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Boxer (album) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Boxer

Studio album by The National
Released May 22, 2007
Recorded Tarquin Studios, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Genre Indie Rock
Post-punk revival
Length 43:24
Label Beggars Banquet
Producer Peter Katis
Professional reviews
The National chronology
Alligator
(2005)		 Boxer
(2007)		 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 and since then has sold over 175,000 copies in the United States [1]. The album features a guest performance by Sufjan Stevens on "Ada" and "Racing Like a Pro"[2] and backing vocals by Marla Hansen.[3] Following its release, it debuted at number 68 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 9,500 copies in its first week.[4] 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 [5] was released on Beggar's Banquet on May 20, 2008.

Contents

[hide]

[edit] Artwork

The album cover is a photo of the band performing at producer Peter Katis' wedding.[6]

[edit] 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.

Two songs off "Boxer" appeared in episodes of the NBC series Chuck. "Slow Show" appeared on "Chuck Versus the Tango" which aired October 8, 2007, while "Fake Empire" appeared in "Chuck Versus the Break-up" on October 13, 2008.

"Slow Show" was also featured in Gossip Girl, in the episode 'O Brother, where Bart Thou?', while "Fake Empire" appeared in the final scenes of the pilot episode of NBC's police drama Southland, as well as the concluding scenes of the 2008 movie Battle In Seattle. "Fake Empire" also featured in Barack Obama's campaign video "Signs of Hope and Change".

"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.

The tenth episode of science fiction drama Defying Gravity, called "Deju Vu", featured the song "Start A War".

[edit] Reception

In the year-end issue of Paste Magazine, Super 45 magazine and 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.[7] Popular internet publication Pitchfork Media ranked the album #17 in their annual end of the year "Top 50 Albums of 2007", as well as on Stylus Magazine's "Top 50 Albums of 2007", at #5; they also ranked "Fake Empire" at #7 on their "Top 50 Songs of 2007". "Boxer" also garnered the #1 position on WOXY.com's "97 Best of 2007".

Boxer has made numerous "album of the decade" lists including Pitchfork Media[8], Aquarium Drunkard [9], Paste [10], and more.

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by The National, except where noted.

  1. "Fake Empire" – 3:25
  2. "Mistaken for Strangers" – 3:30
  3. "Brainy" (The National, Carin Besser) – 3:18
  4. "Squalor Victoria" – 2:59
  5. "Green Gloves" – 3:39
  6. "Slow Show" – 4:08
  7. "Apartment Story" – 3:32
  8. "Start a War" – 3:16
  9. "Guest Room" – 3:18
  10. "Racing Like a Pro" – 3:24
  11. "Ada" (The National, Besser) – 4:03
  12. "Gospel" (The National, Besser) – 4:29
  13. "Blank State" (iTunes Bonus Track)
  14. "Santa Clara" (iTunes Bonus Track)

[edit] Additional musicians

  • Tim Albright (trombone)
  • Thomas Bartlett (keyboards)
  • Carin Besser (vocals)
  • CJ Camerieri (trumpet)
  • Rachael Elliott (bassoon)
  • Pauline De Lassus (vocals)
  • Marla Hansen (vocals)
  • Ha-Yang Kim (cello)
  • Padma Newsome (viola, violin, organ)
  • Sara Phillips (clarinet)
  • Alex Sopp (flute)
  • Sufjan Stevens (piano: "Racing Like a Pro", "Ada")
  • Jeb Wallace (French horn)

Orchestration by Padma Newsome. Additional arrangements by Aaron and Bryce Dessner.

[edit] Singles

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

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://en-us.nielsen.com/tab/industries/media/entertainment
  2. ^ "The National's Berninger Talks Boxer, Baseball, CYHSY". Pitchfork Media. 2007-03-01. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/41460-the-nationals-berninger-talks-iboxeri-baseball-cyhsy. Retrieved 2007-07-06. 
  3. ^ "The National Enter the Ring with Boxer". Pitchfork Media. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/41400-exclusive-the-national-enter-the-ring-with-iboxeri. Retrieved April 1, 2007. 
  4. ^ Katie Hasty, "Maroon 5 Nudges Linkin Park From Atop Billboard 200", Billboard.com, May 30, 2007.
  5. ^ The National A Skin, a Night microsite link
  6. ^ "The National's Berninger Talks Boxer, Baseball, CYHSY". Pitchfork Media. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/41460. Retrieved December 20, 2008. 
  7. ^ No byline (December 11, 2007). "The 100 Best Songs of 2007" Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2007-12-21
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ [2]
  10. ^ [3]
[hide] The National
Matt Berninger · Aaron Dessner · Bryce Dessner · Bryan Devendorf · Scott Devendorf
Studio albums
EPs
Singles
"Abel" · "Secret Meeting" · "Lit Up" · "Mistaken for Strangers" · "Apartment Story" · "Fake Empire"
Related articles
via en.wikipedia.org