''Alligator'' is the third studio album by American

indie rock Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the music they produc ...

band The National, released on April 12, 2005 on Beggars Banquet. Recorded and produced by

Peter Katis Peter Katis is an American Grammy Award-winning record producer, audio engineer, mixer, and musician. Katis is best known for working with alternative and indie rock bands. He works primarily out of his own residential studio, Tarquin Studios, ...

and Paul Mahajan, the album brought The National critical acclaim and increased their fanbase significantly. ''Alligator'' appeared on many year-end top 10 lists, including ''

Uncut Uncut may refer to: * ''Uncut'' (film), a 1997 Canadian docudrama film by John Greyson about censorship * ''Uncut'' (magazine), a monthly British magazine with a focus on music, which began publishing in May 1997 * '' BET: Uncut'', a Black Enter ...

'' and ''

Planet Sound Planet Sound was a Teletext music page on ITV and Channel 4 in the UK, active from 1997 until 2009. It was broadcast on analogue Teletext from page 340, and on digital Teletext from page 820. From 24 May 2007, Planet Sound was also available t ...

'', both of which ranked it as the number two album of 2005. ''

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'' ranked ''Alligator'' at number 40 in their top albums of the 2000s list. ''Alligator'' has sold over 200,000 copies worldwide. The band performed album track "The Geese of Beverly Road" at the wedding of producer Peter Katis. A photo of the band performing on stage, with couples dancing in the foreground, became the cover of the band's next album '' Boxer''. The band supported

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...

's presidential candidacy in 2008. In July of that year, the band designed and sold a T-shirt featuring Obama's image above the words "Mr. November", a reference to both the closing track on the album and the month of the U.S. presidential election. All proceeds were donated to Obama's campaign. The song had been written, in part, about

John Kerry John Forbes Kerry (born December 11, 1943) is an American attorney, politician and diplomat who currently serves as the first United States special presidential envoy for climate. A member of the Forbes family and the Democratic Party, he ...

's candidacy four years earlier.

Track listing

Singles

* "Abel" (March 14, 2005) ** CD single b/w: "Driver, Surprise Me" and "Keep It Upstairs" ** 7" single b/w: "Warm Singing Whores" ** Digital download b/w: "The Thrilling of Claire" * "Secret Meeting" (August 29, 2005) ** Digital download: "Secret Meeting" (Remix) b/w: "The Geese of Beverly Road" (Live) * "Lit Up" (November 14, 2005) ** CD single: "Lit Up" (Remix) b/w: "You've Done It Again, Virginia" ** Digital download: "Lit Up" (Remix) b/w: "You've Done It Again, Virginia" and "Lit Up" (Parisian Party Version)

Personnel

The National *

Matt Berninger Matthew Donald Berninger (, born February 13, 1971) is an American singer-songwriter, primarily known as the frontman and lyricist of indie rock band The National. In 2014, he also formed the EL VY project with Brent Knopf of Ramona Falls and ...

- lead vocals *

Aaron Dessner Aaron Brooking Dessner (born April 23, 1976) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as a founding member of the rock band the National, with whom he has recorded eight studio albums; a co-founder of the indie ...

- lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals, keyboards, piano, bass *

Bryce Dessner Bryce David Dessner (born April 23, 1976) is an American composer and guitarist based in Paris, as well as a member of the rock band the National. Dessner's twin brother Aaron is also a member of the group. Together they write the music, in coll ...

- rhythm and lead guitars *

Scott Devendorf Scott Devendorf is an American multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the bass guitarist for the American indie rock band The National, with whom he has recorded eight studio albums. Devendorf is also a member of the indie rock project LNZND ...

- bass, backing vocals, rhythm guitar *

Bryan Devendorf Bryan Devendorf is an American drummer. He is best known as a founding member of the indie rock band The National, with whom he has recorded eight studio albums. Devendorf is also a member of the experimental rock bands Pfarmers and LNZNDRF. In ...

- drums, percussion Additional musicians * An-Lin Bardin – cello * Carin Besser – backing vocals * Nathalie Dessner – backing vocals * Rachael Elliott – bassoon *

– backing vocals * Nick Lloyd – piano, organ, keyboards * Nate Martinez – additional guitar * Padma Newsome – viola, violin, piano, organ, orchestration * Sara Phillips – clarinet Recording personnel * Paul Mahajan – recording *

– additional recording and production, mixing * Greg Calbi – mastering Artwork * Mathieu Saura – photography * Distant Station Ltd. – design

Certifications

References

{{Authority control 2005 albums The National (band) albums Beggars Banquet Records albums Albums produced by Peter Katis