Customer Reviews

Cherry Tree

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Even after the quality of Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers anyone would be hard pressed to see this coming. "Come over here, I wanna kiss your skinny throat" Berninger sings in Wasp Nest to the pernicious lover who is irresistible all the same.
'All The Wine' is where it becomes apparant that this ain't the same ol' National. There's enough room in this tune for more than one pile of Trump Towers, and Berninger is more than able to fill it: "So tall I take over the street... I'm a festival, I'm a parade." A statement of intent if ever there was one. Don't doubt it. As he tells us even the motorcades have to go around him, and hey, God is on his side. Big, brilliant, beautiful.
The quiet menace that is 'All Dolled Up in Straps' is downright scary. The title song evokes much the same feeling. Some things are better left unsaid and the lines "no one is asking so leave it alone... Can we show a little discipline?" is the furthest thing from the plea it might sound like. More a stern admonition.
Which brings us to 'About Today.' I thought this was one of the most promising American bands until I heard this and then I knew. Listening I kept thinking 'They can't be this good. Nobody's this good.' A relationship teeters on the edge of a day. "How close am I to losing you?" Berninger asks, probably to himself. Startling spare music plays behind as the words finally come out, "Can I ask you about today?" It's impossible to put into words the desperation, resignation, and beauty that this line conveys. No wonder they finish their shows with this song: they can't do any better. Very few can.
I don't really know why they put a live version of the fine 'Murder Me Rachel' from Sad Songs on this. Totally unnecessary. The EP was perfect and while this doesn't take anything away, it certainly adds nothing. You want to ask them, "Didn't you hear the first 5 songs?" And 'A Reasonable Man' well, we love you Padma, but this doesn't belong here.
Easily the best thing released in 2004. You'll agree as you start the cd over (and over) after song five.

Cherry Tree has a very different feel from the most recent release 'Alligator'. It is quieter, is full of violins and kind've brings back memories of Dire Straits 'making moves' on 'All Dolled up In Straps'. With the exception of the last track on this EP all the other songs are very good with 'Cherry Tree' being the neatest and artiest song.

This EP is a nice bridge between albums. It contains "Murder Me Rachael" from Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers as well as "All the Wine" from Alligator. The last song's a dud, but don't let that stop you National fans from purchasing this album as most of the stuff starts to sound like what ended up becoming Alligator.

There is one problem with this album: it's too short. Funny thing is, I was listening to it when I got the Amazon e-mail asking me to review it. It's better than 98% of the crap on the Billboard Top 40 albums. (Is music popular because people like it or because the record companies tell them to like it???) It does contain a couple of my all-time favorite TN songs - "All the Wine" and "Murder Me Rachel (live)." The only song that I found even slightly disappointing was the last one, "A Reasonable Man." [My favorite artists: Neil Young, Yo La Tengo, anything from the founding fathers of Uncle Tupelo, R.E.M., The Silos, Steve Forbert, Stan Ridgway, Paul Kelly (Aussie), Beck, Bob Dylan, The Jazz Butcher, BNL, Norah Jones, Natalie Merchant, Dinosaur Jr., Marcy Playground, K.T. Tunstill, Billy Bragg, Frank Black] I add this because I know our favorites influence these reviews. I like artists that write their own material.

its a great record from a great band that I, as a collector, am joinning all the performances live and studios, and have a lot of good surprises at the first time!!!

This is the only National record that does a whole lot for me, and it's mostly because of "Wasp Nest," one of the few tracks not to be reprinted from one of their full-length albums. It's nice and sinister, without lapsing into the arena-rock-apologism that these guys are famous for.

If you like Leonard Cohen more than REM, you should buy this record. Otherwise, look at the rest of their catalogue.

cd is over far too quickly, but it's packed with great music. wasp nest is an absolutely incredible song and starts things off right - and the rest of the cd keeps right up with it. if you're already a fan of the national, you must have this, and if not, it's a great introduction.

The National may be hard to categorize but you are always assured beautiful imagery and lush soundscapes. Cherry Tree does not disappoint.