The National’ssophomore album,Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers(2003), found the band emerging onto a larger stage. Uncut called it “a genuine treasure” and named it an album of the year; it was hailed by Rolling Stone and the indie media; and Magnet, La Liberation (Paris), and the Chicago Tribune were only a few of the publications to tap it for their year-end lists.

In France, the band had become such a sensation that renowned DJBernard Lenoirinvited them to perform on his Black Sessions — following US buzz bands likeThe RaptureandInterpol.A track from that session, “Murder Me Rachel” occupies the warm-blooded heart ofCherry Tree, a 7-song collection that delves the depths and brought their tension-wi