The National will be releasing their new album called, "High Violet" on May 11th.  From now until then you can hear the album in full over at the New York Times.  This is their follow up to the wonderful "Boxer" album and it's very highly anticipated.  I'm listening right now and it's sounding pretty good.

Here's some of the stuff I've seen over the week that's kinda interesting but not interesting enough for me to clog up your RSS feed, twitter account or Facebook page over.

• MGMT's new album was leaked so they decided to stream the whole thing from their site.  Enjoy.
• The National's new album, High Violet, will be released on May 11th.  You can grab a track from the record, "Bloodbuzz Ohio" on highviolet.com.
• Larry Crane is a longtime friend of Elliot Smith and he's in the process of remastering Smith's debut album, Roman Candle.  Fans are upset over an album that no one has heard, but I can see why.  It's something that should be preserved, faults and all.
• Beck, St. Vincent & the Liars have covered INXS's popular "Kick" album in a day.  They are releasing one song a week from their project, first up is "Guns in the Sky".
• The BBC reviews Jonsi's new album, Go.  I like the intro:  "His voice remains one of modern music's most readily identifiable instruments".
• Iggy Pop will no longer stage dive after the audience failed to catch him at New York's Carnegie Hall.
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The next National album, 'High Violet', will be released on May 11 and there are already some videos of the new songs online.  The first video we have is from "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" where they played the opening track, "Terrible Love".  Since I'm typically pessimistic, I didn't expect much, but this song is fantastic.  It has a nice build up to the crescendo which I'm a total sucker for.

Following that, we have a fan video (via Pitchfork) of The National performing, "Vanderlylle Cry Baby".  It's more on the mellower side and I'm reserving judgement until I can get the album in my hands.  Click on read more to see the two videos.

The National set out to make a 'happy' record but fell short and now High Violet comes out on May 11th.   They will touring throughout the US this spring/summer and you can also checkout photo's of their recording session over at highviolet.com.

The National will be releasing their followup to 2007's amazing Boxer in May of this  year.  They are currently mixing the album and original had the goal of making a "happy" record, but that quickly fell apart.  They are also touring with presale tickets going on sale across the US today. 

The brothers and Berninger of the National told Billboard that a new album's in the works, slated for a 2010 release date. They didn't mention what it would sound like, but that's what the internet and your aural analytic ability is for. There are three post-Boxer bits to process: "So Far Around The Bend," featuring arrangement from indie rock's composer crush Nico Muhly, and these two tunes performed at Carnegie Hall's Free Tibet fundrasier last week. Both feature stately horns, "Karamazov" more balladic and "Saints" pushed by plinking pianos, and each reassure that the National remain interested in exploring their awesome ability to find a refined, subtle simmering point for their cathartic anthems, rather than push shit into the red like so many of the lesser bands they've outlasted, and outgrown. Continue reading The National Unveil New Songs, Line Up A Tour (Feat. Berninger's Secret Stop At BAM)... - Source

Enjoy 'A Thousand Black Cities' below. Download an MP3 at bottom of post.MP3: The National - Fake Empire - Source

Enjoy a sneak peek into A Skin, A Night below. Visit The National at their official site. - Source

Last night marked my fourth time seeing the National since the release of their enthralling junior LP, Alligator. Surprisingly and/or thankfully their debut at the 2100-capacity Brooklyn Academy Of Music did not vary greatly from their standard riveting gigs over the course of the last three years. The show focused primarily on 2007's Boxer & the aforementioned, Alligator, as per usual. However, one key difference was the backing string and horn sections which added a much-adored texture and fullness to The National's aggregated sound. Another unexpected treat was a guest appearance by Sufjan Stevens whom tickled the ivories during 'Ada'. Along with a beautiful backdrop, perfect acoustics and a certain magic in the air, The National undoubtedly soared throughout the 90-minute gig. Visit the band at their official site. Enjoy some photos, the setlist & an MP3 below.Setlist: Start A War. Brainy. Baby We'll Be Fine. Slow Show. Secret Meeting. Mistaken For Strangers. Squalor Victoria. Abel. Wasp Nest. Racing Like A Pro. Ada. Apartment Story. Untitled New Song. Karen. Fake Empire... City Middle. Mr November. About Today. Gospel. - Source

Modest Mouse and The National will open for REM on their forthcoming US tour.  Source