| | Full Review | Ratings (997) |
Give your Rating |
| 5.0 classic | ...is fucking dead | May 29th 11 |
Oh, The National, trying so hard to make Boxer pristine and airtight when they had a perfect album under their belt the entire time.
5 Bumps | Bump |
| 1.5 very poor | starry | November 1st 10 |
I'll use the main review as a guide.
"world weary tone" "downbeat" "hollow, sparse"
-depressing music in the emo tradition.
"trance-like state" "immersion"
-mood music
"comfortable" "lull" " it just slides by"
-middle of the road
"precision" "purposefully built"
-cold professionalism
"inhale fairly deep" "intoxicating substance"
- helps if you're smokin' something while listening to it.
4 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Blair Chopin | August 17th 10 |
I am Mr. October, and I still think this is a masterpiece
4 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Adam Knott STAFF | July 14th 09 |
Some days I'm not sure whether The National's Boxer might be just as good as Alligator, but I always come to two conclusions. The first of those conclusions is that, however good its follow-up is, Alligator is a basically flawless record, and the second conclusion is that I should stop thinking about it and listen to it. Baritone indie-rock, whatever you want to call it, has never been done this well; the imagery, the flow, the downbeat melodies, are all sublime. This is my fallback record when I don't know what to listen to, it's my hangover record, and it's all the album I do most of my thinking to. City Middle, Mr November and Lit Up are standouts but every single track is part of a whole that never fails to astound.
4 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Kiet Truong | July 27th 12 |
This was a reulctant 3 the first time i heard it. Oh, how times have changed. The definition of a grower, the understated sound means that every listen brings a new intricacy that was unnoticed before. Matt Berninger's baritone is absolutely beautiful. His lyrics are genius ("i'm a birthday candle in a circle of black girls" how anyone can dislike that is beyond me) You can see that Devendorf is on his way to becoming the best drummer in indie. The first installment in The National's journey to adulthood, the teenage years avoiding growing up, is the best.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | John Key is a Cunt. | September 24th 11 |
Best. Album. Ever... There is no doubt in my mind. Every song positively oozes lyrical genius, drumming prowess and Berninger's baritonal brilliance. I'm all for musical acceptance, but if you don't like this, and you're not deaf; you're a tool (P.S. Tool's gay).
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Eno | October 31st 10 |
i'm in control and i believe
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Mike Moore | July 26th 10 |
Alligator is where The National went from being a good band to being a perfect band, and it is the perfect set-up album for Boxer. While Boxer is all about coming to grips with newly discovered adulthood, becoming distant from once-close friends and colorless work routines, Alligator reminds us of the more hopeful time of late youth before that when the whole world was on the horizon waiting to be experienced. Even so, despite the unbridled confidence of "All the Wine," the child-like ambition in "The Geese of Beverly Road" and the spontaneous adventure seeking in "City Middle," Matt Berninger's lyrics occasionally hint at a sense of doubt starting to sink in and climaxing in the remarkable closer "Mr. November." Alligator is the perfect prequel to Boxer and High Violet and an outstanding album on its own. I highly recommend it.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Mike Allen | June 26th 10 |
The National's Alligator simply won't fuck us over. Listen and try to tell me otherwise.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | larrytheslug | October 19th 12 |
This album is more quotable than an episode of Spongebob.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Alexander Mee | December 20th 10 |
Why The National is so great Part 1: Matt Berninger could quite possibly be the greatest lyricist of all time. Its not that his lyrics are cryptic, or have a great amount of depth, its that they do, in a completely different sense. His lyrics, throughout each album are poignant, stream of consciousness like, and monologue(istic), and somehow posses the depth to cater to all of our emotions and to different circumstances. Whats even more remarkable, and part of the reason Berninger never prints his lyrics, is that his mumbling, world-weary tone has the tendency to produce phrases which are often misheard or misinterpreted, but still manage to be just as affecting. And this is why, in my opinion, Berninger is perhaps the most inventive and best lyricist around today, and if not all time. Oh, and the rest of the bands great too.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Andrew H. EMERITUS | January 10th 07 |
