The National have released the official video for “Laugh Track” feat. Phoebe Bridgers, the title track off their surprise new album.

The video was directed and animated by Bernard Derriman, director of The Bob’s Burgers Movie, with 3D animation by Adam Phillips. The wry, simmering track was born of a drum idea from Justin Vernon (“the tempo felt like something off Dylan’s Nashville Skyline,” says the band’s Aaron Dessner) and what feels like a classic Matt Berninger-ian lyrical turn. “Turn on the laugh track / We’ll see if it changes the scene,” he sings, a last-ditch attempt at salvation as he and his dance partner sway amid the fast wreckage of what was once assured. “Maybe this is just the funniest version of us that we’ve ever seen.” 

It’s the National’s third collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers this year. “Her voice is the soft edge of the song,” says Berninger. “It takes some of the snarky, sarcastic bitterness out of it and makes it sweet and gentle.”

The group stunned fans in September with the surprise digital release of Laugh Track and the album is available on vinyl this Friday, November 17th. Purchase HERE. The 12-song record is a companion to, and features material originally started in the same sessions as First Two Pages of Frankenstein, which was released by 4AD in April. Laugh Track features guest appearances by Phoebe Bridgers and Rosanne Cash, as well as the Bon Iver collaboration “Weird Goodbyes,” which was released as a standalone track in August 2022. 

The band just kicked off their final US tour dates for 2023, playing Albuquerque tonight and giving their final show of the calendar year in Irving, TX outside of Dallas on November 19th. Tickets are on sale now.

The National Tour Dates:

November 14, 2023 – Albuquerque, NM — Kiva Auditorium %
November 16, 2023 – Tulsa, OK — Tulsa Theater %
November 17, 2023 – Austin, TX — Moody Center %
November 18, 2023 – Houston, TX — Lawn at White Oak % 
November 19, 2023 – Irving, TX — The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory %
February 24, 2024 – Auckland, New Zealand — Spark Arena
February 25, 2024 – Wellington, New Zealand — Tsb Arena
February 28, 2024 – Brisbane, Australia — Riverstage ~`
March 1, 2024 – Sydney, Australia — Aware Super Theatre ~`
March 2, 2024 – Sydney, Australia — Aware Super Theatre ~`
March 5, 2024 – Melbourne, Australia — Sidney Myer Music Bowl ~`
March 6, 2024 – Melbourne, Australia — Sidney Myer Music Bowl ~`
March 9, 2024 – Perth, Australia — Kings Park & Botanic Garden ~`
June 2, 2024 – Milan, Italy — Carroponte
June 3, 2024 – Rome, Italy — Cavea of the Auditorium Parco della Musica
June 5, 2024 – Paris, France — Zenith de Paris #
June 21, 2024 – Scheeßel, Germany — Hurricane Festival
June 22, 2024 – Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany — Southside Festival
June 24, 2024 – Zagreb, Croatia — INmusic Festival
June 25, 2024 – Vienna, Austria — Stadthalle ^
June 27, 2024 – Bonn, Germany — Kunst!Rasen ^
June 28, 2024 – Antwerp, Belgium — Live Is Live – Middenvijver
July 2, 2024 – Cornwall, UK — Eden Sessions #
July 3, 2024 – Cardiff, UK — Cardiff Castle +
July 4, 2024 – Manchester, UK — Sounds of the City, Castlefield Bowl #
July 5, 2024 – London, UK — Crystal Palace Park #+!
July 11, 2024 – Edinburgh, UK — Edinburgh Castle ^
August 6, 2024 – Copenhagen, Denmark — Royal Arena

Support:
% Hand Habits
~ Very Special Guests Fleet Foxes
` Annie Hamilton
# This Is The Kit
+ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
! Kevin Morby
^ Bess Atwell

Get Tickets HERE.