The National have announced today the December 13 release of Rome, a 21-track digital and two-LP set recorded live (without overdubs) on June 3, 2024 at the Italian city's Cavea at Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone. The double album, mixed by longtime collaborator Peter Katis, spans the band's 20-plus years of songwriting and reveals how each song has taken on a new life in its live performance. "You have to see this band live" is often said about The National, and now, Rome is the next best thing to actually being there.
Members of the band's Cherry Tree fan club will have the opportunity to purchase an exclusive, tricolor triple-LP featuring five additional songs to complete the 26-song set on colored vinyl that pays homage to the Italian flag.
Today, the band has shared a four-song EP titled NTL RM EP I, featuring Rome highlights "I Need My Girl," "Lemonworld," "The Geese of Beverly Road" and "Lit Up."
Rome is the definitive live document of The National. Recorded at the architecturally stunning venue Parco Della Musica Ennio Morricone, named for the famed Italian film composer, the 21-track LP 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."
Reflecting how the band changes setlists significantly from night to night to cast fresh light on hidden gems from the catalog, Rome is marked by rarities such as show opener "Runaway," "Lemonworld," "The Geese of Beverly Road," "Lit Up" and a tour de force pairing of "Humiliation" from the 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."
In their live show review, The Guardian called The National "an era-defining band at thepeak of their powers...as this stunning two-and-a-half-hour epic becomes a communal catharsis." Rolling Stone UK also said "it's clear that the band...have deserved their place at the top table for a decade now....A show that's simply euphoric, and sees the band reaching a new peak."
The National just began their Zen Diagram tour with special guests The War on Drugs and Lucius. The run will visit beloved outdoor venues across North America as well as arenas in such locales as Chicago (Sept. 24, United Center), Seattle (Oct. 1, Climate Pledge Arena) and Portland, Ore. (Oct. 2, Moda Center). The tour winds down at the historic outdoor Los Angeles venues the Greek Theatre (Oct. 6) and Hollywood Bowl (Oct. 7) before wrapping Oct. 10 in Mexico City. See all tour dates below.
ROME TRACKLISTING
2LP
Side A
1. Runaway
2. Eucalyptus
3. Tropic Morning News
4. New Order T-Shirt
5. Don't Swallow The Cap
Side B
6. Bloodbuzz Ohio
7. The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness
8. I Need My Girl
9. Lemonworld
10. The Geese of Beverly Road
11. Lit Up
Side C
12. Alien
13. Humiliation
14. Murder Me Rachael
15. England
16. Graceless
Side D
17. Fake Empire
18. Smoke Detector
19. Mr November
20. Terrible Love
21. Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks
