Rome is the definitive live document of The National. Recorded live (without overdubs) on June 3, 2024 at the architecturally stunning venue Parco Della Musica Ennio Morricone, named for the famed Italian film composer, the 21-track LP showcases scintillating versions of beloved songs like "Bloodbuzz Ohio," "Don't Swallow the Cap," "I Need My Girl," "The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness," “England” and "Fake Empire"; plus sharpened readings of recent tracks "Eucalyptus," "New Order T-Shirt," "Tropic Morning News" and the boundary pushing "Smoke Detector." The double album, mixed by longtime collaborator Peter Katis, spans the band’s 20-plus years of songwriting and reveals how each song has taken on a new life in its live performance. “You have to see this band live” is often said about The National, and now, Rome is the next best thing to actually being there. Reflecting how the band changes setlists significantly from night to night to cast fresh light on hidden gems from the catalog, Rome is marked by rarities such as show opener “Runaway,” “Lemonworld,” “The Geese of Beverly Road,” “Lit Up” and a tour de force pairing of “Humiliation” from the critically acclaimed album Trouble Will Find Me into Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers’ “Murder Me Rachael.” The Rome encore features the election anthem “Mr. November,” and, from High Violet, “Terrible Love” and the show-closing fan singalong, “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks.”
Product details
Product Dimensions
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1.1 x 13.9 x 12.5 cm; 80 g
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Was hoping this would be as great as Boxer live in Brussels. The shouting has finally got too much for me, and the recording quality is poor, like someone had a tape machine in the audience.
I was expecting so much more from this awesome band , Saw them years ago in Hyde Park and at a London venue around the same time both times excellent . But after watching them at Glastonbury with an amazing Set of songs I've re-watched Glastonbury so many many times on i player i thought this was going to be as good as that outstanding monumental gig but unfortunately the sound is not as good or the set-list, I love this band they should released that Glastonbury set instead.......Mind you i'm listening to it while writing this , Its still a good live Album worth buying , just saying.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 December 2024
I'm polarised about The National: some tracks appear on my 'most played' (Spotify Wrap) yet, too often, the filler tracks are just that: sloppy riffs on semi-meaningless lyrics with just plain indolent repetition.
So, when the live version appeared, I had to snap it up. Disappointed. Firstly, Berninger's voice seems shot-through even with his deliberately 'slacker' delivery, there's a singalong track (on album- really?) but the biggest let down was the overall production. Yep, I get that you have to retain the reality of a real performance but this is so tinny - even on a B & O.
The first album I bought was Seconds Out by Genesis some 47 years ago - and that is vastly superior to this journeyman affair, albeit in a radically different genre. It's just sloppy and, considering it's release date, will probably be consigned to mere stocking filler status by this time next year. Stick to the studio albums.