Hot This Week: May 29

Check out this week's lists!

Video

1. Knock at the Cabin (Blu-ray | 4K)
2. Cocaine Bear (Blu-ray)
3. Champions (Blu-ray)
4. Plane (Blu-ray | 4K)
5. Children of the Corn (Blu-ray)
6. Magic Mike's Last Dance (Blu-ray)
7. Supercell (Blu-ray)
8. Jesus Revolution (Blu-ray)
9. M3GAN (Blu-ray)
10. A Man Called Otto (Blu-ray)

Music

1. Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time
2. Taylor Swift, Midnights
3. Jonas Brothers, The Album
4. SZA, SOS
5. Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Album
6. Bailey Zimmerman, Religiously. The Album.
7. Daft Punk, Random Access Memories
8. Ed Sheeran, -
9. Taylor Swift, Lover
10. Bad Bunny, Un Verano Sin Ti

Fiction

1. Only the Dead, Jack Carr (AB24M | eB24M)
2. Happy Place, Emily Henry (PA | ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
3. Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros (ABP | eB24M)*
   
4. Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
5. Yellowface, R.F. Kuang (PA | ABP | eB26C)
6. Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver (PA | ABP | eB26C)
7. The 23rd Midnight, James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (AB24M | eB24M)
8. Queen Charlotte, Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes (PA | ABP | eB26C)
9. Simply Lies, David Baldacci (AB24M)
10. The True Love Experiment, Christina Lauren (AB24M | eB24M)

Nonfiction

1. The Wager, David Grann (PA | ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
2. Outlive, Peter Attia, MD, and Bill Gifford (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
3. Spare, Prince Harry (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
4. The Daddy Diaries, Andy Cohen (PA | ABP | eB24M)*
5. I'm Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy (AB24M | eB24M)
6. The Light We Carry, Michelle Obama (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
7. King: A Life, Jonathan Eig (PA | ABP)*
8. Look for Me There, Luke Russert (ABP | eB26C)
9. Poverty, by America, Matthew Desmond (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
10. Greenlights, Matthew McConaughey (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)

Fiction/Nonfiction Format Key:

PA = Playaway (physical)

ABP = hoopla Flex digital audiobook, perpetual license

AB12M = hoopla Flex digital audiobook, 12-month license

AB24M = hoopla Flex digital audiobook, 24-month license

eB12M = hoopla Flex eBook, 12-month license

eB24M = hoopla Flex eBook, 24-month license

eB26C = hoopla Flex eBook, 26-circulation license

* = CD audiobook currently unavailable

Contact your sales rep for more information about hoopla Flex.

Hot This Week: May 22

Check out this week's lists!

Video

1. Knock at the Cabin (Blu-ray | 4K)
2. Cocaine Bear (Blu-ray)
3. Champions (Blu-ray)
4. Children of the Corn (Blu-ray)
5. Plane (Blu-ray | 4K)
6. Magic Mike's Last Dance (Blu-ray)
7. Supercell (Blu-ray)
8. Jesus Revolution (Blu-ray)
9. M3GAN (Blu-ray)
10. A Man Called Otto (Blu-ray)

Music

1. Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time
2. Ed Sheeran, -
3. Taylor Swift, Midnights
4. SZA, SOS
5. Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Album
6. Le Sserafim, Unforgiven
7. Taylor Swift, Lover
8. Bad Bunny, Un Verano Sin Ti
9. Luke Combs, Gettin' Old
10. Metro Boomin, Heroes & Villains

Fiction

1. Happy Place, Emily Henry (PA | ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
2. The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, Tom Hanks (PA | ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
3. Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros (ABP | eB24M)*
   
4. Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
5. Queen Charlotte, Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes (PA | ABP | eB26C)
6. The 23rd Midnight, James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (AB24M | eB24M)
7. Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver (PA | ABP | eB26C)
8. The Covenant of Water, Abraham Verghese (ABP | eBP)*
9. Simply Lies, David Baldacci (AB24M)
10. Hello Beautiful, Ann Napolitano (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*

