I've been madly in love with the National since the pre-Alligator days, often driving from Connecticut to Manhattan to Boston and back to catch them every chance I could. They've made beautiful progress since — the recent set at the Moore was most excellent — but seeing them on tiny, crowded stages in a full-blown freakout at clubs like The Middle East rank up in my Top Shows Ever, for sure.

So, it was nice to see this in my inbox this morning:

Hello All.

Happy Holidays!! We hope you're all doing well and staying warm!! We're busy writing songs and enjoying being home.

We have some news to report:

First off, Aaron and Bryce have produced a charity record called "Dark Was The Night" for the Red Hot Organization that comes out on February 17th worldwide on 4AD. All profits from the sale of the record will go to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The album features 32 exclusive tracks (!) and will be released as a double CD and on triple Vinyl. We wrote and recorded a new song for the record called "So Far Around The Bend". Aaron and Bryce also collaborate on the record with Bon Iver and Antony Hegarty respectively. Please help us support this very important cause by spreading the word and picking up the album in February 2009.

The full artist list:
Andrew Bird
Antony + Bryce Dessner
Arcade Fire
Beach House
Beirut
Blonde Redhead + Devastations
Bon Iver
Bon Iver & Aaron Dessner
The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez
Buck 65 Remix (featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti)
Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues
The Decemberists
Dirty Projectors + David Byrne
Kevin Drew
Feist + Ben Gibbard
Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear + Feist
Iron & Wine
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Kronos Quartet
Stuart Murdoch
My Brightest Diamond
My Morning Jacket
The National
The New Pornographers
Conor Oberst & Gillian Welch
Riceboy Sleeps
Dave Sitek (TV On The Radio)
Spoon
Sufjan Stevens
Yeasayer
Yo La Tengo

Secondly, we are very honored to have been invited by Philip Glass to play the Tibet House Benefit concert at Carnegie Hall on February 3rd, 2009. We will play a short set of two or three songs. Patti Smith, Vampire Weekend, Philip Glass and others will also perform. If you're in New York City, please come support the Tibet House.

More info on the Tibet House Benefit:
http://www.tibethouse.org/component/option,com_jcalpro/Itemid,70/extid,138/extmode,view/

Tickets for the Tibet House Benefit:
http://www.carnegiehall.org/article/box_office/events/evt_11914.html?selecteddate=02032009

Thirdly, we have put a lot of merchandise in online store ON-SALE to make way for new designs, so head on over and do some holiday bargain hunting! http://www.merchco-online.com/thenational/

Finally, we are in the early stages of making the follow-up to Boxer. We will let you know when we can what the plans are for its release, but it's likely to find its way to you in 2010.

Thank you all for carrying us through the past year and a half of touring around the world. We had an amazing time and we're incredibly thankful to have had the opportunity to play for all of you. We'll come back as soon as we can.
—
thanks for your support!
/the national

I don't know about any of you, but I'm putting that record on my top albums of 2009 list — I can't imagine it being any less than flawless! Good rock + good cause = Happy Viva.

Now, about that snowstorm…