Arriving swiftly on the heels of First Two Pages of Frankenstein, Laugh Track is indeed a companion record to its 2023 cousin, boasting similar cover art and containing songs written – but not necessarily recorded – during those same sessions. Given those overt similarities, it's not a surprise that Laugh Track often sounds like a continuation of Frankenstein, tilling the same meditative ground and generating similarly nuanced results. The National remains fascinated by the consoling power of stillness, operating at a low hum that allows space for Matt Berninger to ruminate as the band searches for variations of texture within cycling chords. Laugh Track isn't quite as tightly controlled as Frankenstein, often for the record's benefit.

The National is the debut studio album by American indie rock band the National, released on October 30, 2001 on Brassland Records. Recorded prior to guitarist Bryce Dessner's full arrival into the band, The National was produced by both Nick Lloyd and the band itself. Now-bass guitarist Scott Devendorf performs both guitar and backing vocals on this album, with guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Aaron Dessner on bass guitar and guitar duties.

Serpentine Prison, the debut solo record from Matt Berninger—front man of internationally acclaimed group The National. It's soulful,poetic and understated. The album, produced by renowned Memphis multi-instrumentalist Booker T. Jones (of Booker T. and The MG’s fame) and released via Book Records, a new imprint formed by Berninger and Jones in conjunction with Concord Records.