Brooklyn duo The Forms, who graced us with their tour diary back in 2007, released Derealization in February. A "remix" EP of sorts, the group tweaked their existing bouncy, occasionally dark pop songs with the help of guest artists Matt Berninger of The National, Nat Baldwin of Dirty Projectors, and Daniel Hart of St. Vincent among others. Now, they've released a video for the album's first track, "Fire To The Ground," which showcases Berninger's vocals over dizzying choreography and striking visual effects. Shot at Minetta Lane in Greenwich Village with the help of choreographer Lily Baldwin, who has worked with David Bryrne, the video is a lush look at a moving tune. more ›

Brooklyn-based quintet The National have spent the last nine years slowly and steadily evolving from bar-band hobby to indie rock royalty, a success built out of old fashioned techniques like laborious songwriting, tireless gigging and the organic cultivation of their own distinct sound: a bruised, moody elegance that swells and crashes under the dreamy baritone of front man Matt Berninger. Their fourth and most recent album, Boxer, was a usual suspect on critical top ten lists for 2007, and the acclaim snowballed into a spot on the bill touring with Modest Mouse and R.E.M. this June. On Friday and Saturday night they play two sold out shows at the Brooklyn Academy of Music opera house. more ›

We sincerely hope that people get to know The National as more than just the band that Clap Your Hands Say Yeah opened for on their first big tour. They released one of the most earnest, heartfelt and genuine records of 2005, and we were thrilled to see that they were able to exude an equal amount of emotion in the corporate confines of the SPIN Magazine offices. more ›

The National more ›