The National's Boxer was at the top of most year-end lists in 2007, and the band is wasting no time in making its legacy more permanent with the release of a 60-minute DVD, chronicling said album's creation and subsequent success. A Skin, A Night, directed by French filmmaker Vincent Moon, appears to be pretty typical in terms of band documentaries, featuring the obligatory grainy shots in the recording studio and from jerky backstage vantage points, and of course, mumbled expectations of the future through cigarette-smoking lips. The whole shebang strikes me as slightly premature given The National's (really) recent burst of fame, but hey, at least we get some more music out if it with the accompanying Virginia EP. Both are out on Beggars Banquet at the end of May. Oh, and did we mention they're touring with R.E.M. next month? Or that I saw Michael Stipe in a bar last week? Both of these statements are true, but you probably care more about one than the other.

Or perhaps you are more interested in this preview of A Skin, A Night (video under the cut)

Virginia EP Track Listing (under cut)

01 "You've Done It Again, Virginia" (previously unreleased)
02 "Santa Clara" (UK b-side)
03 "Blank Slate" (UK b-side)
04 "Tall Saint" (demo)
05 "Without Permission" (unreleased cover)
06 "Forever After Days" (demo)
07 "Rest Of Years" (demo)
08 "Slow Show" (demo)
09 "Lucky You" (Daytrotter session)
10 "Mansion On The Hill" (live)
11 "Fake Empire" (live)
12 "About Today" (live)