Boxer (album)
Encyclopedia
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 has since sold over 300,000 copies worldwide. The album features a guest performance by Sufjan Stevens
on "Ada" and "Racing Like a Pro" and backing vocals by Marla Hansen. Following its release, the album debuted at #68 on the U.S. Billboard 200
, selling about 9,500 copies in its first week. 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, titled A Skin, a Night, was released along with a collection of B-sides and rarities titled The Virginia EP
on May 20, 2008.
The album cover is a photo of the band performing "The Geese of Beverly Road" (from the band's third album Alligator
) at producer Peter Katis' wedding.
The album has had pop-cultural reach, with lyrics from "Racing Like A Pro" having been excerpted in the novel Imperial Bedrooms
by American author Bret Easton Ellis
.
The songs "Slow Show" and "Fake Empire" were used in TV Series Chuck.
" 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 the science fiction drama Defying Gravity
, titled "Deju Vu," featured the song "Start a War."
, 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." Popular internet publication Pitchfork Media
ranked the album #17 in their annual end-of-the-year "Top 50 Albums of 2007" list, as well as on Stylus Magazine
s "Top 50 Albums of 2007" list at #5. Stylus also ranked "Fake Empire" at #7 on their "Top 50 Songs of 2007" list. 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
, Aquarium Drunkard, Paste
, The Pop Cop, and more.
Additional musicians
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
-based indie rock band The National
The National (band)
The National is an indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger, a baritone...
. It was released on May 22, 2007 by Beggars Banquet Records
Beggars Banquet Records
Beggars Banquet is an English independent record label that began as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin, and is part of the Beggars Group of labels...
, and has since sold over 300,000 copies worldwide. The album features a guest performance by Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
on "Ada" and "Racing Like a Pro" and backing vocals by Marla Hansen. Following its release, the album debuted at #68 on the U.S. Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, selling about 9,500 copies in its first week. The song "Slow Show" contains lyrics from the band's song "29 Years," first found on their self-titled debut album
The National (album)
The National is the 2001 debut album by the indie rock band The National. The album features a more country-tinged sound in comparison to future albums...
. A film by Vincent Moon
Vincent Moon
Vincent Moon is an independent filmmaker from Paris mainly known for his field work music videos of indie rock related musicians as well as some notable mainstream artists like Tom Jones, R.E.M. or Arcade Fire. Besides making music videos he also makes experimental films and documentaries...
documenting the creation of the album, titled A Skin, a Night, was released along with a collection of B-sides and rarities titled The Virginia EP
The Virginia EP
The Virginia EP is a 2008 EP/compilation album by The National, released on May 20, 2008 by Beggars Banquet Records. The CD was released along with a DVD featuring the band's documentary film A Skin, a Night by filmmaker Vincent Moon....
on May 20, 2008.
The album cover is a photo of the band performing "The Geese of Beverly Road" (from the band's third album Alligator
Alligator (album)
Alligator is the third album by Brooklyn-based indie rock band The National, released in April 2005. The album brought The National critical acclaim and led them to headline a tour, with opening act Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. The album was on many year-end top 10 lists, including Uncut and Planet...
) at producer Peter Katis' wedding.
The album has had pop-cultural reach, with lyrics from "Racing Like A Pro" having been excerpted in the novel Imperial Bedrooms
Imperial Bedrooms
Imperial Bedrooms is a novel by American author Bret Easton Ellis. Released on June 15, 2010, it is the sequel to Less Than Zero, Ellis' 1985 bestselling literary debut, which was shortly followed by a film adaptation in 1987. Imperial Bedrooms revisits Less Than Zeros self-destructive and...
by American author Bret Easton Ellis
Bret Easton Ellis
Bret Easton Ellis is an American novelist and short story writer. His works have been translated into 27 different languages. He was regarded as one of the so-called literary Brat Pack, which also included Tama Janowitz and Jay McInerney...
.
The songs "Slow Show" and "Fake Empire" were used in TV Series Chuck.
Promotion
The National made their television debut on July 24, 2007, performing "Fake EmpireFake Empire
"Fake Empire" is a song by Brooklyn-based indie rock band The National from their fourth studio album, Boxer. The song was released in June 2008 as the album's third and final single.-Production:"Fake Empire" was written by Bryce Dessner of The National...
" on The Late Show with David Letterman. The band later performed "Apartment Story
Apartment Story
"Apartment Story" is a song by Brooklyn-based indie rock band The National from their fourth studio album, Boxer. The song was released on November 5, 2007 as the album's second single. The single's B-side is "Mansion on the Hill," originally recorded by Bruce Springsteen on his 1982 album Nebraska...
" on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson is a Peabody Award-winning American late-night talk show hosted by Scottish American comedian Craig Ferguson. Ferguson, the third regular host of the Late Late Show franchise, follows Late Show with David Letterman in the CBS late-night lineup...
on September 26, 2007. Two songs off Boxer appeared in episodes of the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
series Chuck
Chuck (TV series)
Chuck is an action-comedy/spy-drama television program from the United States created by Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak. The series is about an "average computer-whiz-next-door" named Chuck, played by Zachary Levi, who receives an encoded e-mail from an old college friend now working for the Central...
