Pitchfork

Here we have the National on "Late Show With David Letterman", singing "Fake Empire" for Dave and millions of others. As our own Jessica Suarez noted in an earlier review of this track, it's all about Berninger's voice, the sheer weight of the thing, as he constructs light and airy images (bluebirds, pie) using syllables made of lead. The empire he sings of might be fake, but the National are on Letterman now, so it appears as though the band is one step closer to realizing their own dynastic ambitions. Sounds like Dave is a fan too -- "Be-OO-ti-ful," he tells them twice as he wraps up the show. Band pal Thomas "Doveman" Bartlett sits in.