Like all of the greatest albums, Alligator is one of those records that works beautifully as a unit, yet still has 4 or 5 near-perfect standout tracks. The third full-length from New York band The National, Alligator is 13 tracks of varied, clever and emotional indie-rock. Highlights include the melodic opener "Secret Meeting", the anthemic "Lit Up", the soft and subtle "Daughters of the Soho Riots", the furious uptempo track "Abel" and the gorgeous "The Geese of Beverly Road", which features orchestral arrangements. Quite possibly the best album of 2005, Alligator comes painfully close to perfection.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | TheNexus100 | March 2nd 13 |
we're the heirs to the glimmering world
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | HeadPhones | January 24th 13 |
I'm in love with the catchiness of friend of mine, granted this album almost had no bad songs on it.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | DinoX | January 30th 12 |
Both sombre and shy, it is the last record you'd expect to sneak out of nowhere and hit you like a ton of bricks squeezing its way into favourite album lists. Alligator is a truly special album filled with beautiful lyrics, great atmosphere, and relatable.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Mikkel | January 19th 12 |
Tracks like "Looking for Atronauts", "Daughters of the Soho Riot" and "Val Jester" has the atmosphere of their later records, whereas "Abel" and "Mr. November" has a post-punk feel to them. The lyrics found on tracks such as "Karen" and "All the Wine" just rocks. And I haven't even mentioned my favorite which is "Secret Meeting", where the shouting vocals at the end just harmonizes so well with Matt's voice. It also packs a three-pack-power-punch in the incredible record-ending spanning in "The Geese of Beverly Road", "City Middle" and the previously mentioned rocker, "Mr. November". Without a doubt, one of the finest indie-rock records out there.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | therayder | January 13th 12 |
I must be me, I'm in my head, blackbirds are circling my bed. I must be me, I must be me, black feathers are falling on my feet.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Matteo Ferrazzi | March 2nd 11 |
their scruffiest work.. the last we saw of their sardonic male chovinism until they eventually grew up (in a good way).
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Eli Z. Wasson | March 30th 10 |
i just can't seem to get into this at all. its not bad, but there is something disenchanting about it all that just does not work for me.
I'm a definite outlier, but it happens.
Hit or miss, and it misses with me.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Andy | March 30th 10 |
Just recently discovered that this is on par with (if not better than) Boxer.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | NeutralThunder12 | March 29th 10 |
Criminally overlooked in it's genre, "Alligator" is The National's loudest, most aggressive work to date. Diversity is possibly it's best feat, the album shifts seamlessly between slow, moving ballads like "The Geese of Beverly Road", "Daughters of the Soho Riots" and "Karen", while also boasting loud rockers like "Abel", "All the Wine", "Secret Meeting" and "Mr. November". The album is practically perfect, and it has something for everybody. Matt's lyrics are incredibly witty, mostly dealing with the end of the free and arrogant stages in ones life, love, and a lot more. It serves as the perfect prequel to 2007's "Boxer" which is the absolutely perfectly counterpiece for this, as that album is slower and darker, and more about dealing with newly found adulthood and having to leave Alligator's childish feel behind. But in this albums case, it's young, naive nature is compelling, detailed, and expressed beautifully through a flawless set of songs. "Alligator" walks the line between beautiful and rebellious, brilliant yet naive, and remains one of the few reasons The National are my favorite band. Oh, and Matt gets fucking loud on this one. Oh and the final five song stretch is absolutely magnificent. Classiest band on earth.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | zach | December 12th 09 |
all i want out of life is this album and a nice glass of scotch
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Jips | October 30th 09 |
This is an amazing album better than boxer because it is more diverse...
