Bluesy and boozy, The National’s second studio LP warms you like a stiff drink, and suddenly in a daze, you, the listener, are pulled into that dark den, too.

Reminiscent of the vapid realms depicted in Eliot’s ‘The Waste Land’ and Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby,’ the world of ‘Boxer’ is similarly hollow. And yet, the veneer is cracking.

Two decades on, it’s exceptionally clear: The National knew their creative strengths from their earliest days. Their debut is wildly in keeping with the magnificent artists they are today.

The band’s fifth studio affair showcases a broad range of perspectives and perfectionist tendencies that result in a multidimensional record flooded with aural riches and complexity.

Part of what makes The National’s third studio affair so special is it doesn’t pretend to have answers. And maybe doesn’t even want them.