Nonfiction

1. Spare, Prince Harry (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
2. The Light We Carry, Michelle Obama (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
3. The Wager, David Grann (PA | ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
4. The Daddy Diaries, Andy Cohen (PA | ABP | eB24M)*
5. Outlive, Peter Attia, MD, and Bill Gifford (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
6. I'm Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy (AB24M | eB24M)
7. Look for Me There, Luke Russert (ABP | eB26C)
8. Walking with Sam, Andrew McCarthy (eB24M)
9. Greenlights, Matthew McConaughey (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
10. You Can't Joke About That, Kat Timpf (ABP | eB26C)

Fiction/Nonfiction Format Key:

PA = Playaway (physical)

ABP = hoopla Flex digital audiobook, perpetual license

AB12M = hoopla Flex digital audiobook, 12-month license

AB24M = hoopla Flex digital audiobook, 24-month license

eB12M = hoopla Flex eBook, 12-month license

eB24M = hoopla Flex eBook, 24-month license

eB26C = hoopla Flex eBook, 26-circulation license

* = CD audiobook currently unavailable

Contact your sales rep for more information about hoopla Flex.

Hot This Week: May 15

Check out this week's lists!

Video

1. Champions (Blu-ray)
2. Cocaine Bear (Blu-ray)
3. Supercell (Blu-ray)
4. Plane (Blu-ray | 4K)
5. Magic Mike's Last Dance (Blu-ray)
6. Jesus Revolution (Blu-ray)
7. A Man Called Otto (Blu-ray)
8. Fear
9. M3GAN (Blu-ray)
10. Marlowe (Blu-ray)

Music

1. Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time
2. Ed Sheeran, -
3. Taylor Swift, Midnights
4. Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Album
5. Le Sserafim, Unforgiven
6. Taylor Swift, Lover
7. Bad Bunny, Un Verano Sin Ti
8. Luke Combs, Gettin' Old
9. Metro Boomin, Heroes & Villains
10. Taylor Swift, Folklore

Fiction

1. Happy Place, Emily Henry (PA | ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
2. Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros (ABP | eB24M)*
   
3. The 23rd Midnight, James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (AB24M | eB24M)
4. The Covenant of Water, Abraham Verghese (ABP | eBP)*
5. Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
6. The Wedding Planner, Danielle Steel (ABP | eB12M | eB24M)
7. Simply Lies, David Baldacci (AB24M)
8. The Secret Book of Flora Lea, Patti Callahan Henry (AB24M | eB24M)
9. Hello Beautiful, Ann Napolitano (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
10. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Gabrielle Zevin (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*

Nonfiction

1. The Wager, David Grann (PA | ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
2. The Light We Carry, Michelle Obama (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
3. Outlive, Peter Attia, MD, and Bill Gifford (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
4. Look for Me There, Luke Russert (ABP | eB26C)
5. Spare, Prince Harry (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
6. I'm Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy (AB24M | eB24M)
7. Greenlights, Matthew McConaughey (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
8. Poverty, by America, Matthew Desmond (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
9. The 1998 Yankees, Jack Curry (AB24M | eB24M)*
10. Don't Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You, Lucinda Williams (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
11. Tell Me Everything, Minka Kelly (ABP | eB24M)

Fiction/Nonfiction Format Key:

PA = Playaway (physical)

ABP = hoopla Flex digital audiobook, perpetual license

AB12M = hoopla Flex digital audiobook, 12-month license

AB24M = hoopla Flex digital audiobook, 24-month license

eB12M = hoopla Flex eBook, 12-month license

eB24M = hoopla Flex eBook, 24-month license

eB26C = hoopla Flex eBook, 26-circulation license

* = CD audiobook currently unavailable

Contact your sales rep for more information about hoopla Flex.

Hot This Week: May 8

Check out this week's lists!

