THE NATIONAL
Authors of our album of the year and of some splendid gigs in our country, Matt and Bryce, from the National, have earned the right to give us the final last word on 2003.
[French Version]
Your second album got a warm welcome in France, did you expect it ?
[Bryce] : It's always a surprise when someone really likes your music. It's sort of like falling in love or making friends. You don't walk around thinking everyone loves you, do you?
[Matt] : I expect it to be popular everywhere eventually. France is ahead of the curve.
Why do you think it happened ?
[Bryce] : Hmmm...well besides the fact that I think the songs are pretty good. The album is full of details (like the violin solo on 90-mile waterwall which is one of my favorite moments) and my general impression of the French is that they listen carefully to music. Let's call them an 'intelligent' audience...It's a record that hopefully gets better each time you hear it.
Lots of journalists relate Matt (lead singer) and his lyrics to french cinema...you'll have to ask him about that!
[Matt] : We played a lot of shows there and caught the ears of a lot of people then spread by word of mouth. The support Bayon and Bernard Lenoir helped.
What are your impressions of your European tour ?
[Bryce] : We had great shows in lots of cities. In France, UK, Austria and parts of Germany people seem to really be listening and showing up to our gigs. I hope it keeps growing there. Our favorite place to tour is France, followed right behind by Italy, and we only played one show there which was incredible. The UK is rough, much more like touring in the U.S. But obviously its a big market for our music so we cope with it.
[Matt] : My impressions of it are fuzzy. I remember a lot of driving. Long periods of staring at highways. Then at night there would be a couple hours of chaos then sleep.
What is your best memory of the tour ?
[Bryce] : The Black Session on France Inter was definitely the musical highlight for me. Besides that we spent three days off in the French alps below Grenoble which was beautiful...For some reason shows in Vienna are always incredible.
[Matt] : Playing with Melt-Banana.
What is your worst memory of the tour ?
[Bryce] : That is harder to pick, let's see, having the car broken into in London, getting arrested in Hamburg, sleeping in community hostel in glasgow with seven other men we didn't know...I had to pick some wet laundry off my bunk which was not pleasant.
[Matt] : Glasgow, the show was fine but I had a very bad time after that. I was homesick.
What can we wish you for 2004 ?
[Bryce] : We are about to record our 3rd album so wish us lots of great songs, shows, tours...all of that would be good. We will hopefully see you at least twice in 2004.
[Matt] : We're making a new record right now and then we'll spend a lot of time touring. Wish us health.
And finaly what is your top 5 albums of 2003 .
[Bryce]
1.Magnolia Electric Company (the new songs ohia).
2. Clogs, Lullaby for Sue
Still thinking about 3 others....
[Matt]
Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co.
Radiohead - Hail to the Thief
Guided By Voices - Human Amusements at Hourly Rates
Qatsi - We Love the Urge
The Forms - Icarus