. "Slow Show" appeared on "Chuck Versus the Tango
Chuck Versus the Tango
"Chuck Versus the Tango" is the third episode of the TV series Chuck, airing on October 8, 2007. Chuck faces the prospect of his first mission, while Morgan motivates the Nerd Herd to help him out against Harry Tang.-Main Plot:...
" which aired October 8, 2007, while "Fake Empire
Fake Empire
"Fake Empire" is a song by Brooklyn-based indie rock band The National from their fourth studio album, Boxer. The song was released in June 2008 as the album's third and final single.-Production:"Fake Empire" was written by Bryce Dessner of The National...
" appeared in "Chuck Versus the Break-up
Chuck Versus the Break-Up
"Chuck Versus the Break-Up" is the third episode of the second season of Chuck. It originally aired on October 13, 2008. Chuck Bartowski is overcome with jealousy when his nemesis Bryce Larkin , Sarah Walker's ex-lover and partner, makes an unexpected return...
" on October 13, 2008.
"Slow Show" was also featured in Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl (TV series)
Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007...
, in the episode "O Brother, where Bart Thou?" while "Fake Empire
Fake Empire
"Fake Empire" is a song by Brooklyn-based indie rock band The National from their fourth studio album, Boxer. The song was released in June 2008 as the album's third and final single.-Production:"Fake Empire" was written by Bryce Dessner of The National...
" appeared in the final scenes of the pilot episode of NBC's police drama Southland
Southland (TV series)
Southland is an American drama series created by writer Ann Biderman and produced by Warner Bros. Television. It premiered on NBC on April 9, 2009...
, as well as the concluding scenes of the 2008 movie Battle in Seattle
Battle in Seattle
Battle in Seattle is a 2007 film and the directorial debut of actor Stuart Townsend. It is based on the protest activity at the WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999...
. "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
The Riches
The Riches is an FX television series, which originally ran from March 15, 2007 to April 29, 2008, and starred Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver.-History:...
, which aired March 25, 2008.
"Mistaken for Strangers
Mistaken for Strangers
"Mistaken for Strangers" is a song by Brooklyn-based indie rock band The National from their fourth studio album, Boxer. The song was released on April 30, 2007 in the UK and May 1, 2007 in the US as the album's first single.-Reception:...
" made an appearance in an advertisement for E4's Skins
Skins (TV series)
Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death...
series. The fifth season premiere of the teen drama One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
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 the science fiction drama Defying Gravity
Defying Gravity (TV series)
Defying Gravity is a multi-nationally produced space travel television science fiction drama series, first aired on August 2, 2009 on ABC and CTV and canceled in the autumn of 2009...
, titled "Deju Vu," featured the song "Start a War."
Reception
In the year-end issue of PastePaste (magazine)
Paste is a monthly music and entertainment digital magazine published in the United States by Wolfgang's Vault. Its tagline is "Signs of Life in Music, Film and Culture."-History:...
, 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
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
ranked the album #17 in their annual end-of-the-year "Top 50 Albums of 2007" list, as well as on Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine was an online music and film magazine launched in 2002. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, a number of different podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog....
s "Top 50 Albums of 2007" list at #5. Stylus also ranked "Fake Empire" at #7 on their "Top 50 Songs of 2007" list. 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
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
, Aquarium Drunkard, Paste
Paste (magazine)
Paste is a monthly music and entertainment digital magazine published in the United States by Wolfgang's Vault. Its tagline is "Signs of Life in Music, Film and Culture."-History:...
, The Pop Cop, and more.
Track listing
Credits
- Produced by Peter Katis and The National.
- Additional production by Aaron DessnerAaron DessnerAaron Dessner is a founding member of The National. Together with Matt Berninger, who writes the lyrics, Aaron writes much of the music for the band...
. - Recorded and mixed by Peter Katis at Tarquin Studios, Bridgeport, CT.
- Second engineer: Greg Georgio; assisted by Nathan Curry and Cory Foley-Marsello.
- Home recording by The National and Brandon Reid in Brooklyn, NY and White Sulphur Springs, WV.
- Additional recording by Greg Georgio and Josh Clark at The Seaside Lounge, and Bennett Paster at Benny's Wash n' Dry, Brooklyn.
- Mastered by Fred Kevorkian at Kevorkian Mastering, New York, NY.
- Orchestration by Padma Newsome.
- Additional arrangements by Bryce DessnerBryce DessnerBryce Dessner is a Brooklyn based composer, guitarist, and curator primarily known as a member of The National. In addition to his work with The National, he is a founding member of Clogs, and the founder of the MusicNOW Festival. Bryce has a master's degree in classical guitar from Yale University...
and Aaron Dessner. - Cover photo by Abbey Drucker.
- Interior photos by Clara Claus.
- Design by Distant Station Ltd.
Additional musicians
- Tim Albright – trombone
- Thomas BartlettDovemanDoveman is a band founded by Thomas Bartlett. Originally from Vermont, Bartlett studied piano in London with Maria Curcio before moving to New York City to attend Columbia University. He attended Columbia for one year, when he left to focus on his studies of classical music. After leaving Columbia,...
– 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 StevensSufjan StevensSufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
– piano on "Racing Like a Pro" and "Ada" - Jeb Wallace – French horn