When I think of The National, many things come to mind. The first memory I have is of the 2005 album Alligator, along with the self-deprecating lyrics and the sonorous vocals of Matt Berninger. I think about Mr. November and Reggie Jackson too, of course. If anyone knew how to work under pressure, it was Reggie. And there is a decent amount of pressure being placed upon The National with the May 22 release of Boxer on Beggars Banquet. But pressure is meaningless.
The third thing that I think about when I think of The National is the ill-faded sitcom Brotherly Love, which starred Joey Lawrence and his two younger brothers, Matthew and Andrew. Those brothers knew what they were doing just like Aaron and Bryce Dessner and Scott and Bryan Devendorf of The National. I think wholesome values and savory high-fives for minor accomplishments. That's The National I've grown to know and love. Brotherly love also reminds me of the incest masterpiece Harry + Max, which reflects more on the brotherly love of Nick and Aaron Carter. But that is neither here nor there.
Boxer was written in the span of 13 months at their home in Brooklyn, NY, which is not the city of "brotherly love." But since Boxer was produced and mixed by the band and Peter Katis (Interpol, Spoon) and engineered by Greg Giorgio, there shouldn't be too many worries for its success. So will Boxer be another happily depressive high-anthem album with a catchy single worthy of another ghastly One Tree Hill montage? Or will the album be a worthy follow-up to a critical darling? These answers will all be revealed on May 22, unless of course you're too busy making out with your brother. Boo-yah! Now, that's brotherly love.
Boxer Tracklisting:
I used to be flipped off by cheerleaders; tourdates:
05.01.07 - Atlanta, GA Atlanta - Civic Center $
05.02.07 - Asheville, NC - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium $
05.04.07 - Washington, DC - Constitution Hall $
05.05.07 - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theatre $
05.07.07 - New York, NY - United Palace Theatre $
05.08.07 - New York, NY - United Palace Theatre $
05.09.07 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall $
05.28.07 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom w/ The Broken West
05.29.07 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom w/ Doveman
05.30.07 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom w/ My Brightest Diamond
05.31.07 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom w/ Elysian Fields
06.01.07 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom w/ Philistines Jr
06.02.07 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
06.04.07 - Montreal, Canada - Caberet
06.05.07 - Toronto, Canada - Opera House
06.06.07 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
06.07.07 - Chicago, IL - Metro
06.08.07 - Minneapolis, MN - 400 Bar
06.09.07 - Madison, WI - High Noon
06.11.07 - St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway
06.12.07 - Louisville, KY - Headliners
06.13.07 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
06.14.07 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Festival
06.15.07 - Cinicnnati, OH - 20th Century Theater
06.16.07 - Columbus, OH - Little Brothers
06.18.07 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
06.20.07 - Washington, DC - 9:30 CLUB
06.21.07 - Cambrdige, MA - Middle East
06.25.07 - San Diego, CA - Casbah
06.26.07 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theater
06.27.07 - San Francisco, CA - Bimbos
06.28.07 - Portland, OR - Berbatis Pan
06.29.07 - Vancouver, BC - Richards On Richard
06.30.07 - Seattle, WA - Neumos
$ Arcade Fire
