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Built on leftovers from the sessions for their other 2023 release, First Two Pages of Frankenstein—which featured a much-ballyhooed appearance by Taylor Swift—Laugh Track was released quietly with similar cover art, but little fanfare. It still feels good to feel bad on Laugh Track, sounding very much like an extension of its predecessor, but slightly more downbeat. "Losing my momentum, losing my mind/ Not enough to mention, not enough time/ I can't even say what it's about/ All I am is shreds of doubt," vocalist Matt Berninger deadpans rather than sings in "Laugh Track" with guest Phoebe Bridgers adding little more than texture to the vocals of this dirge. Another lament about Berninger's awkwardness, "Coat on a Hook," opens with "Don't leave me here at this party like a coat on a hook," before descending into "Friendships are melting, nothing is helping/ Nothing's worth keeping, promises cheapen." The monotone "Tour Manager" is a throwaway, but there are moments when the band's talents shine through, the gloom lifts and the music triumphs despite Berninger's enveloping melancholy. The rising tempo of "Space Invader" concludes with a satisfying crash of guitars that drowns out his croaking. Rosanne Cash's vocal presence on one verse and as Berninger's duet partner in the choruses of "Crumble" adds character. Recorded in producer Tucker Martine's studio in Portland, Oregon the sound is smoothly mixed with Berninger's vocals moving up and back. Hope for the future exists in "Smoke Detector," in which the growling guitars of brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner continually threaten to break out, as Berninger rushes through word heavy lines, perhaps hopeful his turmoil will pass: "Sit in the backyard in my pharmacy slippers/ At least I'm not on the roof anymore/ In a year or so I hope nobody remembers/ This run of episodes of my time on the floor." © Robert Baird/Qobuz
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Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Peter Katis, Engineer - Steve Fallone, MasteringEngineer - Gillon Cameron, StudioMusician - Marianne Haynes, StudioMusician - Mouse on Mars, Programmer - Aaron Dessner, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, Producer, MainArtist - Kirsty Mangan, StudioMusician - Ashok Klouda, StudioMusician - Galya Bisengalieva, StudioMusician - Peteris Sokolovskis, StudioMusician - Robert Ames, Conductor - Jonny Byers, StudioMusician - James McAlister, Programmer, StudioMusician - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Composer, Engineer, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Sergio Serra, StudioMusician - Downtown Music Publishing, MusicPublisher - Hannah Dawson, StudioMusician - Ben Lanz, StudioMusician - Laura Moody, StudioMusician - Hazel Correa, StudioMusician - Jonathan Low, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bella Blasko, Engineer - Raja Halder, StudioMusician - Benjamin Lanz, Composer - Charis Jenson, StudioMusician - Alessandro Ruisi, StudioMusician - Radhika de Saram, StudioMusician - Venetia Jollands, StudioMusician - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Nicole Crespo O'Donoghue, StudioMusician - Guy Button, StudioMusician - Claire Hazelton, StudioMusician - No Collector, MusicPublisher - Ellie Consta, StudioMusician - Mathew Bain, StudioMusician - Rebecca Burden, StudioMusician - Matthew Berninger Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - Bryce Dessner Songs (ASCAP), MusicPublisher
2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd 2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Peter Katis, Engineer - Steve Fallone, MasteringEngineer - Gillon Cameron, StudioMusician - Marianne Haynes, StudioMusician - Lisa Hannigan, AssociatedPerformer - Tucker Martine, Producer, Engineer - Mouse on Mars, Programmer, StudioMusician - Aaron Dessner, Composer, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, Producer, MainArtist - Kirsty Mangan, StudioMusician - Ashok Klouda, StudioMusician - Galya Bisengalieva, StudioMusician - Peteris Sokolovskis, StudioMusician - Robert Ames, Conductor - Jonny Byers, StudioMusician - James McAlister, StudioMusician - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, AssociatedPerformer - Sergio Serra, StudioMusician - Downtown Music Publishing, MusicPublisher - Hannah Dawson, StudioMusician - Kyle Resnick, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Lanz, StudioMusician - Laura Moody, StudioMusician - Hazel Correa, StudioMusician - Jonathan Low, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bella Blasko, Engineer - Raja Halder, StudioMusician - Charis Jenson, StudioMusician - Alessandro Ruisi, StudioMusician - Radhika de Saram, StudioMusician - Venetia Jollands, StudioMusician - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Nicole Crespo O'Donoghue, StudioMusician - Guy Button, StudioMusician - Claire Hazelton, StudioMusician - Ellie Consta, StudioMusician - Mathew Bain, StudioMusician - Rebecca Burden, StudioMusician - Mimi Reese Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - Matthew Berninger Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - Isla Berninger, AssociatedPerformer
2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd 2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd
