Song:Fake Empire
Album:Boxer
The National performs a variety of alternative rock known as slowcore. They have been frequently compared to Joy Division though The National is a more acoustic band than those guys. Boxer was their breakthrough CD in 2007. The band is from Cincinnati. Lead singer Matt Berninger and bassist Scott Devendorf met in 1991 while attending the University of Cincinnati. They formed the band Nancy with three other guys. They recorded one album and split up in 1997 after moving to Brooklyn, NY. Scott's twin brother Bryan Devendorf (drums) and twin brothers Aaron (guitar and keyboard) and Bryce Dessner (guitar) had the band Project Nim. It split up and they moved to Brooklyn to form The National in 1999. The band name is intentionally generic. I would prefer a more descriptive or personal name. They gained enough of a following playing gigs in the New York area to release a couple of CDs on their own label. They signed with Beggars Banquet Records and the 2005 CD Alligator was their major label debut. The CD was critically acclaimed and they toured nationally to support it. The 2007 CD Boxer did even better. The National made their TV debut performing Fake Empire on Late Night with David Letterman and the song appeared in the NBC sitcom Chuck. There is also a documentary about the making of Boxer. The National left Beggars Banquet for 4AD Records and released High Violet May 2010. That album reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 200. So though The National have never had a hit single, they are touring regularly and the TV exposure has helped them. The National campaigned for President Barack Obama in 2008 and are currently touring to promote the Gotta Vote campaign. You can get Boxer as a budget CD. Here's The National performing Fake Empire on Late Night with David Letterman July 24, 2007.
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