Brassland

This music is honest, human and humane...a folky-lovely slow-rumble. It's rock but of the hangover-friendly, stoner variety; it's folk but at a groovy speed.

The National are five displaced Ohioans living in New York, two sets of brothers and one best friend.

The National's sophomore 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.

Clocking in at just under thirty minutes Cherry Tree was an EP, a mini-LP, or a bridge to the future.