Video

1. Cocaine Bear (Blu-ray)
2. Magic Mike's Last Dance (Blu-ray)
3. Plane (Blu-ray | 4K)
4. Jesus Revolution (Blu-ray)
5. Fear
6. A Man Called Otto (Blu-ray)
7. M3GAN (Blu-ray)
8. Marlowe (Blu-ray)
9. Missing (Blu-ray)
10. The Ritual Killer (Blu-ray)

Music

1. Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time
2. Agust D, D-Day
3. Taylor Swift, Midnights
4. Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Album
5. Luke Combs, Gettin' Old
6. Metro Boomin, Heroes & Villains
7. Taylor Swift, Lover
8. Bad Bunny, Un Verano Sin Ti
9. Melanie Martinez, Portals
10. Metallica, 72 Seasons

Fiction

1. Happy Place, Emily Henry (PA | ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
2. Simply Lies, David Baldacci (AB24M)
3. Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
4. In the Lives of Puppets, T.J. Klune (PA | ABP | eB24M)
5. Small Mercies, Dennis Lehane (ABP | eB26C)
6. Hello Beautiful, Ann Napolitano (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
7. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Gabrielle Zevin (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
8. Hang the Moon, Jeannette Walls (AB24M | eB24M)
9. The Way of the Bear, Anne Hillerman (ABP | eB26C)
10. It Ends with Us, Colleen Hoover (PA | AB24M | eB24M)

Nonfiction

1. The Wager, David Grann (PA | ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
2. The Light We Carry, Michelle Obama (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
3. Outlive, Peter Attia, MD, and Bill Gifford (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
4. Greenlights, Matthew McConaughey (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
5. Don't Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You, Lucinda Williams (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
6. You Can't Joke About That, Kat Timpf (ABP | eB26C)
7. I'm Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy (AB24M | eB24M)
8. Spare, Prince Harry (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
9. Honey, Baby, Mine, Laura Dern and Diane Ladd (AB24M | eB24M)
10. Poverty, by America, Matthew Desmond (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*

Fiction/Nonfiction Format Key:

PA = Playaway (physical)

ABP = hoopla Flex digital audiobook, perpetual license

AB12M = hoopla Flex digital audiobook, 12-month license

AB24M = hoopla Flex digital audiobook, 24-month license

eB12M = hoopla Flex eBook, 12-month license

eB24M = hoopla Flex eBook, 24-month license

eB26C = hoopla Flex eBook, 26-circulation license

* = CD audiobook currently unavailable

Contact your sales rep for more information about hoopla Flex.

The National Continues to Push the Envelope

Written by Jon Williams

Last week the indie rock band the National thrilled fans worldwide with the release of their ninth full-length album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein. The title was created by frontman Matt Berninger. Struggling to write lyrics for a new album, he turned to his bookshelf for inspiration and found a handful of words and phrases that spoke to him in Mary Shelley’s classic novel. It was the breakthrough he needed. The result is an 11-track disc that features contributions from Sufjan Stevens, Phoebe Bridgers, and Taylor Swift.

 
Although the members (Berninger [vocals], brothers Scott [bass] and Bryan Devendorf [drums], and twin brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner [guitar/piano]) all grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, the band formed in Brooklyn in 1999. They released two albums (The National and Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers) and an EP (Cherry Tree) as they honed their craft and refined their sound.
 
After signing with Beggars Banquet Records in 2004, the National hit their stride. In 2005, Alligator raised their profile by appearing on several publications’ lists of albums of the year (and eventually the decade). They saw similar critical acclaim from the breakout album Boxer in 2007, and skyrocketed into the public consciousness when an instrumental version of “Fake Empire” was used in Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign for the presidency. They followed that up in 2010 with High Violet, and their tour in support of that album was chronicled in the 2013 documentary Mistaken for Strangers (currently unavailable) made by Tom Berninger, Matt’s brother.
 
