The National's slow but steady rise to popularity is a well timed heart warm for anyone frustrated with the here today, gone tomorrow nature of modern music. Like R.E.M before them it took a good few albums before they got stadium sized. 'Boxer' was their fourth album and could be said to be the one where the band truly broke through. It catches the band honing their brand of emotional, poetic rock music ready for the big league and features a nice cameo from neighbourhood pal Sufjan Stevens.
