I’ve been following The National’s evolution for years, watching them perfect their brand of melancholic indie rock. Their latest offering, “Laugh Track” takes their signature sound—often playfully dubbed “sad dad rock”—and refines it to new heights of emotional resonance.
What makes this album particularly compelling is how it balances the band’s trademark brooding qualities with surprising moments of levity and sonic experimentation. Matt Berninger’s baritone still conveys existential angst, but there’s a maturity and acceptance that wasn’t present in their earlier work. It’s sad dad rock that’s grown comfortable in its skin.
The National’s Evolution in Modern Indie Rock
The National’s journey from obscurity to indie rock icons spans over two decades of consistent artistic growth. Since their self-titled debut in 2001, they’ve methodically refined their sound while expanding their musical boundaries across nine studio albums. Their evolution hasn’t been about dramatic reinvention but rather a patient mastery of their distinctive melancholic soundscapes.
The band’s pivotal breakthrough came with 2007’s “Boxer” and 2010’s “High Violet” albums that elevated them from cult favorites to festival headliners. These records established their trademark sound: intricate arrangements, Matt Berninger’s baritone vocals, and lyrics exploring adult anxieties with poetic precision. Early albums featured rawer production values, while later works like “Sleep Well Beast” (2017) incorporated more electronic elements and experimental structures.
What’s remarkable about The National’s evolution is their ability to maintain their core identity while continually finding new artistic territory. Their collaborative projects, including work with Taylor Swift and Justin Vernon, have introduced their music to broader audiences while influencing their own creative approach. With “Laugh Track,” they’ve managed to revisit their signature sound while introducing subtle innovations that keep their music relevant in today’s indie landscape.
Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvUPdN7dsVM
Laugh Track: Album Overview and Sound
“Laugh Track,” released in September 2023, represents The National’s ninth studio album and follows just months after their previous release “First Two Pages of Frankenstein.” The album emerged unexpectedly from recording sessions that yielded enough material for two complete records.
Sonic Departures and Familiar Territory
“Laugh Track” balances The National’s established melancholic sound with fresh sonic explorations. The album features 11 tracks that maintain the band’s characteristic emotional depth while introducing unexpected moments of musical levity. Standout tracks like “Alien” showcase their willingness to push boundaries with distorted vocals and experimental production, while “Crumble” delivers the soaring, anthemic qualities longtime fans expect. The band masterfully navigates between these two poles, creating an album that feels both familiar and progressive.
Production and Instrumentation
The production on “Laugh Track” demonstrates a refined approach to The National’s instrumental palette. Aaron and Bryce Dessner’s intricate guitar work weaves throughout the album, complemented by Bryan Devendorf’s distinctive drumming patterns. The band incorporated more electronic elements and atmospheric textures than in previous works, particularly evident in tracks like “Space Invader” and “Smoke Detector.” Several notable collaborations enhance the album’s sonic landscape, including Phoebe Bridgers’ ethereal vocals on “Your Mind Is Not Your Friend” and Rosanne Cash’s contribution to “Coat On A Hook.” These production choices create a rich, layered listening experience that rewards repeated playback with newly discovered details.
Thematic Deep Dive: Melancholy Meets Humor
The National’s “Laugh Track” masterfully blends profound melancholy with unexpected moments of dry humor. This thematic duality creates a rich emotional landscape that elevates the album beyond simple categorization as “sad dad rock.”
Berninger’s Lyrical Mastery
Berninger’s lyrics on “Laugh Track” showcase his exceptional ability to transform personal struggles into universal reflections. His words dance between heavy existential questions and self-deprecating observations, often in the same breath. In “Alien,” he delivers lines like “I’m not that spiritual, I still get stuck in doors” with deadpan sincerity, creating moments of unexpected levity amid introspection. His signature baritone adds gravitas to even the most mundane observations, transforming them into profound statements about human existence.
The songwriter’s approach to vulnerability feels more refined on this album, with confessional moments tempered by wry observations. Tracks like “Deep End” and “Smoke Detector” demonstrate his talent for crafting vivid, image-rich narratives that capture complex emotional states. Berninger’s gift lies in his ability to encode multiple meanings within seemingly straightforward phrases, rewarding listeners with new interpretations on repeated listens.
The Balance of Sadness and Wit
“Laugh Track” achieves a delicate equilibrium between The National’s trademark melancholy and a refreshing sense of humor. The album title itself hints at this duality—suggesting both genuine laughter and the artificial mirth of sitcom soundtracks. On “Crumble,” expressions of doubt and anxiety sit alongside moments of sardonic self-awareness, creating an emotional texture that feels authentic to real-life experience.
