they are better than almost all bands written about on stereogum. they deserve everything.

too bad their new cd is so god damn bland

boxer is good but not as good as alligator. cant wait for the bowery!

I'm speechless. I can't believe that this band is so popular. I would have NEVER guessed. They are so fucking boring...

Their popularity is partly due to Boxer being as good as, and arguably better than, Alligator.

Most bands put out disappointing follow-up albums, so when a band DOESN'T, and actually delivers on the promise of their potential, their popularity grows exponentially.

I'm psyched about the seaport show. The forms are awesome!

Yes, but DrJimmy the Boxer is not out yet.

Boxer is good, I wouldnt say better than Alligator. And they do have more than just those 2 albums, and they are also very good.

The initial response from both the critical community and the blogosphere when alligator first came out, was rather underwhelming. It was a brilliant album, one of the best released in the past decade, but few saw it right away, cause it was a "grower" . It took a year or two for it to hit a lot of people, but people, as evident now, finally came around. By building their buzz slowly and organically, they never faced the inevitable backlash.

Compare that to other once indie darlings like Tapes n Tapes and Clap Your Hands: Does anyone honestly still care about them?

also, releasing a follow up as good as boxer, tends to help a bands popularity.

This attention is well deserved and a long time coming if you ask me. I will be at the Bowery and cant wait to see them.

both albums are really boring and bland to me. Dont' see what the hell is so special

go see a show and you'll get it

yawn. i SAW this band and i still don't like them. something about the singer being overly dramatic and staggering around just rubbed me the wrong way - also - the dave coulier look alike twins freak me out. BUT if you're into that kind of stuff so be it.

i always thought that they were ok, but i'm also amazed at their recent popularity... sure, they've always had some fans, but who are all of the people who will be filling up the bowery for FIVE nights and where did they come from?...

They were great at the Springsteen tribute concert last year and then I discovered Alligator. It's great that they have built up to their current popularity rather than flaming out early.

label buyout? everyone's talking about it, right?

You pay now, bitch.

the band easily sold out webster last Spring.

BORING BORING BORING

anonymous posts are boring, boring, boring.

The National suck...hard. I can't believe I have to sit through their shit music to see The Arcade Fire.
Seriously Bowie, what were you thinking?

The National suck...hard. I can't believe I have to sit through their shit music to see The Arcade Fire.
Seriously Bowie, what were you thinking?

I don't get the arcade fire. too much drama lack of substance. i'll pass.

too much drama? what about the stupid ass song "abel?" thats pretty God damn dramatic.

it's good music fools

were they boring before or are they boring now because their popularity isbuilding?

the last minute of apartment story is the best guitar of the year so far

They were always boring.

Bring on some Beirut at South Street!

whoa... backlash? the national are a good band period. may not be your taste. let me guess....'boring' right?

um duh, thats what i said.
not only are they boring, but they have shitty lyrics too.

Hostile posts are almost as boring as anonymous posts.

thank god for the 3000 people who bought tix to their shows months beforehand that you don't need to be there mr. 'boring.' In the future try a thesaurus if you want your criticism to be more carefully considered!

if you're bored you're boring

the national are a great live band and boxer is better than alligator in my opinion. they earned this hype.

i have tix to their bowery shows already and still think the new album is painfully boring.

it just all sounds the same.

anonymous, why dont you sell the tix on craigslist then? as far as the album...to each his own. i love it.

rest of the promo videos (not all up yet) are at www.thenationalboxer.com

Friday night back on sale via Ticketweb --

http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=170994

Monday-Wednesday bowery tickets just released:

http://www.ticketweb.com/user/?region=nyc&query=search&category=misc&search=national&beginmonth=05&beginday=24&beginyear=2007

monday & tuesday tickets still available at ticketweb.