Now bona fide indie darlings, their music began to show up in more and more places, including over the closing credits of an episode of Game of Thrones, the Boardwalk Empire soundtrack, and on The Bob’s Burgers Music Album. They scored their first Grammy nomination for 2013’s Trouble Will Find Me, and won Best Alternative Music Album for the 2017 follow-up, Sleep Well Beast. Then, instead of taking a break as they had planned, they came back quickly, in 2019, with I Am Easy to Find, a collaboration with director Mike Mills, who used the album’s soundscape as the background for a short film of the same name.
 
The band hasn’t been idle since. They wrote the music for the 2021 film Cyrano, which features their single “Somebody Desperate.” They’ve also kept busy individually with side projects, some of which have been quite notable. In 2020 Matt Berninger released a solo album, Serpentine Prison. Aaron’s high-profile projects included cowriting and coproducing Taylor Swift’s Grammy-winning album folklore and its follow-up, evermore (which featured the National on the track “Coney Island”), as well as Ed Sheeran’s latest, among several others. He also recorded an album (also featuring a Taylor Swift appearance) with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon as Big Red Machine, How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last?
 
And we may hear more from the National as they kick off a world tour this month. Members of the band have said they wrote a lot of good songs that didn’t make the new album, and hinted that it may be released soon in some form. In the meantime, fans new and old have plenty of music to dig into. Click the links above for their albums, or SmartBrowse on our website for more.

Hot This Week: May 1

Check out this week's lists!

Video

1. Cocaine Bear (Blu-ray)
2. Magic Mike's Last Dance (Blu-ray)
3. Plane (Blu-ray | 4K)
4. Marlowe (Blu-ray)
5. A Man Called Otto (Blu-ray)
6. M3GAN (Blu-ray)
7. Transfusion (Blu-ray)
8. Missing (Blu-ray)
9. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (Blu-ray | 4K)
10. Wicked Games

Music

1. Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time
2. Metallica, 72 Seasons
3. Taylor Swift, Midnights
4. Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Album
5. Luke Combs, Gettin' Old
6. Metro Boomin, Heroes & Villains
7. Bad Bunny, Un Verano Sin Ti
8. Taylor Swift, Lover
9. Melanie Martinez, Portals
10. Drake and 21 Savage, Her Loss

Fiction

1. Simply Lies, David Baldacci (AB24M)
2. Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
3. Hello Beautiful, Ann Napolitano (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
4. Hang the Moon, Jeannette Walls (AB24M | eB24M)
5. Dark Angel, John Sandford (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
6. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Gabrielle Zevin (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
7. City of Dreams, Don Winslow (ABP | eB26C)
8. It Ends with Us, Colleen Hoover (PA | AB24M | eB24M)
9. Where Are the Children Now?, Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke (AB24M | eB24M)
10. Things I Wish I Told My Mother, Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo (AB24M | eB24M)

Nonfiction

1. The Wager, David Grann (PA | ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
2. Outlive, Peter Attia, MD, and Bill Gifford (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
3. You Can't Joke About That, Kat Timpf (ABP | eB26C)
4. I'm Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy (AB24M | eB24M)
5. Spare, Prince Harry (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
6. The Light We Carry, Michelle Obama (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
7. Poverty, by America, Matthew Desmond (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
8. Greenlights, Matthew McConaughey (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)
9. I Swear, Katie Porter (ABP | AB12M | eB12M | eB24M)*
10. You Could Make This Place Beautiful, Maggie Smith (AB24M | eB24M)

Fiction/Nonfiction Format Key:

PA = Playaway (physical)

ABP = hoopla Flex digital audiobook, perpetual license

AB12M = hoopla Flex digital audiobook, 12-month license

AB24M = hoopla Flex digital audiobook, 24-month license

eB12M = hoopla Flex eBook, 12-month license

eB24M = hoopla Flex eBook, 24-month license

eB26C = hoopla Flex eBook, 26-circulation license

* = CD audiobook currently unavailable

Contact your sales rep for more information about hoopla Flex.