Bump |
| 3.5 great | ethixx | June 18th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Xefon | June 8th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Piztol | May 30th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | ANJ45 | May 27th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Chris | May 24th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Velcro | May 23rd 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Zeg | May 21st 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Albus | May 13th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | rliu | May 11th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Aziz CONTRIBUTOR | May 10th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | DOW. | May 10th 13 |
| 3.0 good | fish CONTRIBUTOR | May 3rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | 1554699 | April 25th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | deandeg | April 24th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tyler | April 22nd 13 |
| 4.5 superb | mh13 | April 22nd 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Adam | April 17th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | benkim | April 16th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mike08 | April 15th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | chaos17 | April 6th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Koei | March 20th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | julien | March 11th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Martxvx | March 8th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dave | March 7th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | iRox | March 6th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | SmersH | March 5th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | G.M.B. | February 25th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mike C | February 20th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | zakalwe | February 20th 13 |
| 3.0 good | J. Ponton EMERITUS | February 19th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Lobber | February 3rd 13 |
| 3.5 great | gp0942 | January 30th 13 |
| 2.5 average | Claudio | January 22nd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Veritus | January 21st 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Samuel | January 13th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Propose | December 29th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | mitch91 | December 27th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Ecotone | December 23rd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | urzadek | December 17th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | perlox | December 13th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | oswing | December 12th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ari | December 9th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Nikolai | December 5th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Jones | November 28th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Artuma | November 22nd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Happy | November 21st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | dwejkk | November 20th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | rooby | November 16th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | dh198 | November 9th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Fluffer | November 8th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Nate | October 31st 12 |
| 3.5 great | JJwins | October 31st 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Adam S. | October 11th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | NateT | October 10th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Point1 | October 6th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Melanin | October 6th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | mxbrady | September 11th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pentagon | September 3rd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Winrar | August 15th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Matt | August 9th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Thane | August 4th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Josh | August 1st 12 |
| 3.5 great | Angris | July 20th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Filling | July 11th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | leycec | July 11th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Bogdan | July 7th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Eofofo | July 4th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Feels | June 21st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | wafagan | June 18th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | xevman | May 26th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | ton_ey | May 20th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Acorn | May 7th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | PeriL | May 4th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Mowgli | April 17th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Slask | March 30th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Reid | March 21st 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Host78 | March 20th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Conor | March 18th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | iglu | March 11th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | b00ts | March 8th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | cedris | March 7th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | mttgry | March 7th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Ruben | March 2nd 12 |
| 3.5 great | pcar | February 25th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Opaque | February 23rd 12 |
| 3.0 good | Dday | February 14th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | veteli | February 12th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Maniac | February 10th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | nex77 | February 8th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Josh C. | January 27th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | cb123 | January 25th 12 |
| 3.0 good | jlech | January 23rd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | fsharp | January 21st 12 |
| 5.0 classic | uman32 | January 3rd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | zackseb | December 31st 11 |
| 5.0 classic | fogza | December 29th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Phil M. | December 21st 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Ritchie | December 19th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | jg777 | December 9th 11 |
| 3.5 great | zxlkho | December 6th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | gosk8n | December 1st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Beauers | November 30th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Robert Lowe CONTRIBUTOR | November 16th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | iGuter | November 7th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Pipt | November 6th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | F177 | November 3rd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | maciej | October 30th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | vivapo | October 26th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | L3mon0s | October 19th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dimor | October 13th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | xxxzzz | October 7th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | 69463 | October 5th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | dammets | September 23rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | MikeM | September 9th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | J.H. | September 8th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Knave | August 26th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Skoj | August 17th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | sharmz | August 10th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | rel07e | August 5th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | jack1oo | July 21st 11 |
