Matt Berninger (The National) - What's In My Bag? [Home Edition]

Matt Berninger, the frontman of The National, shares some of his favorite records from his collection at home. Matt Berninger's debut solo album 'Serpentine Prison' is available from Concord Records.
Check out his picks:
Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly (LP)
Tom Waits - Rain Dogs (LP)
Cat Power - Moon Pix (LP)
Pixies - Come On Pilgrim (LP)
Leonard Cohen - Songs From A Room (LP)
Booker T. & The M.G.'s - Melting Pot (LP)
Charles Mingus - The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady (LP)
Pavement - Quarantine The Past: The Best of Pavement (LP)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Ghosteen (LP)
Get Matt Berninger's music: www.amoeba.com/matt-berninger...
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[@nickfromCO]

Who would've thought The National would be influenced by Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave?

[@thisstraight3941]

I for one am shocked, I thought they were inspired by Iron Maiden and N.W.A

[@witchestoast8347]

@@thisstraight3941 hahahah

[@paulsandor3522]

The sarcasm is strong in you, young jedi! 🎵

[@keYiis]

And Tom Waits.

[@bkipp]

Bwaaaahaaaa I know right?

[@dreamfall8]

This is the first time hearing Matt's voice...never woulda guessed he sounded like this with his singing voice

[@rome8180]

Man, once he's done talking about a record it's like he's trying to forcefully eject it from his life.

[@421whitney]

Lol

[@PixiesOfficialTV]

Good taste 👍

[@junmicheletti7834]

AYYYYYY

[@atotallyrandomperson3889]

lmao how has no one noticed this comment

[@atotallyrandomperson3889]

IK you won’t see this but hi pixies 👋

[@TheVinylGuru]

The way he puts down the LPs after he’s done explaining had my blood rushing. Lol

[@ciaran1988]

I love how he tries to put the first record in the plastic sleeve but then just goes 'ah fuck it'

[@arnostrydom6446]

Came here looking for this comment 🤣

[@mrimreal2]

For a guy who usually sings slow and drawn out. He sure do talk fast.

[@AndréVincenzoGraniglia]

It’s the cocaine

[@markofsaltburn]

He’s probably worried about the Everton match this weekend.

[@421whitney]

Lol

[@CardboardHorror]

Lol

[@xanderstone8991]

I think I remember him mentioning he had ADHD, I could be mistaken though.

[@ernstundsehrbose4060]

Today I've learned, that I treat my records somewhere between Matt beringer and Henry rollins

[@murraysampson2501]

Matt’s never touching my records! Geez!

[@Gedu1988]

"You can hear these guys look at each other when you listen to this music" :)

[@mattieskola7910]

Rain dogs is an amazing Tom Waits record, but I wish they'd finally re-release Bone Machine on vinyl. It's my favourite album of all time.

[@keelanmurphy9941]

Swordfishtrombones is the only one I could find in my local store. I'm not complaining, cause I fkn love it, but I'd be a lot less happier if they had, y'know, all of them.

[@dasein47]

totally agree. they've rereleased and remastered pretty much everything else - why not Bone Machine?

[@JC-kh1gi]

Bone Machine is re-released on Island Records now. Comes in fall 2023. Available for preorder

[@MrJeremydobson]

Clearly just had his morning coffee.

[@markofsaltburn]

Intravenously

[@jerihough117]

Everything you do amazes me!

[@pierinmess5415]

I see Tom Waits, I click. P.S> Charles Mingus is essential listening.

[@TooManyRecords]

I was today years old when I discovered that I've been mispronouncing my favorite singer's last name for 10 years.

[@421whitney]

Lol me too!!

[@michaelcornwell7404]

Which one?

[@lordcaffeine]

What a great list!

[@alexandermjh3528]

More home editions! This is fantastic

[@derfgerps4016]

Black Saint is my all time Jazz desert island disk.

[@TallgrassMeander]

My favorite Tom Waits album!

[@ET-yc4ll]

I love Matt so much.

[@danielgranato9002]

AWESOME taste. Love The National

[@jasonchui6226]

"he was misunderstood, or understood, I don't know" 😅

[@gopisottomayor]

Great great greeeeeat list 💙 I clicked when I saw rain dogs and moon pix is one of my favorite albums ever

[@steadyrhythms9571]

man those are some of the best picks I’ve seen in this series. not too obscure, all classics.

[@ST-xg3gy]

Keep scrolling through the series. A lot of good ones!

[@steadyrhythms9571]

@@ST-xg3gy don’t worry, i have watched quite a few of these.

