Tree: Music for Films and Forests

by Aaron Badgley In the autumn of 1996, Jane Siberry began a series of performances at New York City's The Bottom Line. Each of the three shows had a theme, and all three were recorded for future release. The last show of the trilogy, a Christmas show, was the first to be released (1997's Child), with the other two scheduled to follow. However, Siberry had started her own label, and there were some financial problems, plus some legal issues to work out with Warner Brothers, the label she was signed to at the time of the shows. Three years after the concerts, the remaining performances have finally been released. This disc has been released both individually and as part of an elaborate, beautifully packaged four-CD box set entitled New York Trilogy, and it is brilliant. The performances are well-recorded, and the band is tight, with Siberry providing her beautiful, angelic vocals. All the songs come off remarkably well in a live setting. The version of "It Can't Rain All the Time" far surpasses the studio version (found on the soundtrack of The Crow), and newer songs such as "Burning Ship" show that Siberry can still write thought-provoking songs with incredible melodies. This album was well worth the wait, and is something that both the fanatic and casual fan will enjoy.