a lot more difficult then their other albums - the cherry tree ep, in particular, was much more accessable, and to a lesser degree, sad songs and dirty lovers - but it's still very, very good. the best song on here, all the wine, was previously released on the ep, but the rest of the album holds up pretty well.

I dearly love this album It got under my skin by the 3rd listening-pretty unusual. First time since Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments-Straight To Video album a few years back. I've made sure that everyone I know and care for that appreciates cool music hears it. Funny not one critic has compared that rich baritone to John Stewart! Remember him?

layered melodies and counter-harmonies help translate some poignant lyrics as demonstrated perfectly in the masterpiece The Geese of Beverly Road.

Great instrumentals and melody, but I can't give it anything more than a 7. Ultimately, no matter how good the melody is, the downfall of the band are the shallow and stupid lyrics. Ex:"I wish that I believed in fate, I wish I didn't stay up too late", "We'll fight like girls for our place at the table", "Why did you listen to that man? That man's a balloon", "I'm a perfect piece of ass like every Californian", "One day when she goes, she's gone", etc... The band should try using a thesaurus for their next album.… Expand

I can't believe how good this album is. I mean seriously. I had heard "All the Wine" and thought it was a great song, but never had a thought of buying the album. I figured they were a one-hit-wonder. Wow, could I have been more wrong? There is not a weak track on this album. Not one. Do yourself a favor and get this album. Like others have mentioned, give two or three listens and then be amazed.… Expand

Been listening since its release and have never felt bored a second. Best band right now on record and live

my favorite record of the year so far.

brilliant! gets better and better with more listens.

Deeply melancholic, this record reminds me of dark times in which you recall past mistakes and regrets. However, there's always some inner beauty within sadness. Great with a bottle of wine, this is a perfectly unkempt album.

Beautiful.

The best album of 2005 plenty full of beatiful melodies...

The best album of 2005. Berninger's affecting croon sweeps you along, and the only failings here are the sequencing of the tracks (too many slow-burners from track 4 to track 9), and the slightly dull Val Jester. But with songs such as All the Wine, Lit Up, Mr. November and The Geese of Beverly Road, this album is as good as ANYTHING I own.

Having wriiten this review on 2nd March 2007, I do not think many people will take this in account. Not many pople are interested in an album nearly 2 years old. Well, they are utterly wrong. I have bought this album when it came out (some 2 years ago). Since day one, I knew this one was a masterpiece! 2 years on, I am not changing my view one bit. I was, am and will be overwhelmed for the rest of my life. As a 40-year-old, most of my favourite albums go back to the time when I was young, handsome, smart and funny (I used to be in the arms of cheerleaders). Well this album stands firm next to the most compelling music i took with me over the years. This is a brilliant albums!… Expand

Best album of 2007 (and 2005). Found out about this album through reviews of "The Boxer" (a great album in its own right) and cannot stop listening. Reminiscent of Interpol's first album with more obtuse lyrics and slightly less gloom. Along with Spoon, one of the few rock bands making great R&R music.

Simple - One of the best albums of all time.

This record isn't getting as much critical recognition as the Nats' contemporaries--Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Arcade Fire--but this stuff is every bit as good if not better. There's something haunting, Baroque and incredible about this album. It's carved a place, as the Nationals would sing, "in the basement of my brain."

Astonishingly accomplished and soulful.

Four incredible songs (Abel, Lit Up, Mr November and All The Wine) which are among the best anyone has recorded this century; you can live without the rest.

A brilliant record! Dimensional, well-produced, and well-written pieces of American rock music.

granted the lead singer has an effecting voice, but this disc is so banal and lifeless - i can think of half a dozen bands doing this much better with much more interesting chord changes and guitar work. i think rolling stone and pop matters had it right. pop matters - a little harsh but not far off. the others all wanna jump on the 'isn't it great' bandwagon.

An immediate contender for the top of the end of year "Best of..." lists

beautifu and intense

Just freaking awsome

takes some time to get into...but onced you do, it's just amazing

first time i ever post here and it's just to say that thus far this is the best album of 2005. give it a chance (2-3 listens) though.