Greg Calbi, Engineer - Steve Fallone, Engineer - Gillon Cameron, StudioMusician - Marianne Haynes, StudioMusician - Lisa Hannigan, AssociatedPerformer - Bon Iver, FeaturedArtist - Justin Vernon, AssociatedPerformer - Aaron Dessner, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, Producer, MainArtist - Kirsty Mangan, StudioMusician - Thomas Bartlett, StudioMusician - Fiona Cruickshank, Engineer - Ashok Klouda, StudioMusician - Galya Bisengalieva, StudioMusician - Peteris Sokolovskis, StudioMusician - Robert Ames, Conductor - Jonny Byers, StudioMusician - Adam Sliwinski, StudioMusician - Jason Treuting, StudioMusician - Josh Quillen, StudioMusician - James McAlister, Programmer, StudioMusician - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, AssociatedPerformer - Sergio Serra, StudioMusician - Downtown Music Publishing, MusicPublisher - Hannah Dawson, StudioMusician - Kyle Resnick, AssociatedPerformer, StudioMusician - Ben Lanz, StudioMusician - Aaron Brooking Dessner, Composer - Laura Moody, StudioMusician - David Chalmin, Engineer - Hazel Correa, StudioMusician - Jonathan Low, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bella Blasko, Engineer - Raja Halder, StudioMusician - Charis Jenson, StudioMusician - Alessandro Ruisi, StudioMusician - Radhika de Saram, StudioMusician - Venetia Jollands, StudioMusician - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Nicole Crespo O'Donoghue, StudioMusician - Matt Poirier, Engineer - Guy Button, StudioMusician - Claire Hazelton, StudioMusician - Eric Cha-Beach, StudioMusician - Ellie Consta, StudioMusician - Mathew Bain, StudioMusician - Rebecca Burden, StudioMusician - Mimi Reese Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - Matthew Berninger Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher
2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd 2022 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Steve Fallone, MasteringEngineer - Gillon Cameron, StudioMusician - Marianne Haynes, StudioMusician - Tucker Martine, Producer, Engineer - Aaron Dessner, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, Producer, MainArtist - Kirsty Mangan, StudioMusician - Ashok Klouda, StudioMusician - Galya Bisengalieva, StudioMusician - Peteris Sokolovskis, StudioMusician - Robert Ames, Conductor - Jonny Byers, StudioMusician - So Percussion, StudioMusician - James McAlister, StudioMusician - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Composer, AssociatedPerformer - Sergio Serra, StudioMusician - Downtown Music Publishing, MusicPublisher - Hannah Dawson, StudioMusician - Kyle Resnick, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Lanz, StudioMusician - Laura Moody, StudioMusician - Hazel Correa, StudioMusician - Jonathan Low, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bella Blasko, Engineer - Raja Halder, StudioMusician - Charis Jenson, StudioMusician - Alessandro Ruisi, StudioMusician - Radhika de Saram, StudioMusician - Venetia Jollands, StudioMusician - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Nicole Crespo O'Donoghue, StudioMusician - Guy Button, StudioMusician - Claire Hazelton, StudioMusician - Ellie Consta, StudioMusician - Mathew Bain, StudioMusician - Rebecca Burden, StudioMusician - Matthew Berninger Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - Bryce Dessner Songs (ASCAP), MusicPublisher
2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd 2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Steve Fallone, MasteringEngineer - Tucker Martine, Producer, Engineer - Aaron Dessner, Composer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, Producer, MainArtist - James McAlister, StudioMusician - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, AssociatedPerformer - Downtown Music Publishing, MusicPublisher - Kyle Resnick, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Lanz, StudioMusician - Jonathan Low, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bella Blasko, Engineer - Curt Kiser, StudioMusician - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Mimi Reese Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - Matthew Berninger Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher
2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd 2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Peter Katis, Engineer - Tony Berg, Producer, Engineer - Steve Fallone, MasteringEngineer - Gillon Cameron, StudioMusician - Marianne Haynes, StudioMusician - Lisa Hannigan, AssociatedPerformer - Tucker Martine, Engineer - Justin Vernon, StudioMusician - Aaron Dessner, Composer, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, Producer, MainArtist - Kirsty Mangan, StudioMusician - Thomas Bartlett, StudioMusician - Ashok Klouda, StudioMusician - Galya Bisengalieva, StudioMusician - Peteris Sokolovskis, StudioMusician - Robert Ames, Conductor - Jonny Byers, StudioMusician - James McAlister, Programmer, StudioMusician - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, AssociatedPerformer - Sergio Serra, StudioMusician - Downtown Music Publishing, MusicPublisher - Hannah Dawson, StudioMusician - Kyle Resnick, AssociatedPerformer, StudioMusician - Ben Lanz, StudioMusician - Phoebe Bridgers, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Laura Moody, StudioMusician - Hazel Correa, StudioMusician - Jonathan Low, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Raja Halder, StudioMusician - Charis Jenson, StudioMusician - Will Maclellan, Engineer - Alessandro Ruisi, StudioMusician - Radhika de Saram, StudioMusician - Venetia Jollands, StudioMusician - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Nicole Crespo O'Donoghue, StudioMusician - Guy Button, StudioMusician - Claire Hazelton, StudioMusician - Ellie Consta, StudioMusician - Mathew Bain, StudioMusician - Rebecca Burden, StudioMusician - Mimi Reese Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - Matthew Berninger Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher
