In the story of The National it is generally understood that 2007’s Boxer was their breakthrough LP. While that was undoubtedly a big moment for the group, this narrative does something of a disservice to the band’s preceding record Alligator, an album which has shifted an impressive amount of units and placed high on many ‘Best of 2005’ polls. It’s more than deserving of a re-press, which it now gets courtesy of Beggars Banquet. As for what Alligator sounds like? Well, it sounds like The National.