The National’s long run of consistently wonderful recordings continues this morning as the band have followed up their Win Win theme song and singer Matt Berninger’s Grinderman half-cover with yet another killer track: “Exile Vilify,” a song composed specifically for the soundtrack to video game Portal 2. You can hear the tune, which is built on a memorable piano riff and backed by a gorgeous string arrangement at Some Kind of Awesome or below. “Exile Vilify” also went up for sale on iTunes at midnight last night here (thanks to Christian for the heads-up).
In other news, the National have a rather promising project in the works: “We’re actually working on a new compilation record, like we did the ‘Dark Was The Night’ record,” Scott Devendorf tells Spinner, “that’s going to be a Grateful Dead covers record.” While the Dead tribute is only in the beginning stages, Devendorf revealed that composer Steve Reich has agreed to be involved, adding that “newer, folky bands like Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver are interested,” as well.
(Perhaps Built to Spill would be up for this project, as the indie-rockers recently released a live cover of “Ripple” for Record Store Day.)
“Exile Vilify”