User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 348 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 313 out of 348
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Mixed: 14 out of 348
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Negative: 21 out of 348
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Dec 12, 2019
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Dec 6, 2017
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Sep 14, 2017This is tremendous, amazing, outstanding, lyrically and musically, an instant classic for music and certainly best album of 2007 and best album from the band,
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Mar 9, 2016As always and expected from The National, a really amazing and outstanding album. I'd definitely recommend it to all fans of the band or everyone who liked the other albums as well. If you're new to The National, buy it. Now.
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Sep 21, 2014The slow-burning masterwork of a band at it's creative peak, both totally comfortable with where they are, and yet still pushing their own creative abilities and perfecting their craft. A perfect listen from start to finish.
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Jun 20, 2013I consider this album as a milestone of post-new-wave sound. Furthermore Matt Berninger's voice is outstanding, absolutely unique. Undoubtedly their best album!
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May 1, 2013Quite simply, a masterpiece of modern music. Deeply affective, darkly humorous, and as human as music can possibly be. Honestly the best album of the 2000s.
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Apr 12, 2013Far better than its predecessor in terms of arrangements: these songs are truly flawless.
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Mar 10, 2013
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Dec 1, 2012The album reflects the ideas and philosophies of a grown up man and his emotions are displayed in such great depth with some amazing music you haven't heard before. Yes, the album has a serious tone and it carries its own melody which is unique and depressing somewhat.
Clearly the best album of 2000s. -
Jan 26, 2012Amazing album. The dark, soulful LP from the Brooklyn based band is one of my favorite albums from 2007. Matt Berninger's low, crooning voice and Bryan Devendorf's bruising drums carry this album to great heights.
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Jul 3, 2011just amazing. best album of them.
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JonnyR.Jul 13, 2008It seems as though the National intentionally leave off some of their best material from their albums.
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JonB.Jun 23, 2008Yes, I like this album even more than Radiohead's Rainbows. Best album of the year.
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CalvinD.Jun 4, 2008
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JackpotMay 16, 2008This is a workmanlike performance by The National. There isn't anything here that blows my mind, but the majestic closer, "Gospel," comes close; it's like a darker version of "Boy with the Arab Strap"-era Belle & Sebastian.
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BobD.Apr 13, 2008mad mad good. after being introduced by "mistaken for strangers," i used to think they're were too many slow songs on here. but now i relish this album for its somber mood. a slow grower, but highly recommended.
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JohnD.Mar 13, 2008Its a thing of beauty, a gorgeous sonnet in a storm of denial, a feeling, a mood beyond the crowd.
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NiallSDec 17, 2007The Real album of the year!
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FrancescM.Dec 15, 2007It's a very special CD. Not original at all, but special.
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JoeDoeDec 14, 2007It's an absolutely great album! I've heard them for the first time on got radio just a couple of hours before. And yes, I already have the album.
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TBoneNov 22, 2007After having this whole album in my playlists for a few months, I have to say, the only song I could really pull is Slow Show. Theres a lot of hooks in all of these. Pretty good.
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LinusG.Nov 20, 2007"We expected something, something better than before, we expected something more" is not something you can say about this album. Perfect. Best sing-a-long of the year.
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BarryP.Nov 18, 2007
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MCNov 13, 2007Excellent. Honest lyrics, great music. I especially love the drumming, as well as the overall mood of the album.
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CarlosA.Oct 24, 2007One of the best in the last five years. Fresh, harmonic, deep. As much you listen it as much you will discover and like it. It can take time but in the end you will love these guys. Don´t forget Alligator, another surprise for me after listening Boxer.
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booms.Oct 18, 2007i was blown away initially by this release - on subsequent listens i find myself getting more uninterested and bored of this album. Some great songs dispersed amongst filler
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BrissaROct 9, 2007Alligator was more upbeat and there was a greater variety of songs/tempos. Boxer is more contemplated and the songs drift into each other, i.e., it's more monotonous. If you are a fan of the National than you should buy Boxer but don't get your hopes up too high.
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ElliOct 9, 2007I had such high expectations for this album. This is a good album but nowhere as magnificent as its predecessor, "Alligator." This album takes a while to appreciate and it has a slower pace than "Alligator." My favorite songs are "Fake Empire" and "Slow Show."
