The Alcott
"The Alcott" is a song by American band the National featuring American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. The song appears on the band's album First Two Pages of Frankenstein (2023), and it was released as a single on April 28, 2023.[1][2] It is a downtempo ballad with prominent piano.[3] It was produced at Long Pond Studio in Hudson Valley.
"The Alcott"
Music and lyrics[edit]
Produced at Long Pond studio in Hudson Valley,[4] "The Alcott" is a downtempo ballad.[5][6] It incorporates prominent piano in its production.[7] Andrew Trendell of NME described the song as "arena-ready lighters-up".[8] Pitchfork critic Brad Shoup found the track to feature a "subliminal industrial rapping".[9] Towards the end, Swift performs with her solo vocals.[10]
Reception[edit]
In Clash, James Mellen picked "The Alcott" as a "truly stunning" track that showcases Swift's "immaculate" vocals and Berninger's "universal" performance.[10] In a mixed review, Shoup found the track to be mostly of Swift's artistry and labelled it "the National (Taylor's Version)", and wrote: "The mess is there, just not the chaos."[9]