Search - & Also the Trees :: 1980-2005

And Also The Trees are still growing!

DJD | Boston, MA | 02/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

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First of all, as far as I know, this CD is not on Qdk Records as Amazon has it listed, or Attack Records that I have seen listed on other sites. The majority of these CDs were released by the band themselves, cat# AATTCD05. If you are lucky, you might find one on NORMAL Records, but unlikely.



Having been a fan of And Also The Trees for the last 25 years, I've heard these songs before. However, I was surprised and thrilled with how well AATT put this collection together, the fifth release on their own label. With 25 years of music to choose from, selecting must have been quite a task.



But, right off the top they set the theme of this record with, "Talk Without Words" and "Scarlet Arch", showing they picked from their best and not necessarily most popular songs, that will appeal to new listeners as well as the die-hard faithful. From the brilliant and furious, "Feeling Fine", of their most recent GEM of an album ('03), 'Further From The Truth', to long-time favorites, "Gone Like The Swallows" and the ever intense "Virus Meadow", from the album of the same name, 'Virus Meadow ('86).



A selection from, 'The Klaxon' ('93), "Jonny Lexington" is a refreshing and smart choice as one of their beautiful instrumentals, a standard practice on every AATT release. Directly following, the bold and powerful, "Shaletown", an all-time best single from one of their most complete records, 'The Millpond Years' ('88). It elegantly sets up, the restrained passion of "Mermen Of The Lea", from 'Green Is The Sea' ('92) that leads seamlessly into the proud "Prince Rupert" of 'A Farewell To The Shade' ('89).



The clever and creative song order makes each track sound different and "new" because the song which it comes before or follows IS new! And finally, choosing the driving and thunderous LIVE version of, "Slow Pulse Boy", from 'The Evening of The 24th' ('87) was yet another excellent decision.



The packaging, as always, is beautiful. It is a tri-fold digipak that is primarily black on the inside with a black colored CD. It also has a multi-page insert with cool pictures and info. '1980-2005' is another stunning offer from AATT! Discover 'And Also The Trees' again or for the first time. Buy this collection! A+"