The National has recently released the fourth and last single of their upcoming album, “First Two Pages of Frankenstein,” will be available on April 28th through 4AD. “Your Mind Is Not Your Friend” features the songbird Phoebe Bridgers. This track explores the intricacies of dealing with one’s mental health and the harsh effects of overthinking. “Don’t you understand? / Your mind is not your friend again / It takes you by the hand/ And leaves you nowhere,” frontman Matt Berninger belts in harmony with the divine, bewitching vocals of Bridgers.
At the time of writing the track, Berninger was experiencing difficulty in composing, but with a slight push from the famous novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the song started taking shape. Berninger remembers, “When I felt jammed up, I would just grab a book from my shelf for some inspiration, and the opening two pages of Frankenstein led me to ‘Your Mind Is Not Your Friend.’ The protagonist is on a journey in the Arctic Circle helped me verbalize my emotions of feeling disconnected, astray, and directionless. Confronting the fear of being blocked of ideas and ideas suddenly materialized.”
The sentimental, evocative video of “Your Mind Is Not Your Friend” stars the brother of Matt, Tom Berninger, a familiar face of the band who was featured in their documentary, Mistaken For Strangers, in 2014. Additionally, the video was helmed by the brother of Bridgers, Jackson Bridgers. It was filmed in several locations in Los Angeles.
Furthermore, The National has also decided to donate to TinyChanges.org, a charity started by the family of the late lead singer of Frightened Rabbit, Scott Hutchinson. According to their website, the purpose of the charity is “to make tiny changes that have a big impact,” and the spirit of Hutchinson was known for his raw and honest approach to talking about mental health.
The National produced the 11-song First Two Pages of Frankenstein at Long Pond Studios in upstate New York, and Sufjan Stevens and Taylor Swift both made cameos on the album.
On May 18, The National will kick off a global tour in 2023 with a four-night run in Chicago. The band’s first performance in New York’s Madison Square Garden on August 18 will feature extremely special guest Patti Smith and her band, and the schedule also includes a number of other gigs that have already sold out. Soccer Mommy, The Beths, and Bartees Strange open some other concerts.
First Two Pages of Frankenstein track list:
- Once Upon A Poolside (feat. Sufjan Stevens)
- Eucalyptus
- New Order T-Shirt
- This Isn’t Helping (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)
- Tropic Morning News
- Alien
- The Alcott (feat. Taylor Swift)
- Grease In Your Hair
- Ice Machines
- Your Mind Is Not Your Friend (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)
- Send For Me
The National on tour:
May 18 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theatre *
May 19 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theatre * SOLD OUT
May 20 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theatre * SOLD OUT
May 21 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theatre * SOLD OUT
May 23 – Washington, DC – The Anthem *
May 24 – Washington, DC – The Anthem * SOLD OUT
May 26 – Boston, MA – Boston Calling Festival
May 28 – Napa, CA – Bottlerock Festival
May 30 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre * SOLD OUT
May 31 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre *
June 2 – Troutdale, OR – McMenamins Edgefield *
June 3 – Troutdale, OR – McMenamins Edgefield * SOLD OUT
June 4 – Redmond, WA – Marymoor Park * SOLD OUT
June 5 – Burnaby, BC, Canada – Festival Lawn at Deer Lake Park *
August 1 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia ~ SOLD OUT
August 2 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia ~
August 3 – New Haven, CT – Westville Music Bowl ~
August 5 – Montreal, PQ – Osheaga Festival
August 7 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit ~ SOLD OUT
August 8 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee ~ SOLD OUT
August 9 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory ~
August 11 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom ~ SOLD OUT
August 12 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom ~
August 15 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater ~
August 16 – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park ~
August 18 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden with very special guest Patti Smith and her band
August 20 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage with very special guest Patti Smith and her band and U.S. Girls
September 21 – Dublin, IRE – 3 Arena *
September 23 – Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena *
September 24 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro Arena *
September 26 – London, UK – Alexandra Palace * SOLD OUT
September 27 – London, UK – Alexandra Palace *
September 29 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome ^
September 30 – Berlin, DE – Max-Schmeling-Halle ^
October 1 – Munich, DE – Zenith ^
October 4 – Madrid, ES – WiZink Center ^
October 5 – Porto, PT – Super Bock Arena ^
October 6 – Lisbon, PT – Campo Pequeno ^
Support:
*Soccer Mommy
~The Beths
^ Bartees Strange
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