[@davidellis5141]

Nice ! The Pixies , Leonard Cohen , Nick Cave & Cat Power ! Great taste.

[@noelc8927]

@Mauriice Kiing Hard agree. Love The National and Matt's new stuff, but sheesh. Not even one pick surprised me.

[@2122Hellfire]

@Noel C You guys are more like living caricatures of music snobs more than you are actual human beings.

[@michaelclark3195]

@@2122Hellfire I'm hearing douchebags in stereo. Total snobs.

[@tommycscat]

I think I remember the tour he's talking about. I saw her (Cat Power) on the Tucson, AZ date, shortly after Moon Pix was released. It was a mid-week show at Club Congress that wasn't very publicized. Still, there was maybe between 25 and 50 people at the show. (Her next stop in Tucson a year or so later for The Covers Record was PACKED.) Prior to August '97, I lived just outside of NYC. First time I saw Cat Power was in '94 at Irving Plaza opening for Guided By Voices. Chavez also played that show. My favorite time back then was Cat Power, Guv'ner and Bardo Pond at the Knitting Factory in Oct. '96 (the night that the Yankees won the '96 World Series.) What Would The Community Think had just came out

[@CipherSerpico]

Nick Cave’s _Ghosteen_ is legitimately one of the most stunningly beautiful Albums I’ve ever heard. That entire Trilogy of Albums: _Push The Sky Away, Skeleton Tree, Ghosteen_ … is among the Greatest Artwork of the Century. And it’s infinitely greater/more powerful when you think of those 3 Albums-as One cohesive piece of Music, in three Acts. _Push The Sky Away_ is like having premonitions of the Apocalypse, where you get this ominous feeling that something horrible is about to happen… _Skeleton Tree_ plunges you into the Abyss, where you have to confront a cold, devastating, personal Hell… Then, on _Ghosteen_ You have accepted the Hell that you were in; And although it’s heartbreaking, you feel better that you went through it all. And that allows you to ascend into the Heavens.

[@user-er3ql2gy9n]

Good choice, Matt. Good luck with a new album. Really like it!

[@r.rockwell8609]

Came solely for the Tom Waits pick up in the thumbnail. Respect. 🖤

[@12HHoo]

Brilliant choices. Nick Cave should be in everyone's collection.

[@brandonvaglio5413]

I normally gotta be in a specific mood to listen to jazz, but I could throw that Charles Mingus album on anytime. It’s soooo good

[@2122Hellfire]

Perfect for this time of year too

[@dave9547]

"he was misunderstood, or understood, I don't know" 😅

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

You Want It Darker is Cohen's Black Star -- a fitting farewell send-off!

[@Alianger]

Some quality picks

[@threestringsomg]

Agreed😎 You Want It Darker is Cohen's masterpiece... amazingly Popular Problems is also up there...also great pick with Ghosteen sir.....might even be Caves masterpiece......seems our greats know how to brew up vintage concoctions these days....🤔

[@bacht4799]

Great albums .. 😎👌

[@wanderingwestgarth5904]

That's some nervous energy being bottled there

[@zachthomas5272]

The man is legendary.

[@jamesparkinson3796]

That’s a great photo of John Lennon in the background.

[@tommasofrancavilla9421]

Amoeba is great! Greetings from Italy!👋

[@amoeba]

Greetings from Hollywood!! ❤️💛

[@tommasofrancavilla9421]

@@amoeba 😘

[@MaxCuberful]

Anybody else wishes Mr. Berninger would write a book or start a podcast? I know I do.

[@jjgrenwich264]

The Tom awaits album cover is a photo by Anders Petersen from his excellent photo book “Cafe Lehmitz.” He very much deserves an actual mention :)

[@lillynietz17]

Yes..Thanks!...I recall the hugging women's name as "Lilly"....

[@deeg8849]

Dig into my old mans record collection and found the melting pot booker T album. Gave it a Go. awesome grooves

[@skrem23]

Pretty cool--but, not so surprising being such a fan of The National--I have every one of Matt's selections in my collection. Musical "Birds of a feather," as they say.

[@hamedyarizade8331]

great taste

[@yairmichaeli267]

Could not agree more with any selection.

[@u2acrobata]

Rain Dogs on vinyl !!!!! i'm so jealous !!!!!!

[@73685]

My thoughts exactly. They don’t ever say the price tho, and I bet it was $$$$$

[@dmlevitt]

I always thought that was tom waits on the rain dog cover too. great picks. we have very similar taste in music.

