Mr. November

I couldn’t agree with this more.  This perfectly captures my feelings about the best band in the world.

idontworryanymore:

I remember this album leaked pretty early, march 31st i believe.  way ahead of its release date.  I never heard of this band, but their band name made me curious.  did they work for the government?  they sounded so official.  But the thing that sold me in giving this thing a download was because of its title.  I’m a Simon & Garfunkel fan and I wondered if Boxer had any resemblance with “The Boxer.”  And I remembered my immediate impressions were, “they reminds me of Interpol, but i hated Interpol.”

I was going through my genre “melting pot” phase.  I wanted new ideas.  I wanted less formulaically in my music.  I liked expression.  But The National were extremely somber and gloomy.  Between the time it leaked to about September of that year, Boxer became the album i would listen to when i wasn’t sure what i wanted to listen.  A big reason being “Fake Empire.”  It’s the opening track and my biggest weak spot when it comes to music is the gradually slow burning climax.  I couldn’t relate to the song at all.  I just knew it made me feel like i was drifting and the vocals became my inner tone.  It was dark, It was hypnotic, but towards the end, it felt like a moment of self-realization.

With my method of listening, i grew to love the first set of songs, then the 2nd pair of songs..then half of the album, 3/4..until every song started to have an indention in my core.  I started reading reviews for this album because it was so hard for me to explain why I’m so drawn into this world and a lot of reviewers used the phase, “grower.”  and i hate that term because if you force feed yourself anything, you’ll learn to like it.  But i had no idea they were internet darlings.  I just kept going back to it because it made me feel.

And thinking back, it so strange that at one time, i couldn’t relate to their lyrics at all.  Maybe i was stupid, but I was 20 back then and the quotes that jumped out at me were mostly stream of consciousness or observation narratives.  Now, all those little one liners make sense.  i get it now.  They don’t sing songs about being in love, they make songs about adulthood.  I feel like you need to be in a certain place in your life to fully appreciate this band.  So when i started struggling to  understand adulthood, every single National song had its role in my life.

But i am in no way endorsing The National as the best band ever.  But if it matters to you, they are my favorite band.  I’m sure you have one too.  As i enter my late twenties, I sincerely doubt I’ll replace them anytime soon.  But it’s so ridiculous how i grew to love this band.  It all started because of Boxer.

Happy 5th Birthday Boxer.

ratsoff:

I only want to see you laughing in the Purple Rain.

(slacktory / laughterkey.)

(Source: abloodymess)

iheartchaos:

Oh sweet! A signed copy!