The National is a band of five guys all raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and living in Brooklyn, New York. The band consists of two sets of brothers: Bryce and Aaron Dessner and Scott and Bryan Devendorf. Their friend Matt Berninger is the group's singer and lyricist. In the mid 90s, they migrated to New York City; all five settled in Brooklyn, eschewing the hipster enclave of Williamsburg in favor of the more settled confines of Carroll Gardens. Shuttling back and forth by F train between home and jobs, the five friends began gathering in various basements and living rooms. They decided to start a band. Before they'd played a single gig, The National recorded their self-titled debut album in the studio of producer Nick Lloyd. The result, released on the start-up Brassland label in 2001, was critically acclaimed, receiving raves in publications like No Depression, AllMusic.com, Billboard, and The Boston Phoenix.

1 Cardinal Song - 2 Fashion Coat - 3 Patterns of Fairytales - 4 Lucky You - 5 Slipping Husband - 6 90-Mile Waterwall - 7 It Never Happened - 8 Murder Me Rachael - 9 Thirsty - 10 Available - 11 Sugar Wife - 12 Trophy Wife -