Boxer (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Boxer
Type = studio
Artist = The National

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Released = May 22, 2007
Recorded = Tarquin Studios, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Genre = Indie rock
Length = 43:24
Label = Beggars Banquet
Producer = Peter Katis
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jxfwxzq5ldje link]
*Okayplayer Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews/index.php/weblog/more/boxer/ link]
*Pitchfork Media (8.6/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/43053-boxer link]
*PopMatters rating-10|9 [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/33095/the-national-boxer/ link]
*Rocklouder Rating|4|5 [http://www.rocklouder.co.uk/articles/3033.html link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/13933172/review/14459239/boxer link]
*"Slant" Rating|5|5 [http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1129 link]
*"Stylus" A [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/the-national/boxer.htm link]
Last album = "Alligator"
(2005)
This album = "Boxer"
(2007)
Next album = "The Virginia EP"
(2008)

"Boxer" is the fourth studio album by Brooklyn-based indie rock band The National. It was released on May 22, 2007 by Beggars Banquet Records. The album features a guest performance by Sufjan Stevens on "Ada" and "Racing Like a Pro" [cite web | url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/41460-the-nationals-berninger-talks-iboxeri-baseball-cyhsy | title=The National's Berninger Talks "Boxer", Baseball, CYHSY | publisher=Pitchfork Media | date=2007-03-01 | accessdate=2007-07-06] and backing vocals by Marla Hansen. [cite web | title=The National Enter the Ring with "Boxer" | publisher=Pitchfork Media | url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/41400-exclusive-the-national-enter-the-ring-with-iboxeri | accessdate=April 1 | accessyear=2007] Following its release, it debuted at number 68 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 9,500 copies in its first week. [Katie Hasty, [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003591609 "Maroon 5 Nudges Linkin Park From Atop Billboard 200"] , Billboard.com, May 30, 2007.] The song "Slow Show" contains lyrics from the band's song "29 Years," first found on their self-titled debut album.

A film by Vincent Moon documenting the creation of the album, entitled "A Skin, a Night" [ [http://www.thenationalboxer.com/ The National "A Skin, a Night" microsite link] ] was released on Beggar's Banquet on May 20, 2008.

Artwork

The album cover is a photo of the band performing at producer Peter Katis' wedding.

Promotional television appearances

The National made their television debut on July 24, 2007, performing "Fake Empire" on the "Late Show with David Letterman". The band later performed "Apartment Story" on the "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" on September 26, 2007.

Their song, "Slow Show", appeared on an episode of "Chuck", which aired October 8, 2007. Their song "Start a War" appeared on an episode of "The Riches", which aired March 25, 2008.

"Mistaken for Strangers" made an appearance in an advertisement for E4's Skins series.

The fifth season premiere of the teen drama One Tree Hill was titled "Racing Like a Pro", and during the episode the songs "Fake Empire", "Green Gloves" and "Slow Show" were featured.

Reception

In the year-end issue of Paste Magazine, Super 45 magazine and [http://thepopcop.blogspot.com/2007/12/boxer-day.html The Pop Cop] music website, the album was named the best record of 2007. "Mistaken for Strangers" was #92 on "Rolling Stone"'s list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007. [No byline (December 11, 2007). [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17601363/the_100_best_songs_of_2007/23 "The 100 Best Songs of 2007"] "Rolling Stone". Retrieved 2007-12-21] Popular internet publication Pitchfork Media ranked the album #17 in their annual end of the year [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/47446-staff-list-top-50-albums-of-2007/page_4 "Top 50 Albums of 2007"] , as well as on Stylus Magazine's [http://stylusmagazine.com/articles/pop_playground/top-50-albums-of-2007.htm "Top 50 Albums of 2007"] , at #5; they also ranked "Fake Empire" at #7 on their [http://stylusmagazine.com/articles/pop_playground/top-50-songs-of-2007.htm "Top 50 Songs of 2007"] . "The Boxer" also garnered the #1 position on WOXY.com's [http://woxy.lala.com/music/best.php "97 Best of 2007"] .

Track listing

All songs written by The National, except where noted.

# "Fake Empire" – 3:25
# "Mistaken for Strangers" – 3:30
# "Brainy" (The National, Carin Besser) – 3:18
# "Squalor Victoria" – 2:59
# "Green Gloves" – 3:39
# "Slow Show" – 4:08
# "Apartment Story" – 3:32
# "Start a War" – 3:16
# "Guest Room" – 3:18
# "Racing Like a Pro" – 3:24
# "Ada" (The National, Besser) – 4:03
# "Gospel" (The National, Besser) – 4:29

ingles

* "Mistaken for Strangers" (UK: CD, 7" vinyl; US: 7" vinyl) (April 30 / May 1, 2007)
** b/w: "Blank Slate" and "Santa Clara"

* "Apartment Story" (UK: 7" vinyl) (November 5, 2007)
** b/w: "Mansion on the Hill" (Live) (Bruce Springsteen cover)

* "Fake Empire" (UK: digital download) (June 23, 2008)
** b/w: "Without Permission" and "Fake Empire" (Live)

Notes and references

* [http://sixeyes.blogspot.com/2007/05/national-sixeyes-interview-with-matt.html Matt Berninger Interview] - *Sixeyes Interview w/ Matt Berninger - BOXER 2007