Boxer
Beggars Banquet
2007
Rating: 8 walking weirdos out of 10
Maybe you've heard of The National...they blew up the scene a couple of years back in 2005 with their release “Alligator”, finishing on tons of best-of lists and fluttering up the ruffled dresses of music bloggers around the world. Personally speaking, I thought the album was weaker than the “Cherry Tree” EP they released a year earlier, but they were a good band who deserved a little hype, even if it wasn't over the best music they had produced (but still a damn good album in the grand scheme of things).
So now they have a new record out called “Boxer”, and the question everyone wants the answer to comes to mind – how does it measure up to their previous output? Bands so often fall off after they receive a little critical acclaim, thinking too much about what to do next, how the critics would react, would they be able to grow their sound without alienating their older fans...well, in this case, you'll find no slump. The National are as sharp as ever, producing their best work to date as far as I'm concerned. It sounds like their older albums, maybe a touch peppier if anything, and there isn't a weak song in the entire batch.
For those not familiar with the group, their sound is a tad difficult to describe – the best I've ever been able to come up with is Interpol with David Berman of the Silver Jews singing. Honestly, it feels a bit disingenuous to use Interpol as a touchstone since The National have actually been on the scene longer, but hey, it's a reference the kids will get so I'm not going to make a fuss over it. If it gets you in the stores buying their record, then it is a comparison worth making. And let it be known, in the event you are keeping score, I'd rather listen to The National any day of the week over Interpol.
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