The National's Boxer; Greatest Album of the Past Decade
 

Would like your opinions on this album, take a listen if you havent heard it. IMO it is one of the truly greats, up there with Sgt Peppers, Dark Side Of The Moon, Unknown Pleasures, Ziggy Stardust etc... Its a mix of dark, brooding Indie Rock & chilling folk that really grows on you after repeated listenings. Everything about this album is solid, the drumming, the guitars, the bass & the horns. But what stands out the most are the lyrics, delivered in Matt Berningers caustic baritone they describe adulthood, losing touch with friends, falling in love, stalking & losing the grip on oneself in the most poetic & twisted way ever.
Please take a listen and share your opinions I am really interested in what you think of it.

I don't usually like baritone voices (as in never!), but The National is an exception. I haven't listened to them TOO carefully, but I know that I like the few songs I've heard. They are among the many bands on my "to do"-list, that's for sure.

Really? What about Joy Division, Interpol, Editors? Yeah be sure to check The National out, the greatest contemporary rock band imo.

Boxer is one of my all-time favourite albums.

Same here! Extremely underrated, more people have to recognize its brilliance!

oh god yes.

Can't stand Joy Division (aside from their big single), don't care for Interpol, never heard Editors. I'll just throw in that I can't stand Leonard Cohen either. :p So The National is definitely an exception.

I actually prefer High Violet over any National album. Not the biggest National fan, but High Violet is a near-masterpiece.

Boxer's solid though.

Hi all,

This is a truly wonderful album but I prefer High Violet.

High Violet has a wider more accessible sound, better melodies, and stronger songs over all.

Still Boxer is insanely good. Star A War is my favourite track.

I LOVE THE NATIONAL! :-)

This, pretty much. I may be biased cause it was the first album of theirs that I heard, but High Violet's my favourite thing by The National. With the exception of Apartment Story I don't think Boxer really has any tracks that really hit that melancholic high note (strange phrase) that HV's top tracks do. That's not to put Boxer down as an album at all- like I previously said Apartment Story's one of their best tracks and overall it has a wonderfully deep and reflective feel that makes it great to listen to.