The National's New 2024 Live Album Rome on 2LP. The 21-Track Double Album Is Truly Career Spanning, and Showcases Scintillating Versions of Beloved Songs.

“You have to see them in concert,” is what fans of The National have been preaching for years. “The songs transform. It’s a whole other level.” Recorded live (without overdubs) in June 2024 at an architecturally stunning venue named for famed Italian film composer Ennio Morricone, Rome is the definitive live document of The National.

The 21-track double album is truly career spanning, and 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 National’s setlist changes significantly show to show, revisiting their 25-year catalog to cast fresh light on hidden gems. For Rome that includes the show opener “Runaway,” “Lemonworld,” “The Geese of Beverly Road,” “Lit Up” and a tour de force pairing of “Humiliation” from their 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.”

The live album was mixed by the band’s longtime collaborator Peter Katis. Reviewing a National performance this summer, NME wrote that “every song is played like it could be the last.” Rome captures that playing-for-keeps urgency on record and serves not merely as a concert souvenir but the latest vital addition to the band’s peerless catalog.

“The show felt like a celebratory culmination of this band’s 20+ year career thus far” — Forbes

“The group’s electrifying performance perfectly suited the venue’s cavernous environs, especially from the charismatic Berninger, who roamed the stage and at least one point went into the pit area within reach of the audience upfront. The guitar work of the Dessner brothers and the rhythm playing of the Devendorf brothers further added to the pathos and explosiveness of the music.” — Brooklyn Vegan

“the perception that they lead two-hour cry sessions belies fiery live shows, with setlists heavy on high-tempo singalongs and Berninger flinging himself into the crowd to scream lyrics in the pit. Despite the heightened venue, the band retained its punky ethos at the world’s most famous arena.” — Variety

“They earned their chance to play a sold-out show at the world’s most famous arena on their own terms, and over the course of the 27-song set, they proved they didn’t need to share this stage with anyone.” — Consequence of Sound