The Pelican’s Perch

I was only vaguely familiar with the National when all the good reviews started popping up about their newest release Boxer. Like any good blogger, I decided to check into what all the praise was about and I was pleasantly surprised. Boxer is a chill, laid-back affair that only gets better and better with repeated listens. Matt Berninger’s deep baritone voice is really what makes The National unique. It’s relaxing but great music the whole way through and has become a welcome alternative to more upbeat music I’ve been listening to lately.

Boxer is The National’s best album to date, but their previous album Alligator, while slightly more rocking, was still great in its own way. I thought I hadn’t heard much of The National before now, but sifting through my iTunes library found that I had Alligator this whole time, only it must have gotten lost in all the new music contantly coming in and I just forgot I had it. Well, the last week or so, thanks to the ever-great Boxer, I’ve been listening to The National and little else. Only the Swedes in Detektivbyran could stop me from listening to The National, and then Yann Tiersen’s entire catalogue, but now I’m back to The National. Really what it comes down to is if you’re looking for a great summer album, Boxer is it. I’ve been cleaning up my room and reading a lot lately, and this album has provided the soundtrack for most of that time. I couldn’t really figure out which songs to feature, since they’re all good for different reasons, but “Fake Empire” and “Secret Meeting” are my favorite songs by The National, so check those out first.

EDIT: Just found out that Sufjan Stevens plays piano on two songs on Boxer: “Racing Like a Pro” and “Ada”.  The more I listen to “Ada”, the more Sufjan influence in the strings and horns I hear.
Boxer

Fake Empire

Green Gloves

Radio Libre - The National on Live Acoustique

Alligator

Secret Meeting

All the Wine

City Middle

Official Site / Myspace /Interview with Sixeyes
A Skin, A Night (film by Vincent Moon aka the La Blogotheque guy)