The National: Hauntingly Reflective

The National.

The National's intricate wordplay, catchy choruses and elegant arrangements have earned the Brooklyn-based indie-rock band comparisons to groups both stately (The Tindersticks) and unpredictable (Pixies). Formed in 1999, The National combines countrified folk and traditional rock, with a hauntingly reflective feel that gets under the skin.

Singer Matt Berninger has described the group's breakthrough album, 2005's Alligator, as a "euphoric disconnection." The disc was widely embraced by critics and fans, creating massive buzz for The National's new fourth album, Boxer. With its mesmerizing, delicately rendered songs about love and war, the disc has lived up to the considerable hype surrounding its release last month.

This segment originally aired June 20, 2007.