughout the record there’s a lot of looking into the abyss and wondering if a relationship has run its course,” he says. “‘Eucalyptus’ is about a couple splitting up their possessions after a breakup — like, ‘What are we going to do with the spring water we get delivered, what’s going to happen to all these plants?’ It’s about all those little things you end up having to think about when you’ve become so connected to someone.”
“Eucalyptus” is accompanied by an official video directed by Chris Sgroi and shot at Long Pond by Sgroi and Tom Berninger.
Meanwhile, the first single from the new album, “Tropic Morning News,” has reached No. 1 on Billlboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart, marking The National’s first song to hit that peak since 2017. In addition, jumping off from the recent track “New Order T-Shirt,” TheNational has also partnered with New Order on a real, limited-edition New Order T-Shirt that pays homage to the Manchester band’s iconic album designs, with a portion of theproceeds from the collab going to a charity of their choice. The National x New Order shirt is available at https://shop.americanmary.com/.
The 11-song First Two Pages of Frankenstein was produced by The National at Long Pond Studios in upstate New York and features guest appearances by Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers and Sufjan Stevens. Pre-order for the album is available now HERE and at americanmary.com. They’ve also announced today an exclusive Magnolia Record Store variant of the LP in opaque turquoise. Pre-order the Magnolia Record Store variant HERE.
The National will begin a 2023 world tour with a May 18-21 stand in Chicago. Theitinerary, with numerous shows already sold out, also includes the band’s first show at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Aug. 18 with very special guest Patti Smith and her band. Other shows feature opening sets from Soccer Mommy, The Beths and Bartees Strange. Just announced are stops at Montreal’s Osheaga Festival on August 5th and a headlining set at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage with very special guest Patti Smith and her band and U.S. Girls. Tickets are on sale now; more information can be found at AmericanMary.com.
Formed in New York in 1999, The National has scored five top 10 albums on The Billboard 200, with 2017’s Sleep Well Beast earning the Grammy for Best Alternative Album.
