Infinite Shuffle

Another album I considered for honorable mention on my Best of 2009 list was The Boxer Rebellion’s Union. But I’d only listened to it once and didn’t have a strong enough grasp on it.

Now, after listening to it a handful more times in the past few weeks, it definitely belongs among the elite.

It took me a couple listens before I was able to pinpoint the band they reminded me of — Radiohead. Part of that is probably my dearth of Radiohead knowledge. But from what I have heard of Thom Yorke & Co., I could tell they were a big influence for The Boxer Rebellion. Just listen to the track “The Gospel of Goro Adachi” and you’ll agree.

There’s even a quote on their MySpace page and their official website that compares their sound to The Bends-era Radiohead.

But after listening to the album a few more times, I could hear The Boxer Rebellion distancing themselves from their legendary counterparts.

There was also a tinge of Muse in their music, but they’re clearly their own band.

On their first album, Exits, their influences were a little more scattered. On the opening track, “Flight,” I was reminded of Filter and Placebo, but by the third track, “We Have the Place Surrounded,” the Radiohead influence was unmistakable and lasted for the remainder of the album.

After that first release, their record company went bust, so the band released Union on its own through iTunes. It became the first unsigned band to hit the Billboard charts with a digital-only release.

Here are my two favorites from Union.

The Boxer Rebellion – Spitting Fire

The Boxer Rebellion – Forces