The National - Boxer

Gothic in its detailing but jaunty in its execution, Boxer is something far richer than orch-pop (translation: rock 'n' roll topped with violins). Rather, the band finds ways to combine the expressive depth of composed music with the urgency of pop. It's a sound built with guitar, bass, piano and drums and festooned with brass, woodwinds, backing vocals, strings and organs. A product of dedicated labor, happenstance and alchemical reactions, the music reveals new layers with each successive listen.