Remember The National? They’re Still Here…

I’ve always been a big fan of The National. Just something about their music always got to me.

They are putting out a limited edition vinyl box set of A Lot of Sorrow which they did in collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art:

We are very excited to let you know that we’ll be releasing a limited edition, vinyl only boxed set of A Lot of Sorrow, our MoMA PS1 collaboration with artist Ragnar Kjartansson. This boxed set contains the entire 6 hour live performance of “Sorrow” across 9 pieces of clear vinyl. The records are packaged inside of clear sleeves and held in a translucent, screen printed box. You can see photos of the package and pre-order at www.alotofsorrow.com. All profits will be donated to Partners in Health, an organization dedicated to improving the health of impoverished people worldwide.

As well, band member Bryce Dessner has done this:

Bryce’s composition, “Music for Wood and Strings,” will be released by Brassland on May 19th. Commissioned by Carnegie Hall and written for So Percussion, “Music for Wood and Strings” is performed on four amplified, dulcimer-like chord sticks. The chord sticks, which were built by Aron Sanchez of Buke and Gase, each have eight strings that are tuned to a pair of chords and were designed specifically for this piece of music.

Read more on this here.

And last but not least, Bryan Devendorf and his work on Pfarmers:

Armed with a single microphone and an iPhone, Bryan has been recording material for a new project called Pfarmers. The album was created with friends of The National, David Nelson and Danny Seim, along with a face-melting guest appearance by Shugo Tokumaru on electric guitar. Danny says: “The record is about a dream I had where I’m reluctantly accepting a fear of drowning by focusing on being reincarnated as a giant Gunnera plant, which thrive on the banks of rivers (specifically the Jordan River, i.e., the Biblical promised land) after I paint myself gold and sink to the bottom like the El Dorado of South American folklore.” Amen!

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