| 4.5 superb | discoe | July 13th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Canuck | July 2nd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Yozzy | June 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | krkat | June 17th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | idk | June 12th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | 8AD | May 25th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | gwh45 | May 21st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | PieRye | May 12th 11 |
| 2.5 average | lobby | April 23rd 11 |
| 5.0 classic | rabbit | April 22nd 11 |
| 3.5 great | nick77 | April 21st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Keelan H. EMERITUS | April 20th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dev518 | April 15th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Catman | April 12th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | loydd | April 12th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Nrap | April 6th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ali | March 19th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zephir | February 21st 11 |
| 4.5 superb | mfp | February 14th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Darb | February 4th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | fev | February 4th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pim K | February 4th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | MrRaawr | February 2nd 11 |
| 3.5 great | Apollo | January 28th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | NigelH | January 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rumulox | January 18th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | WLuke | January 11th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | DayMan | January 6th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Rowdy | January 2nd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | MrD | January 1st 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Nevin | December 29th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | C.F. | December 24th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | neilvin | December 23rd 10 |
| 3.0 good | Fort23 | December 15th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | ntoman | December 6th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Manic | November 29th 10 |
| 3.5 great | sorvian | November 23rd 10 |
| 3.5 great | Thef | November 17th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | mehd10s | November 14th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | etrecha | November 14th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | bungy | November 10th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | risbo | November 9th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | jubilee | November 1st 10 |
| 4.5 superb | seifer | October 31st 10 |
| 4.5 superb | ti0n | October 13th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | deco20 | October 10th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Oafdog | October 6th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | IN64 | September 25th 10 |
| 3.5 great | scas22 | September 25th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Quinn | September 21st 10 |
| 2.5 average | cvrcmrc | September 15th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Pagaard | September 9th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | thawey | September 4th 10 |
| 2.5 average | fund it | August 21st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ydun | August 19th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Mouth | August 17th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | IAJP | August 14th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | sphygmo | August 12th 10 |
| 3.5 great | TheDMV | August 8th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | djigor | July 31st 10 |
| 1.5 very poor | Gabriel | July 18th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | DJD | July 13th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Charlie | June 21st 10 |
| 4.5 superb | AnvilJ | June 19th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Jordan | June 19th 10 |
| 2.5 average | bloc | June 15th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | mvood | June 8th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Xzaeon | June 2nd 10 |
| 4.5 superb | focksy | May 23rd 10 |
| 4.5 superb | f4b4 | May 22nd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | BroFro | May 19th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Kleur | May 17th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ali CONTRIBUTOR | May 15th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | TheE | May 15th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Befall | May 13th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | CREAM | May 6th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Valle | April 27th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Motiv3 | March 30th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Gogol | March 25th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Irad | March 23rd 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Inveigh | February 25th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | James | February 25th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Vance | February 21st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hro | February 15th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | danwar | February 15th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jethro | February 2nd 10 |
| 5.0 classic | rav3 | January 29th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Ben W | January 10th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | bryn | December 17th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Squib | December 16th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | BigHans | December 15th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Ethan | December 12th 09 |
| 3.5 great | Writer | November 18th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | HHD87 | November 13th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | sblount | October 12th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | JoRos | October 5th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | tom79 | September 12th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | narf405 | September 2nd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | durkl | August 12th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | gaz | July 11th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Comj | June 29th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | jc1587 | June 18th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | alex | May 4th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Careyb | February 24th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | lucati | February 12th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | pettri | January 23rd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Rudy K. STAFF | January 2nd 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Yotimi | December 24th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Fasty | October 13th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Photon | July 17th 08 |
| 3.5 great | AMson | May 17th 08 |
| 3.0 good | woee | April 27th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | JAD | March 23rd 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | tuff | October 30th 07 |
| 4.5 superb | Kiran EMERITUS | October 30th 07 |
| 4.5 superb | bpkybe | October 10th 07 |
| 4.5 superb | Jeremy F STAFF | September 9th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | aikdog | August 5th 07 |
| 3.5 great | doqtor | August 5th 07 |
| |
Give Your Opinion on Alligator
|
