The National drops a surprise album ahead of 3Arena gig next week

The National have unexpectedly dropped their tenth album Laugh Track today, just a few days before they're set to begin their world tour for their most recent record, First Two Pages of Frankenstein.

The tour begins this Thursday, 21st September at Dublin's 3Arena with support from American singer-songwriter Soccer Mommy. You can find tickets here.

The new record is a surprise drop and is described as a companion to First Two Pages of Frankenstein which was released in April and reached #1 in Ireland. Their ninth album, Frankenstein featured guest appearances from music industry titans Taylor Swift, Sufjan Stevens, and Phoebe Bridgers.

Our brand new album Laugh Track is out now.

Laugh Track features guest appearances by @phoebe_bridgers and @rosannecash, and provides a home for our @boniver collaboration “Weird Goodbyes”.

Stream the album now:https://t.co/twRlyzKAVN pic.twitter.com/BMRav75FUx

— The National (@TheNational) September 18, 2023

Their "most freewheeling, all-hands-on-deck album in years," Laugh Track contains material originally started in the same sessions as Frankenstein. It also features multiple guest appearances including another collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers, Rosanne Cash and a previously released track with Bon Iver titled 'Weird Goodbyes'.

“It felt like the story had already been told. It was its own thing,” says group member Aaron Dessner of the Bon Iver collaboration, which was released in August 2022. “But it also felt related to what we were doing. That was part of the logic for making another record — let’s give ‘Weird Goodbyes’ its own home.”

The band shared details of the surprise album over the weekend at their Homecoming Festival in Cincinnati.

"We have a new record coming out, it comes out Sunday night at midnight,” singer Matt Berninger told the excited crowd. “The new record is called Laugh Track, and we have some pre-pressed vinyls here on your way out. The vinyl doesn’t come out until November. But you guys can get vinyl here, tonight.”

"We’re really excited about this record," Dessner chimed in.

Check out Laugh Track below!