[@keelanmurphy9941]

It's two random people at the very end of the night in a bar in Germany, in case you were wondering.

[@dmlevitt]

@@keelanmurphy9941 thanks Keelan. I am embarrassed to be such a huge Tom Waits fan and not know this simple fact. cheers

[@r.rockwell8609]

Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen AND Nick Cave? Elite taste imo

[@alonzomosley7]

my Dads favourite Roberta Flack and used so well in the movie Play Misty For Me

[@Stelios78910]

King 👑👑

[@Alchemistsalon]

I was already engaged in a borderline unhealthy fascination with Matt. Then I discovered we have the exact same birthdate. That only confirmed my secret belief we should know each other.

[@GolferTomATX]

The Large Marge tee shirt...awesome 🤣

[@mnchls]

on a sidenote i feel like Matt would be great in an supporting role on a wacky Comedy Bang Bang type show or an offbeat charac(ter) dramedy a la Fargo, the dude just has that kinda energy ya know?

[@hannahschulz3629]

Not sure if you know, but he and the rest of the National were part of a Comedy Bang Bang sketch awhile ago. Very funny, and definitely available if you search for it haha.

[@daltonlunn1653]

He was in the Between Two Ferns movie

[@davidgaliata75]

He basically listens to everything I did growing up….. holy shit.

[@Koshirozation]

❤

[@user-ew5up8jw9z]

I love the pixies too

[@michaelcornwell7404]

Yo Amoeba, you guys have to bring back the thing where you play a snippet of the album or particular song after they mention it. Thanks!❤️

[@rollingtroll]

Cool to get a peek into rooms and spaces of artists. I see tapes! There's some good records but I think the National is on average a better band than most of what Matt Berninger inspires :D.

[@djpaulywood]

the sound of the records being tossed ........

[@H_Oscarsson]

@0:44 That's a picture by swedish photographer Anders Petersen from his Cafe Lehmitz book.

[@judithbreastsler]

he looks like a distance runner

[@yourlastfoe]

LOL. As a distance runner I can say that your comment isn't going to get the amount of likes it deserves. He literally looks like 75% of the runners/climbers I meet.

[@Pindapoepert]

He also reminded me of Walter White during the final episode (Breaking Bad)...

[@hiagonobre8768]

@@Pindapoepert Yeah, I always thought he and Walter White looked alike, especially when Walt had a beard.

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

If he doesn't have a Podcast, he ought to 'cuz I'd definitely subscribe to it!

[@Dubz9Ball]

Nice Roberta flack and booker t and the mgs records

[@73685]

I’ve been looking for rain dogs on vinyl for too long

[@mrchow7398]

Tom Waits !! Has he done a What's In My Bag ? if not he needs to do one..

[@madeleine967]

love the photo of Bob Dylan in whiteface peeking out from behind Matt's shoulder

[@andrewmair7371]

Back in the post-mid 20th C whenever I loaned precious vinyl (to only the most trusted) I always said: “No scratching, no cover-bending!” - Won’t be loaning any vinyl to Matt anytime soon…!☝️😆 (Yes, good taste tho… Rain Dogs by far my fave Tom Waits. Classic. Mule Variations runner up) 😁

[@09rosette1]

Matt, we have the same record collection. We should go on holiday together.

[@DL-ty4cu]

these make sense

[@nicomorales1996]

he seems like a cool dad

[@Alchemistsalon]

This comment hurt my pride.

[@ChrisGreen-kn2ob]

Nicely done Matt... a little fast on the dialogue though 🤔 The National was the last live concert I saw before the world went sideways with COVID-19... I miss live music!

[@yourlastfoe]

My god this dudes musical taste is beyond eclectic AND admirable.

[@mnchls]

eclectic? not knocking on his picks or on Matt in general but this is far from truly eclectic

[@te9591]

Yeah, solid choices.

[@VictorLugosi]

It’s really not tho..

[@yourlastfoe]

@@mnchls Eclectic : deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources. Roberta Flack, Tom Waits, Cat Power, Pixies, Leonard Cohen, Booker T and the Mg's, Mingus, Pavement and Nick Cave. Buying Soul, Funk, Jazz, Indie Rock, Post-Punk and Folk records certainly fits the description of "eclectic". Because he didn't name some avant garde band with only 20 fans doesn't make his picks NOT "eclectic".