The band expertly employs musical contrasts to enhance this thematic tension. Upbeat tempos often accompany somber lyrics, while playful instrumental flourishes emerge from moody sonic landscapes. This juxtaposition appears most effectively on “Space Invader,” where driving rhythms and shimmering guitars create a backdrop for Berninger’s meditations on disconnection. The result is a listening experience that mirrors life’s complexity—finding moments of lightness within darkness, and glimpses of wisdom within confusion.
Standout Tracks Analysis
The National’s “Laugh Track” delivers a collection of songs that showcase the band’s evolution while maintaining their distinctive sound. Several tracks stand out for their sonic innovation, emotional depth, and masterful songwriting.
“Alien”
“Alien” emerges as one of the album’s most experimental offerings, pushing The National into uncharted territory. The track features distorted vocals from Matt Berninger, creating an otherworldly effect that perfectly complements the song’s themes of disconnection and isolation. Electronic elements pulse beneath layers of intricate guitar work, while Bryan Devendorf’s distinctive drumming adds a hypnotic quality. The song’s climactic build showcases the band’s ability to create tension and release with expert precision, making it a bold statement piece that demonstrates their willingness to evolve beyond their established sound.
“Crumble”
“Crumble” delivers the anthemic, emotional punch that longtime fans expect from The National. The track begins with sparse instrumentation before expanding into a soaring chorus that’s destined to become a concert highlight. Berninger’s baritone carries profound emotional weight as he sings about vulnerability and resilience: “Let me crumble in your arms.” The Dessner brothers’ guitar interplay creates a textured backdrop that’s simultaneously melancholic and uplifting. What makes “Crumble” particularly effective is its balance between restraint and catharsis, embodying the refined sad dad rock aesthetic that defines the album.
“Space Invader”
“Space Invader” stands out for its innovative production choices and atmospheric depth. The track incorporates electronic elements more prominently than most National songs, with synthesizers creating a dreamlike quality throughout. Lyrically, it explores themes of intrusion and boundaries in relationships with Berninger’s characteristic mix of specificity and universality. The song’s bridge features a surprising shift in dynamics, with layered vocals and a swelling instrumental section that demonstrates the band’s expanded sonic palette. “Space Invader” exemplifies how The National continues to incorporate new influences while maintaining their emotional core.
Collaborations and Guest Appearances
The collaborative tracks on “Laugh Track” showcase The National’s ability to blend their distinctive sound with complementary voices. Phoebe Bridgers delivers a haunting performance on “Your Mind Is Not Your Friend,” her ethereal vocals creating a perfect counterpoint to Berninger’s deeper register. Their vocal interplay adds emotional complexity to the song’s exploration of mental health struggles. Rosanne Cash brings gravitas to “Crumble,” her contributions subtle but significant in enhancing the track’s emotional resonance. Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon appears on “Weird Goodbyes,” adding his distinctive falsetto to create one of the album’s most affecting moments. These collaborations enrich the album’s texture without overshadowing The National’s core identity, demonstrating the band’s confidence in their artistic vision.
The “Sad Dad Rock” Phenomenon
The term “sad dad rock” has evolved from a playful internet label to a recognized subgenre in contemporary indie music. This classification captures a specific aesthetic characterized by introspective lyrics, melancholic melodies, and themes of middle-age contemplation that resonate with listeners experiencing life’s more mature challenges.
How The National Refined the Genre
The National stands as the quintessential architect of the sad dad rock sound, transforming what could’ve been a limiting categorization into a sophisticated art form. Their approach combines literary lyrics with meticulously crafted instrumentation, elevating everyday anxieties and existential questions into profound musical experiences. Through albums like “Boxer,” “High Violet,” and now “Laugh Track,” the band has consistently refined their formula while expanding its emotional range.
What sets The National apart is their ability to inject moments of wry humor and unexpected warmth into their melancholy, creating a more nuanced emotional palette than the “sad dad” label might suggest. Matt Berninger’s baritone delivery conveys vulnerability beneath its confident surface, while the Dessner twins’ intricate arrangements provide both tension and release. This formula reaches new heights on “Laugh Track,” where the band embraces their signature sound while introducing subtle innovations that keep their approach fresh after two decades.
Unlike many bands who reject categorizations, The National has embraced and transcended the “sad dad rock” label, turning it from a potential limitation into a recognized strength. Their influence extends across the indie landscape, with countless bands adopting elements of their distinctive sound—though few match their emotional complexity or musical sophistication.