2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd 2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Steve Fallone, MasteringEngineer - Lisa Hannigan, AssociatedPerformer - Tucker Martine, Producer, Engineer - Juan González, StudioMusician - Aaron Dessner, Composer, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, Producer, MainArtist - Kirsty Mangan, StudioMusician - Mina Tindle, AssociatedPerformer - Peteris Sokolovskis, StudioMusician - Robert Ames, Conductor - Jonny Byers, StudioMusician - James McAlister, Programmer, StudioMusician - Sean O'Brien, Engineer - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Composer, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Sergio Serra, StudioMusician - Downtown Music Publishing, MusicPublisher - Kyle Resnick, AssociatedPerformer, StudioMusician - Ben Lanz, StudioMusician - Miles Brett, StudioMusician - Jonathan Low, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bella Blasko, Engineer - Max Ruisi, StudioMusician - Anna de Bruin, StudioMusician - Daisy Vatalaro, StudioMusician - Radhika de Saram, StudioMusician - Louise McMonagle, StudioMusician - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Alexandra Caldon, StudioMusician - Clare Kennington, StudioMusician - Anna Ovsyanikova, StudioMusician - Julian Azkoul, StudioMusician - Claire Hazelton, StudioMusician - Agata Darashkaite, StudioMusician - Mathew Bain, StudioMusician - Mimi Reese Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - Matthew Berninger Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - Minn Majoe, StudioMusician - Zahra Benyounes, StudioMusician - Bryce Dessner Songs (ASCAP), MusicPublisher - Akiko Ishikawa, StudioMusician - Mandira De Saram, StudioMusician
2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd 2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Peter Katis, Engineer - Steve Fallone, MasteringEngineer - Gillon Cameron, StudioMusician - Marianne Haynes, StudioMusician - Lisa Hannigan, AssociatedPerformer - Tucker Martine, Producer, Engineer - Aaron Dessner, Composer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, Producer, MainArtist - Kirsty Mangan, StudioMusician - Thomas Bartlett, StudioMusician - Ashok Klouda, StudioMusician - Galya Bisengalieva, StudioMusician - Peteris Sokolovskis, StudioMusician - Robert Ames, Conductor - Jonny Byers, StudioMusician - James McAlister, StudioMusician - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, AssociatedPerformer - Sergio Serra, StudioMusician - Downtown Music Publishing, MusicPublisher - Hannah Dawson, StudioMusician - Kyle Resnick, AssociatedPerformer, StudioMusician - Ben Lanz, StudioMusician - Laura Moody, StudioMusician - David Chalmin, Engineer - Hazel Correa, StudioMusician - Jonathan Low, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bella Blasko, Engineer - Raja Halder, StudioMusician - Charis Jenson, StudioMusician - Alessandro Ruisi, StudioMusician - Radhika de Saram, StudioMusician - Venetia Jollands, StudioMusician - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Nicole Crespo O'Donoghue, StudioMusician - Guy Button, StudioMusician - Claire Hazelton, StudioMusician - Ellie Consta, StudioMusician - Mathew Bain, StudioMusician - Rebecca Burden, StudioMusician - Mimi Reese Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - Matthew Berninger Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher
2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd 2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Peter Katis, Engineer - Steve Fallone, MasteringEngineer - Lisa Hannigan, AssociatedPerformer - Tucker Martine, Producer, Engineer - Mouse on Mars, Programmer, StudioMusician - Aaron Dessner, Composer, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, Producer, MainArtist - Thomas Bartlett, StudioMusician - So Percussion, StudioMusician - James McAlister, Programmer, StudioMusician - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, AssociatedPerformer - Downtown Music Publishing, MusicPublisher - Kyle Resnick, AssociatedPerformer, StudioMusician - Ben Lanz, StudioMusician - Jonathan Low, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bella Blasko, Engineer - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Mimi Reese Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - Matthew Berninger Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher