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WadeT.Sep 27, 2007
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JustinB.Sep 21, 2007Not as good as alligator, but, what is? this is a very good album.
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WillC.Sep 19, 2007An outstanding album that is equally as good as Alligator. I love 'Squalor Victoria' and 'Apartment Story'. I'm seeing them live in the UK in November for the first time and I can't wait.
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ChrisKSep 11, 2007Their previous album: Alligator was the band's pinnacle. I found the album quite monotonous. Definitely over-rated, and a step back if you know their earlier work.
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LucasC.Sep 11, 2007Good Lyrics... Good Album.
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Shes_soLooseAug 31, 2007I was left half-cold by the much acclaimed Alligator: I never could really get into it. Boxer is different, though. It took me just a couple of spins to be drawn into it and I absolutely love it. Standaout tracks: Brainy, Slow Show and Guest Room.
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BillSAug 29, 2007Very, very nice work. Great melodies, and lyrics. Vocals remind me a bit of John Cale. Not meaning to dismiss all the other strengths, but the thing I like the most about the album is the drum work. The only thing holding the album up a bit is the production.
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ScottAug 22, 2007Any lyrics that have to do with "baking pies" or "make a cake or something" and refers to untarnished kids as "pink" and "ruffians" deserves an A in my book. The singer takes me back to the old days swooner singers wearing maybe a silk shirt and sippin some vodka. Not the best band ever but definitely a gem amongst the million crappy indie records available this year.
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THATMUSICGUYAug 16, 2007
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MuzAug 14, 2007I agree totally with what Raindog 1972 said. Midlake's latest was the last album which floored me, now Boxer has done it too. Awesome album.
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RasecAug 14, 2007Thank you for the music!
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JimAug 7, 2007Perfect album start to finish. There is not a weak track on it. I did not think they could out do Alligator but they did bigtime!
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ChrisPAug 5, 2007Best album of the year and in the top 10 of the decade. Buy it immediately.
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JaddyPAug 3, 2007
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PhilMJul 28, 2007This is a stunner. I agree wholehearetdly with "The Onion" review above. At first glance, this seems dullsville. But this album gets right uner your skin with a constant stream of gorgeous, subtle, warming melodies that is not currently letting anything else near the headphones. Album of the year!
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WookieCJul 27, 2007It seemed that after Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers and Alligator they couldn't get any better. They could.
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EpicJul 26, 2007A lackluster effort especially after there last two albums. A huge borefest throughout.
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EpicJul 26, 2007A lackluster effort especially after there last two albums. A huge borefest throughout.
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Raindog1972Jul 25, 2007This album scares me...like Midlake's record last year...I had to force myself to stop playing it for a week because I was an addict...a wonderful, moody piece...
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WoutSJul 25, 2007Brilliant album!
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SteveHJul 25, 2007
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ZacharyMJul 24, 2007
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cwbJul 24, 2007
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CharlieP.Jul 22, 2007This album has to be the most overrated album of the year. It's boring. boring and more boring. monotony is not music people.
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JimK.Jul 14, 2007Perfect album, not one weakness. This is the band to like right now imo, forget the Shins.
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BrianA.Jul 14, 2007Just not as intense as the previous release
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DanJul 11, 2007I just got this album, and it has literally blew me away - right from the first listen. Outstanding!
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PhilipB.Jul 10, 2007Excellent album. Get's better with each listen and hasn't gotten old yet.
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JamieS.Jul 3, 2007Excellent album, such a progression from the stuff before, perhaps a little more subtle than previously, but definatly the quality is there. A wonderful listening experience!
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LSJun 30, 2007Superb Album. A bit calmer than Alligator, with the tracks more like the calmer Daughters of the Soho riots etc. An absolute must.
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AndyBJun 29, 2007that they haven't been hailed as the greatest band writing today only proves what floats and what doesn't.
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AndrewTJun 29, 2007A very good album after 10 listens. After the first two spins I would have given it a 2, one for the piano and another for the drums. Around 8 or 9 spins it suddenly moved to a 7 and by the 10th listen is rose to an 8. You have to move to a different dimension to appreciate the album. I can see why some people think it is utter $£"? since this is what i originally thought.
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danielbJun 29, 2007The album fails to stand up to the impossibly high standard set by the first four songs on the record, but that's ok because 99.9% of music fails to stand up to the remaining songs on this record. Truly moving.
