The National has released a third new track ahead of its upcoming album First Two Pages of Frankenstein. ‘Eucalyptus’ is taut and punchy, having come together in a charmed burst of spontaneity surrounding a visit to the historic Capitol Theatre just north of New York City in Port Chester.
Group member Bryce Dessner had sent the song to frontman Matt Berninger so long ago that he’d forgotten about it, but Berninger came up with lyrics and asked to play it during soundcheck hours before the Capitol Theatre show. “We rehearsed it twice without ever having had a demo and played it to the audience that night, and what you hear on the album was partially recorded during that performance,” he says. “It’s got this raw, immediate feeling, and it made sense to leave the rough edges instead of trying to perfect them.”
Like many songs on First Two Pages of Frankenstein, ‘Eucalyptus’ finds Berninger drawing lyrical inspiration from the labyrinthine theme of fractured relationships. “Throughout the record there’s a lot of looking into the abyss and wondering if a relationship has run its course,” he says. “‘Eucalyptus’ is about a couple splitting up their possessions after a breakup — like, ‘What are we going to do with the spring water we get delivered, what’s going to happen to all these plants?’ It’s about all those little things you end up having to think about when you’ve become so connected to someone.”
Meanwhile, the first single from the new album, ‘Tropic Morning News,’ has reached No. 1 on Billlboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart, marking The National’s first song to hit that peak since 2017. In addition, jumping off from the recent track ‘New Order T-Shirt,’ The National has also partnered with New Order on a real, limited-edition New Order T-Shirt that pays homage to the Manchester band’s iconic album designs, with a portion of the proceeds from the collab going to a charity of their choice.
The eleven song First Two Pages of Frankenstein was produced by The National at Long Pond Studios in upstate New York and features guest appearances by Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers and Sufjan Stevens. The National will begin a 2023 world tour with a May 18-21 stand in Chicago. The itinerary, with numerous shows already sold out, also includes the band’s first show at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Formed in New York in 1999, The National has scored five top 10 albums on The Billboard 200, with 2017’s Sleep Well Beast earning the Grammy for Best Alternative Album.
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1. Once Upon A Poolside (feat. Sufjan Stevens)
2. Eucalyptus
3. New Order T-Shirt
4. This Isn’t Helping (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)
5. Tropic Morning News
6. Alien
7. The Alcott (feat. Taylor Swift)
8. Grease In Your Hair
9. Ice Machines
10. Your Mind Is Not Your Friend (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)
11. Send For Me