2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd 2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Steve Fallone, MasteringEngineer - Gillon Cameron, StudioMusician - Marianne Haynes, StudioMusician - Lisa Hannigan, AssociatedPerformer - Tucker Martine, Engineer - Aaron Dessner, AssociatedPerformer - The National, Producer, MainArtist - Kirsty Mangan, StudioMusician - Ashok Klouda, StudioMusician - Galya Bisengalieva, StudioMusician - Peteris Sokolovskis, StudioMusician - Robert Ames, Conductor - Jonny Byers, StudioMusician - So Percussion, StudioMusician - James McAlister, Programmer, StudioMusician - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Composer, AssociatedPerformer - Sergio Serra, StudioMusician - Downtown Music Publishing, MusicPublisher - Hannah Dawson, StudioMusician - Kyle Resnick, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Lanz, StudioMusician - Laura Moody, StudioMusician - Hazel Correa, StudioMusician - Jonathan Low, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Raja Halder, StudioMusician - Charis Jenson, StudioMusician - Carin Besser, Lyricist - Alessandro Ruisi, StudioMusician - Radhika de Saram, StudioMusician - Venetia Jollands, StudioMusician - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Nicole Crespo O'Donoghue, StudioMusician - Guy Button, StudioMusician - Claire Hazelton, StudioMusician - No Collector, MusicPublisher - Ellie Consta, StudioMusician - Mathew Bain, StudioMusician - Rebecca Burden, StudioMusician - Matthew Berninger Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - Bryce Dessner Songs (ASCAP), MusicPublisher - Tennis Friend Publishing, MusicPublisher
2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd 2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd
JOHN LEVENTHAL, Producer, StudioMusician - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Steve Fallone, MasteringEngineer - Tucker Martine, Producer, Engineer - ROSANNE CASH, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Aaron Dessner, Composer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, Producer, MainArtist - James McAlister, StudioMusician - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, AssociatedPerformer - Downtown Music Publishing, MusicPublisher - Kyle Resnick, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Lanz, StudioMusician - Jonathan Low, MixingEngineer, StudioMusician - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Mimi Reese Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - Matthew Berninger Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher
2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd 2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd
Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Steve Fallone, MasteringEngineer - Aaron Dessner, Composer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, Producer, MainArtist - Adam Armstrong, Engineer - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Composer, AssociatedPerformer - Downtown Music Publishing, MusicPublisher - Ben Lanz, StudioMusician - Jonathan Low, Engineer, MixingEngineer - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Mimi Reese Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - Matthew Berninger Songs, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - Bryce Dessner Songs (ASCAP), MusicPublisher
2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd 2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd
Album review
Built on leftovers from the sessions for their other 2023 release, First Two Pages of Frankenstein—which featured a much-ballyhooed appearance by Taylor Swift—Laugh Track was released quietly with similar cover art, but little fanfare. It still feels good to feel bad on Laugh Track, sounding very much like an extension of its predecessor, but slightly more downbeat. "Losing my momentum, losing my mind/ Not enough to mention, not enough time/ I can't even say what it's about/ All I am is shreds of doubt," vocalist Matt Berninger deadpans rather than sings in "Laugh Track" with guest Phoebe Bridgers adding little more than texture to the vocals of this dirge. Another lament about Berninger's awkwardness, "Coat on a Hook," opens with "Don't leave me here at this party like a coat on a hook," before descending into "Friendships are melting, nothing is helping/ Nothing's worth keeping, promises cheapen." The monotone "Tour Manager" is a throwaway, but there are moments when the band's talents shine through, the gloom lifts and the music triumphs despite Berninger's enveloping melancholy. The rising tempo of "Space Invader" concludes with a satisfying crash of guitars that drowns out his croaking. Rosanne Cash's vocal presence on one verse and as Berninger's duet partner in the choruses of "Crumble" adds character. Recorded in producer Tucker Martine's studio in Portland, Oregon the sound is smoothly mixed with Berninger's vocals moving up and back. Hope for the future exists in "Smoke Detector," in which the growling guitars of brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner continually threaten to break out, as Berninger rushes through word heavy lines, perhaps hopeful his turmoil will pass: "Sit in the backyard in my pharmacy slippers/ At least I'm not on the roof anymore/ In a year or so I hope nobody remembers/ This run of episodes of my time on the floor." © Robert Baird/Qobuz
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:59:19
- Main artists: The National
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: 4AD
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd 2023 The National under exclusive license to 4AD Ltd
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