++FILM++ review by Tom Brogan
Tom Brogan reviews a documentary following the acclaimed Brooklyn band as they make their crossover album Boxer. He's not impressed to say the least, but at least there's a bonus EP to soothe the pain...
In 2007 The National firmly established themselves as a solid live act and their ‘Boxer’ album was universally acclaimed as one of the year’s best. So you'd naturally assume that a documentary of the band making the record would be compulsory viewing.
Not so. ‘A Skin, A Night’ is no ordinary ‘making of an album’ rockumentary. It’s far less interesting than that. Vincent Moon's film is more concerned with finding unusual camera angles than it is on concentrating on a band making a breakthrough album.
"It's all a wasted opportunity that offers little further understanding of the band... "
The National are mainly seen in the recording studio, where we hear vocals being recorded, or in one sequence the camera pokes its head up from the floor between the band as they lay down handclaps.
Occasionally members of the group talk to the camera about the album’s recording and the odd snippet of an interesting fact is revealed, but largely ‘A Skin, A Night’ comes over as a student project that just happens to capture a band at a vital moment in their career. It's all a wasted opportunity that offers little further understanding of the band.
Far more worthwhile in this package is the bonus Virginia EP. This 12 track disc offers live and demo versions of some of the songs that appeared on ‘Boxer’, as well as covers and radio sessions.
‘Blank Slate’ is the standout track, capable of standing alongside their best work. A radio session version of ‘Lucky You’ and the beautiful live version of ‘Fake Empire’ simply illustrate that there is much to recommend this band, even if you can’t say the same for the film.
++ Tom Brogan ++
Artrocker rating: 3
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