Critical Reception and Cultural Impact
“Laugh Track” received widespread critical acclaim upon its September 2023 release, with many reviewers praising The National’s ability to evolve while maintaining their distinctive sound. Pitchfork awarded the album an 8.0 rating, noting how it “finds the band sounding more energized and explorative than they have in years.” Rolling Stone described it as “a triumphant return to form with unexpected twists,” awarding it 4 out of 5 stars.
Critics particularly highlighted the album’s balance between familiar melancholy and fresh sonic territory. The Guardian’s 4-star review celebrated how “The National have managed to refine their signature sound without becoming predictable,” while Stereogum named it “Album of the Week,” praising the band’s “willingness to push beyond their comfort zone two decades into their career.”
The album’s reception by longtime fans proved equally enthusiastic, with many appreciating the band’s subtle evolution. Online communities across Reddit and Discord forums buzzed with discussions about the experimental production choices and emotional depth. The album’s Metacritic score of 82 reflects this positive consensus among both critics and listeners.
“Laugh Track” has further cemented The National’s cultural position as elder statesmen of indie rock. Their influence extends beyond music into broader cultural conversations about masculinity, aging, and emotional vulnerability. The album’s release coincided with a resurgence of interest in bands that balance introspection with artistic innovation, positioning The National at the forefront of this movement.
The band’s extensive touring schedule following the album’s release sold out venues across North America and Europe, demonstrating their continued commercial appeal. Their performances at major festivals like Primavera Sound and Austin City Limits introduced their evolved sound to new audiences while satisfying longtime fans.
The term “sad dad rock” itself has gained cultural traction partly through The National’s prominence, appearing in mainstream publications like The New York Times and The Atlantic. “Laugh Track” has helped transform this potentially reductive label into a respected artistic approach—one that embraces emotional depth and maturity rather than fearing it.
Laugh Track in Context of The National’s Discography
“Laugh Track” represents a significant evolution in The National’s two-decade journey through indie rock. When examining the album’s place in their broader catalog, I’ve noticed how it balances familiar emotional territory with subtle sonic progression. Unlike their earlier work on albums like “Alligator” (2005) and “Boxer” (2007), which established their brooding atmosphere, “Laugh Track” incorporates a more refined sense of self-awareness about the band’s melancholic tendencies.
The album serves as a companion piece to “First Two Pages of Frankenstein,” released just five months earlier in 2023. This rapid-fire double release mirrors their 2007-2008 strategy when “Boxer” and “The Virginia EP” emerged in close succession. However, unlike those earlier companion works, “Laugh Track” stands as a fully realized album rather than a collection of B-sides.
Sonically, “Laugh Track” builds on the electronic experimentation that began with “Sleep Well Beast” (2017) and expanded in “I Am Easy to Find” (2019). Tracks like “Space Invader” employ ambient textures and programmed elements that would have seemed out of place on their more straightforward guitar-driven albums like “High Violet” (2010). Yet these innovations never overshadow the core National sound – Matt Berninger’s baritone remains the centering force amid the Dessner brothers’ increasingly adventurous arrangements.
Lyrically, the album marks a maturation from the acute anxiety of their middle-period work. Where “Trouble Will Find Me” (2013) dwelled in existential dread, “Laugh Track” approaches similar themes with the perspective that comes from survival. The self-deprecating humor evident in tracks like “Alien” feels earned through experience rather than deployed as mere deflection.
The collaborative approach on “Laugh Track” also reflects the band’s evolution from a self-contained unit to willing collaborators. Their early albums featured minimal outside contributions, but here, guest vocals from Phoebe Bridgers, Rosanne Cash, and Sufjan Stevens integrate seamlessly into the band’s sonic landscape. This openness to external voices echoes their collaborative growth since “I Am Easy to Find,” which heavily featured female vocalists.
In the arc of The National’s discography, “Laugh Track” doesn’t represent a radical reinvention but rather a comfortable refinement – a band that knows its strengths intimately enough to play with their formula without abandoning what made them beloved in the first place.
Conclusion
“Laugh Track” stands as a testament to The National’s artistic resilience. They’ve taken the “sad dad rock” label and transformed it into something profoundly meaningful without losing their wry sense of humor.
What strikes me most about this album is how the band embraces their identity while still pushing boundaries. The collaboration with artists like Phoebe Bridgers and the experimental production on tracks like “Alien” showcase a band comfortable enough to evolve without abandoning their core.
For longtime fans and newcomers alike “Laugh Track” offers a perfect entry point into The National’s world—where melancholy and wit dance together in perfect harmony. It’s not just sad dad rock it’s sad dad rock refined and elevated to an art form.