Boxer
by The National

From paladisiac TOP 100 COMMENTER 12/09/2011 19:12 | #32509 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

It's probably difficult to find a lead singer with such a deep, bass voice with songs this consistently good, able to vary up his vocal delivery enough to keep it all interesting. (See crash test dummies for an opposite example.) They're sort of an understated, inward-indie version of The Hold Steady, with jams that rock, just not in a customary ROCK way. Tough for me to pick a favorite on this album. "fake empire" is the full boxer introduction, with subtly paranoid lyrics ("Tiptoe through our shiny city / With our diamond slippers on / Do our gay ballet on ice / Bluebirds on our shoulders") and a building of horns and piano to the end which is quite engaging. "mistaken for strangers" is where the lower-case rawk starts, with the pounding drums and clanging guitars setting up mr invisible ("Oh, you wouldn't want an angel watching over / Surprise, surprise, they wouldn't wanna watch / Another un-innocent, elegant fall / Into the un-magnificent lives of adults"). In love with a smart woman in "brainy", the guitars are more intricate and atmospheric but the drums are still energetic as the song seems like a lazy stalker song with a chorus of "You might need me more / Than you think you will / Come home in the car you love / Brainy, brainy, brainy" (but i think they're already in a relationship). Love the drums on "squalor victoria" too, with a string section that adds some spooky tension, giving way to piano and lines like "Out of my league, I have birds in my sleeves / And I wanna rush in with the fools". "slow show" wants to "get my shit together", almost seductive in a nerd/oaf way singing "I wanna hurry home to you / put on a slow, dumb show for you / and crack you up". There's a urge to hole up inside with a loved one in "apartment story" ("We?ll stay inside till somebody finds us / Do whatever the TV tells us / Stay inside our rosy-minded fuzz for days").

The first time I heard this, I thought it was ruined by the miserable vocals! Then, as the tracks eventually seeped into my mind, by gradually listening to it amongst a load of other new releases, I saw the light. It's now my favourite album of the last 5 years! I fear there will be a backlash towards them now, because any band that becomes hugely popular will always be accused of 'selling out'. Well bollocks to the snobs, The National are fantastic!

Brilliantly beautiful album. Expertly crafted sound with cryptic but not baffling lyrics, Boxer stays consistently engaging throughout the duration of the album. Racing Like a Pro and Ada both stand out to me, but there is enough variety that I could easily see any of the other tracks being other listeners' personal favorites.

The bands best album and a favourite of mine. Nice variation of instrumentation and such a relaxing album. An enjoyable album from start to finish and it is certainly a great album to work or study to. Recommended.

Best Tracks: Fake Empire, Mistaken For Strangers, Brainy, Slow Show, Guest Room, Ada

In my opinion, this is the best album by these guys. I love each and every song. Great soundtrack for nostalgic moments