Great follow up to Sad Songs. The National must be the best band that hasn't made it huge out there right now.

It seems like everyone's catching on to the gist of the reviews of this album. It takes a few listens to get into ALLIGATOR, but once you do, it's simply brilliant. A very rewarding listen that should find its way onto a lot of year-end lists, including mine.

The National are hard to pin down. The lead singer's deep baritone enhances the poetic lyrics. The band is tight throughout. The ballads are elegiac, and the rockers are punchy. I've heard The National described as indie, sadcore, and alt-country, but the only label that makes sense to me is Americana. They take the best of classic American music and update it with their own modern stamp. Their whole album is currently available for streaming (in reasonable fidelity) from the the Beggars website (Google search for 'the national alligator').… Expand

This is a pretty amazing album. They're hard to describe, but it only took 2 - 3 listens to get into them. They have a Crash Test Dummies vocal sound to them, and their music is sort of like a mellow Snow Patrol. The album starts off really strong as the first 5 or so songs are really solid.

One of the best albums of 2005, definitely The National's best.

This is a good album but by no means is it great. Some of the songs have dense lyrics and some tracks don't have any direction. There are points where the music begins to build up but then just plateaus out, never reaching the climax. Despite all this, there are some beautiful songs, my favorite being "the Geese of Beverly Road."

I'm about as picky as they come as far as music, but I can't really find much wrong with this album. I'm really curious what those who rated this a 6 or a 7 think is a great album. I read some of those user comments and I still have no idea what exactly is deficient about the lyrics quoted.

One of the very best albums in recent memory. The sometimes absurd lyrics add character and a touch of humour to the consistently great songs.

I listen to an awful lot of music and this is one of the most wonderful albums I've come across in a long long time. Wonderful subtle and quirky lyrics, great voice and excellent music. "Just say something perfect, something I can steal Say, look at me Baby, we'll be fine All we've gotta do is be brave and be kind".

The National decided to leave three of their best songs off Alligator: 'Warm Singing Whores', 'The Thrilling of Claire', and the exceptional 'Driver, Surprise Me' were all scrapped. However, ‘Looking For Astronauts’, ‘Friend of Mine’, and ‘Val Jester’ unfortunately made the final cut. Still, it’s a remarkable album and nearly flawless, but I would recommend seeking out the b-sides that didn’t make it, because they’re just as good, if not better, than many of the songs that made the album.… Expand

Ive listened to this probobly more than 100 times, and i still love it more than the first time.

brilliant!

A near perfect album. Not as good as Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers, but close.

I haven't heard a better record this year. And I seriously doubt it that I will... Anyone who can listen to The Geese Of Beverly Road without being moved should have their ears (and their hearts) checked. .. This is a truly amazing record. And yes, it's even better than Sad Songs...

This marvelous album didn't need to grow on me; it floored me right out of the box (although it unwisely puts the weakest song first), and I almost literally can't stop listening to it as it continually gains dimension. As someone who grew up on Joy Division, I find those comparisons facile and silly -- certainly The National have their post-punk influences, but they are completely themselves on this album and completely comfortable in their own painful skin. Just glorious, end to end.… Expand

Not that it really matters, but if it weren't for the Popmatters review, this album would've have most likely been on the Metacritic top thirty albums of 2005, as it surely deserved to be considering all of the top ten lists it has appeared on. Truly amazing album filled with gorgeous melodies and haunting arrangements. One of five near-perfect albums of 2005 along with Wolf Parade, Okkervil River, Sufjan Stevens, and Bloc Party.… Expand

Excellent album, one of the best releases in the past few years. I will agree with Popmatters 2nd review...it slowly dawns on you, and when it does, you will love it forever. 'All the Wine' and 'Geese' are certainly masterpieces.

I've got the same complaint as everyone else. This album is a beautiful dream that is once in a while interrupted by lines like "I have weird memories of you pissing in a sink, I think."

This was one of my favorite albums of the last year, and I give it a very strong recommendation. Listen to this a few times, and you'll be utterly captivated.

very overrated and boring. Nothing really amazing here, it just isn't memorable.

All the National do is make great albums.