[@mnchls]

uh, well, it's all western music with standard instrumentation (and all critically acclaimed by the US/UK press). again, i'm not saying these are bad picks (huge pavement fan right here!) or that Matt is being insincere in any way, shape or form (hardly, because he's such a sweetheart)... but time and time again artists in this series are lauded (usually by members of their fanbase) for having such broad and diverse tastes - in your own words "beyond eclectic and admirable" - when, really, as in this case, their selections are not entirely diverse, in addition to being pretty obvious and on-the-nose, especially where the national's sound is concerned. the best WIMB installments feature leftfield, unorthodox, or unexpected picks that you wouldn't normally associate with that artist, because you feel like you're getting a chance to learn something about them and their process/influences in depth and detail. i also love seeing big and well-known musicians use their platform/audience to promote lesser-known stuff that isn't typically talked about. i mean, if i wanted to hear some middle-aged white dude sing the praises of waits and the pixies, i can get that pretty much fucking anywhere. so yeah, if you're really honestly into that obscure avant-garde ensemble known by only twenty people, then by all means shout it from the rooftops and spread the love. leonard cohen doesn't need anymore fucking press.

[@Vie9724]

Can you give us a easy tutorial for this beautiful song of yours “Take me out of town - (for beginner)? I will appreciate that. Thanks a lot.

[@craigwheeler3837]

Well I have Tom Waits & Booker-T.....guess I got to go shopping

[@nickmoss2046]

I now know I have the same taste as my indie dad.

[@silbuckley4756]

Trata con más cariño a los vinilos, Matt!

[@jaredbaez5457]

He's such an introvert

[@rollingtroll]

Ever seen him live? Autistic springs to mind. And there's no negative connotation there :).

[@te9591]

@@rollingtroll gary numan has aspergers and he makes it kick ass.

[@rollingtroll]

@@te9591 yup, so do I and most people couldn't tell. Bit autistic people are like people; all different :D

[@elyy0345]

How can you tell? I've noticed how at concerts he's always like nervous while making jokes at the same time. That's me whenever in public.

[@quasiotter]

@@rollingtroll i totally get that vibe, too! (i'm on the spectrum myself)

[@maxthepupp]

I...I always thought that was Tom Waits..!😳

[@timtom904]

Shoulda thrown some REM in there!

[@Gerzzo]

Wheres the Afghan Whigs

[@SuperDriven1]

Spazzzz....lol

[@NotTheRedBaron8]

Fling the records across the room why don’t ya?

[@bassicdiego]

Ghosteen is his best besides Murder Ballads

[@markm668]

Do you think this guy drinks too much coffee?

[@te9591]

Not enough.

[@IndieBassJA26]

black saint and the sinner lady... iykyk

[@alexandonie3171]

What is the name of the song at the very end?

[@kassandrakid9440]

What’s your favorite album that he showed? Mine is moon pix. He’s also very right about her live performances. But of course all of his picks are good.

[@GrindhouseFunhouse]

Love your picks but gotta be gentle with your vinyls man. 😜

[@alexanderperez5636]

"Love this album!" *flings against wall*

[@rollingtroll]

Vinyls is not a word! Also as long as they are in the sleeve, they can handle this. The sleeves maybe not so much, but you don't play those.

[@Cheezumz002]

I want James May on here.

[@PanosSG55]

Did he have to catch a train or something shorty after this? Good choices btw

[@jamesgwarrior1981]

How’s that solo of his? Any thoughts from Amoeba 🦠 fans? That was also my first pixies. 🧚‍♂️🧚 did not yet know wanted Surfer Rosa but guess that doesn’t matter when you but the entire 🧚‍♀️ catalog 😁

[@michaelbanks2401]

Pixies greatest most compelling band of the 80s. David Bowie

[@TheGorillafoot]

Where are the music samples?

[@jasonchui6226]

Why his speaking voice sound like every background character on bobs burgers

[@peepnox7747]

Guess what’s in my bag

[@rollingtroll]

Very sus.

[@ciaran1988]

Guess what's broken inside my bag

[@davidgangemi3314]

No Beefheart?🤔

[@MichaelSalmons64]

Could... have... picked.... ANY.... Tom Waits record????? O_O

[@Chevalier_de_Pas]

"Roberta Flack the whole way home..."

[@annaagustivime3940]

Acabo de descobrir aquesta meravella gràcies a un amic amb qui compartim gustos musicals,li vaig dir:em sembla una barreja entre Nick Cave i Micah P.Hinson,la seva selecció em sembla fabulosa,adoro tot el q conec i compartim.

[@ovnimoon]

WOW so freshhh music .... :S

[@tomboyd8]

This is a masterclass in how you shouldn't handle your vinyl records.

[@emmet5503]

Goddamn, be gentle with those Matt!