Pitchfork said: “A ruminative collection of songs full of natural imagery and
acoustic strums—the sound of a man left alone with his memories and a guitar.
Soulful performance.”
NME: “A record that grapples with his own identity as much as it does the twists and turns of life. Though some fans feared this might well be an epilogue to the Bon Iver project, it comes across as more of a rebirth.”
Wayward as usual, with Vernon communicating with
the outside world from his own beloved bubble.
Vernon: “For the second look into fABLE, it couldn’t be a single; it had to be a double. First, “Walk Home” is a romp where you can’t wait to pull your clothes off fast enough and jump inside bed with your one true lover. And then — the two of singles — “If Only I Could Wait.”
A duet. A bilateral crying question. How long can the two of us hang on to each other?”
– IF ONLY I COULD WAIT –
(Featuring Danielle Haim on vocals)
They invited their close friend, Bon Iver‘s Justin Vernon (not the first time)
for some vocal assistance on the brand new single WEIRD GOODBYES.
So far only rumors about a new longplayer.
Berninger: “It’s about letting go of the past and moving on,
then later being overwhelmed by second thoughts.”
The song features a string arrangement by Bryce Dessner,
performed by the London Contemporary Orchestra.
Aaron Dessner (co-founder of the band): “I somehow could hear our friend Justin [Vernon]’s voice and heart in this song from the beginning. We sent it to him and it moved him – he then sang with Matt so powerfully. I was misusing drum machines, as usual, and stumbled onto this beat that got stuck in my head — it felt like something only Bryan [Devendorf] could naturally play. We built the song around the beat. Matt’s melody and words felt so elegant and moving from the beginning — mourning a loss of innocence and motivation, holding onto memories and feelings that inevitably slip away and the grief we all suffer in weird goodbyes.”
Weird Goodbyes is vintage The National. Moody, melancholic, bluesy, and instantly
touching. Warm vocals by crooners Berninger and Bon Iver‘s Justin Vernon.
Just 1 day before Christmas (clever timing) new star-studded movie Don’t Look Up – a dark sci/fi comedy – hits the Netflix screen featuring Leonardo Di Caprio, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence and more.
The soundtrack for the Adam McKay-directed film – out now – features
several songs from the composer/pianist/film producer Nicholas Britell.
For the executions/performances, he worked with Ariana Grande, Kid Cudi,
Taura Stinson and also with megastar BON IVER on his song SECOND NATURE.