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georgeb.Jun 27, 2007those guys can sing
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MattE.Jun 27, 2007Lucky, what the f@## are you talking about? Berninger doesn't sound remotely like he's trying to sound like Bob Dylan. Have you ever heard Bob Dylan? Dylan is nasally. Berninger has a deep voice. You could say it's trite and total crap, but the Dylan slam doesn't compute.
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mattbJun 24, 2007i realized that i was in love with my girlfriend while listening to this album
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pgJun 23, 2007gorgeous!... and heartbreaking..... and comforting..... yet it still never get's cheesy and it kinda rocks! beautifully done.
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RobertGJun 22, 2007Definitely in my top 3 albums of 2007. I'm not sure I like it as much as Alligator, but Boxer gets better with every listen. Great album.
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christianbJun 22, 2007slowburn, spine-tilingling beauty
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TJJun 21, 2007Amazing Album. Better than Alligator
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FionaVJun 18, 2007It's just ace and keeps on getting better and better
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andrewJun 17, 2007
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DarnellJun 15, 2007
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marcopoloJun 14, 2007a piece of s##t ...
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ShaunBJun 12, 2007Some decent songs here and there but none of them are really great, not memorable. I still don't know how this has an 85 on metacritic, considering there's been better albums that have come out in 07 that deserve that kind of grade (Of Montreal, Feist, Field Music, Andrew Bird, to name a few).
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LuckyJun 12, 2007Not my kind of album, I find it very boring. The lead singer is trying way to hard to sound like Bob Dylan and he's not good enough to sing like him.
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tannerJun 12, 2007very thoughtful setlist and great all-around show. I'll stump shamelessly for The National any day.
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J.K.Jun 11, 2007I thought that Alligator was brilliant, but this is twice is good. An urban masterpiece. It sounds like my heart as a late 20 something.
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TristramCJun 8, 2007
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JonnymJun 8, 2007absolutely sublime...the national are the band that arcade fire wish they could be
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GuyHJun 8, 2007This album is simply superb. 'Alligator' was good but this sounds like a perfectly formed album. By far the best album I have heard this year - The National should now be considered as members of that elite group of truly special bands.
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andyJun 7, 2007Their past albums took me some time to get into but this one was immediate. Only a few throw-out tracks mixed with seven or eight gems.
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TylerMJun 6, 2007Begs to be listened to repeatedly.
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kevkJun 6, 2007boring
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AlekseyIJun 6, 2007Simply the best
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BrunoJJun 5, 2007This album is absolutely SUPERB...
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GManJun 4, 2007Deep, rewarding, an ultimate sucess. This will appeal to the "Bob Dylan" in all of us. Though not a huge fan (but a fan non the less) of the latter, the rich lyrical content within the surpurb structures of these 12 songs are rife with intricate revelations and specullations - stories through and through. The beats handed down on the skins are truely admirable. Definite Top 5 for 2007, no doubt.
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jessemJun 3, 2007These guys are amazing...It's taken me months to get into every one of their albums, but the payoff is staggering. With this album, they've even begun to self-reference their own work, creating this mythology that's incredibly engaging and powerful.
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alexJun 2, 2007best band in the world right now by a long distance makes their second masterpiece.
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ArthurDJun 1, 2007
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rosenMay 31, 2007album of the year.
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WaughMay 31, 2007Xo oX and Ed Leisurewear are both idiots.
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SharonCMay 30, 2007This album is absolutely amazing - one of the best I've ever heard.
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nathalieMay 29, 2007this is the most beautiful album i have heard all year.
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GregMMay 27, 2007Some of the best drumming around
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TimBMay 27, 2007excellent
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natejMay 27, 2007Immense and beautiful
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DylanSMay 27, 2007'Meh', defines my feeling for this CD, another disc by The National that's poorly crafted and overrated. It's not the worst thing I've ever heard, but it sure doesnt promote cheery memories.
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MarkMay 27, 2007Good album...
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TheNationalMay 26, 2007awesome full stop
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AlexMMay 25, 2007
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Awards & Rankings
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The National hews too closely to established formula on "Boxer," content to revisit previously explored territory without expanding its sound.
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Here, most gestures remain a bit too consciously panoramic—elegant enough for comfort but often not chancy enough to be breathtaking.
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A patchy, flawed effort.