National - Cherry Tree

by Jon Rogers

published: 12 / 6 / 2004

Label: Talitres
Format: CD

intro

Impassioned new seven-track mini-album from New York's the National, which takes off from their last album 'Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers', in its depictions of heartache, lost love and solitary drinking

This seven-track mini-album from New York's the National picks up the baton initially laid down by their previous second album 'Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers'. All impassioned songs of heartache, lost (or never found) love and finding solace in a liquor bottle in the early hours. Singer Matt Berninger follows in the impressive dynasty of the likes of Leonard Cohen and Will Oldham in detailing the minutae of relationships and the agonising ups and downs. As with their recent album, 'Cherry Tree' has been dug out of the same furrow and so, in part, doesn't mark any great progress. Songs like the opener 'Wasp Nest', the title track and 'About Today' though are already accomplished works that show the band is definitely one to take note of. The highlight is a live version of 'Murder Me Rachel, one of the tracks from the last album. Whereas the other tracks have a somewhat subdued tone, here the band sparks into life, crashing through a high-octane version of the song as Berninger ends up screaming out the lyrics at the end as the musical accompliment descends into riotous chaos. It's all very lovely indeed.

Track Listing:-

1 Wasp Nest
2 All the Wine
3 All Dolled-Up in Straps
4 Cherry Tree
5 About Today
6 Murder Me Rachael (Live)
7 A Reasonable Man (I Don't Mind)

Band Links:-

https://www.americanmary.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thenationalofficial
https://twitter.com/TheNational

Label Links:-

http://www.talitres.com/en/
https://www.facebook.com/talitres.rds
https://twitter.com/talitres
https://instagram.com/talitres/

Have a Listen:-

interviews

Interview (2007)

One of the most acclaimed of the indie scene, the National return at the end of May with their fourth album, 'The Boxer'. Guitarist Aaron Dessner talks to Ben Howarth about the band's development over the last five years and why the new album is a step up for them

Interview (2004)

live reviews

Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, 1/7/2008

Helen Tipping is impressed by both the accessibility and stateliness of Americana band the National's unique brand of indie rock at a show at the Metropolitan University in Leeds

Academy, Manchester, 10/11/2007

Nottingham Arena, Nottingham, 11/7/2007

Koko, London, 31/5/2006

favourite album

A Skin, A Night (2008)

Ben Howarth looks at 'A Skin. A Night', alt rock band the National's new film and EP package, but, despite it arriving hot on the heels of their high regarded 'Boxer' album, is unconvinced by it.

Amazon.co.uk Widgets