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; 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 DJ Bernard Lenoir invited them to perform on his Black Sessions. A track from that session, "Murder Me Rachael," occupies the warm-blooded heart of Cherry Tree, a 7-sing collection that delves the depths and brough their tension-wire rock to new heights. Clocking in at just under thirty minutes, Cherry Tree was an EP, a mini-LP, or a bridge to the future. It features five songs and two bonus tracks, including one of those aforementioned live performances from France inter radio and a trans-oceanic duet between the National's singer Matt Berninger and Clogs' Padma Newsome.

This vinyl edition includes a download card and a a third National poster which completes the triptych started in the first two vinyl National releases, the self-titled release and Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers.