THE NATIONAL
Rome (4AD)
The National had spent the summer touring around Europe and during one of the stops, in Rome, played at a spectacular outdoor venue Auditorium Parco Della Musica Ennio Morricone, where they recorded the full show. This recording, with no overdubs, is out as a 21-song double LP (and digital release), and was mixed by the band’s longtime collaborator Peter Katis.
Each of The National’s concerts is unique: the band changes their setlist every time they play, and they pulled all of their aces for the Italian audience. Some of the rarest played live tracks feature – Lemonworld, Murder Me Rachael and The Geese Of Beverly Road – as well as the forever crowdpleasers from I Need My Girl to Eucalyptus and The New Order T-Shirt.
The final results are mesmerising. On Rome the band sounds incredible throughout, and the vocals are at times rough, broken up with fits of laughter and interactions with the audience. “Ciao amici! Grazie!” shouts Matt Berninger in between songs, and all this makes the record perfect, unique, and able to serve as a reminder of the summer of music, or act as a sweetener for those who didn’t get lucky to hear The National yet. Every fan should at least once join the chorus of thousands singing Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks – and now they can travel in time and join the ones in Rome, whenever they press play on the final track.
words GOSIA BUZZANCA
