The National Family

The National Family

We’ve been pounding the drum for The National along with the rest of the world since they exploded with High Violet. We talked about them when the record first hit and then again, with their contribution to the Win Win soundtrack and once more, with Sharon Van Etten, a frequent collaborator who also appears on their latest.

So naturally, we’re pleased to report the newly released Trouble Will Find Me lives up to their reputation. It’s more refined and introspective than the previous, giving it a more mature or perhaps, clean shaven feel. But never veering far from the indie Brooklyn gruff they wear with authority. Bottom line, they’re a good old fashioned rock band that continues to advance and once again, they have fully delivered.

The part 2 to this story is that there’s even more of The National to love with the release of the new documentary Mistaken for Strangers. It came as a result of lead singer Matt Berninger, flanked by a pair of twins and a set of brothers and feeling left out, inviting his own metalhead brother Tom to join the crew of their breakout tour. Good thing the wannabe filmmaker packed the camera because what could have ended with a failed roadie gig evolved into this unexpected tale of two brothers. While the popularity of one was skyrocketing, the almost famous one floundered in his shadow. That is, until the spotlight was turned. Be it dumb luck or happy accident, Tom Berninger managed to make good and create a touching film that took him from sleeping on his parent’s couch to being introduced by Robert DeNiro at the Tribeca Film Festival and gaining respect as an artist in his own right. The film is out in limited screenings so it’s best to throw it on the queue for safe keeping.

Here’s The National on Letterman with their summer anthem “Don’t Swallow the Cap” (Oh and really, Dave? “You can pick up the CD in stores….” Is that still a thing?) followed by the trailer for Mistaken for Strangers by Tom Berninger who seems pretty ready for his closeup.