A surprise second album in 2023 from The National caught everyone off guard. Songs originally written/recorded around the time of the First Two Pages of Frankenstein album were later honed and further worked on during the band’s summer tour the recorded with producer Tucker Martine. The immediate difference between the two albums is the more extensive use of Bryan Devendorf on live drums vs the programmed drums on Frankenstein. This immediately brings life to songs like “Dead End (Paul’s In Pieces)” and “Turn off the House”.
A major talking point upon the release of Frankenstein was the writers block that Berninger suffered when trying to write lyrics for the album. That narrative doesn’t exist here, the album doesn’t sound as weighted down. Guests make appearances including Bon Iver on the very good “Weird Goodbyes” where “the sky is leaking/the windshield’s crying”. A return of Phoebe Bridgers who’s voice blends beautifully with Berninger’s on the title track, an album highlight.
The fussy strings and synths underneath “Alphabet City” add a layer of tension. The band extends tracks like “Space Invader” that turns into a helluva jam and album closer “Smoke Detector”, a menacing track filled with stream of conscious lyrics. Not all of it works, like the Roseanne Cash track “Crumble” but in the end, Laugh Track is a welcome addition to their 2023 releases. It works in tandem with Frankenstein and gives the band several more great songs to draw from.
7.5/10
The Light Appears 