Pages tagged “silver jews”

A new Silver Jews album is pretty big news. But group mastermind David Berman wanting to tour more? That's sweet music to fans' ears. After more than a decade of putting out albums and keeping reclusive, Berman took the Jews out on the road for the first time following the group's last release, 2005's Tanglewood Numbers. Speaking with Billboard.com, Berman mentioned wanting to embark on another trek after some festival dates in May. His booking agent, Berman says, "is working on it now."

But how about that album? Berman calls it Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea. It's a ten-track effort, to be released on Drag City in late April. Berman promises a departure from Tanglewood on the new effort.

"It's really different in that the songs have more epic settings. They are faux-heroic. Or rather foe-heroic," Berman told Billboard. "The music is never hard rock. Every song has a function or meaning that you could sum up in a few words."

Berman's touring band - including wife Cassie on bass - backs him on Lookout. And no, there are no ex-members of Pavement to be found.

Here is the track listing for Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea:

1. "What Is Not But Could Be If"
2. "Aloysius, Bluegrass Drummer"
3. "Suffering Jukebox"
4. "My Pillow Is the Threshold"
5. "Strange Victory, Strange Defeat"
6. "San Francisco B.C."
7. "Open Field"
8. "Party Barge"
9. "Candy Jail"
10. "We Could Be Looking for the Same Thing"

Related links:
SilverJews.net
Paste: Silver Jews - Tanglewood Numbers review
YouTube: Silver Jews - "How to Rent a Room" live

Got news tips for Paste? Email news@pastemagazine.com.

First, the infamously reclusive master-lyricist David Berman shocked the world last spring when he announced the Silver Jews’ first tour ever (after more than 15 years together, mind you).

Now Berman has initiated phase two of his plan for global domination, namely the world premiere of Michael Tully’s documentary, Silver Jew, at SXSW’s film festival on March 11.

The film follows Berman, his wife Cassie and their merry band of Jews as they travel to Israel and visit Jerusalem in the midst of their first world tour. Stay tuned for a review of said documentary in the coming weeks.

Related Links:
Silver Jews’ homepage
Silver Jews on MySpace

David Berman’s on-again-off-again project releases its most elaborate album to date

David Berman has never sounded more confident or focused than he does on Tanglewood Numbers, his fifth release with the Silver Jews. Unexpectedly rich layers of strings, female backup singers and rumbling electric guitars obscure the off-the-cuff charm and disinterested buzz that formed the distinctive character of his previous releases, as the arrangements here are as bold and over-the-top as the previous ones were subdued and understated.

The glammy “Punks in the Beerlight” rubs up against the incessantly tuneful “Sometimes a Pony Gets Depressed,” with Berman shedding his barstool-bard persona to spit out humorous rhetoric with startling animation. Original Silver Jews Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich are back in the fold, and the songs are catchier than on any other Silver Jews release.

If there are any complaints, it’s that the arrangements are so elaborate they distract from Berman’s droll verse, but for anyone who’s wondered what Berman might sound like working with a full sonic palette, Tanglewood Numbers provides a definitive, satisfying answer.