Today, The National has released Rome, the definitive live document of the band in performance. Recorded at the architecturally stunning venue Cavea of the Auditorium Parco Della Musica Ennio Morricone, the 21-track LP showcases scintillating versions of the band’s most beloved songs like ‘Bloodbuzz Ohio’, ‘Don’t Swallow the Cap’, ‘I Need My Girl’, ‘The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness’, ‘England’ and ‘Fake Empire’; plus sharpened readings of recent tracks ‘Eucalyptus’, ‘New Order T-Shirt’, ‘Tropic Morning News’ and the boundary-pushing ‘Smoke Detector’.
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“You have to see this band live” is often said about The National, and now, Rome is the next best thing to actually being there. Mixed by longtime collaborator Peter Katis, Rome spans the band’s 20-plus years of songwriting and reveals how each song has taken on a new life in live performance. Reflecting how the band changes setlists significantly from night to night to cast fresh light on hidden gems from the catalogue, Rome is marked by rarities such as show opener ‘Runaway’, ‘Lemonworld’, ‘The Geese of Beverly Road’, ‘Lit Up’ and a tour de force pairing of ‘Humiliation’ from the critically acclaimed album Trouble Will Find Me into Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers’ ‘Murder Me Rachael’.
In their live show review, The Guardian called The National “an era-defining band at the peak of their powers… as this stunning two-and-a-half-hour epic becomes a communal catharsis.” Rolling Stone UK also said “it’s clear that the band… have deserved their place at the top table for a decade now… a show that’s simply euphoric, and sees the band reaching a new peak.”
Photo credit: Graham MacIndoe
ROME TRACKLISTING
2LP
Side A
1. Runaway
2. Eucalyptus
3. Tropic Morning News
4. New Order T-Shirt
5. Don’t Swallow The Cap
Side B
1. Bloodbuzz Ohio
2. The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness
3. I Need My Girl
4. Lemonworld
5. The Geese of Beverly Road
6. Lit Up
Side C
1. Alien
2. Humiliation
3. Murder Me Rachael
4. England
5. Graceless
Side D
1. Fake Empire
2. Smoke Detector
3. Mr. November
4. Terrible Love
5. Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks
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