Tanglewood Numbers
The first Silver Jews album in four years is a triumph with its throwback '80s-synth ear-candy keyboards, slack guitars, and a sublime hi-fi sound that only a former lo-fi band can get. Breaking the silence, the indie-rock star-studded band (Malkmus and Nastanovichrejoin, the 'Bonnie' Prince, as well as refugees from theJesus LizardandPapa M) play fearless off-center rock rooted in Nashville, reminiscent of bothVic Chestnut's realism andGiant Sand's recent innovations. Not to mention that David Berman is apoet, so each song is dense with imagery, the whole record effectively telling a ten-part, 40-minute story that is partly funny, always honest, and often dark. Witness Berman exploring overcoming addiction, ("closed sign swinging in the liquor store" "later I come to find/life is sweeter than Jewish wine") the complete despair that lead to his suicide attempt, "There is a place past the blues I never want to see again" on "There Is a Place," and a uniquely American desolation, "I've been working at the airport bar/it's like Christmas in a submarine" on "Getting Back into Getting Back into You."  Fortunately, the Jews sound is big enough to contain Berman's lyrical shadows, and this juxtaposition of opposite elements (happy-sounding rock and introspective lyrics) results in a record that is wholly satisfying: not too overwrought and never self-assuredly slick.--Gabi KnightThere's Plenty More Silver Jews Where This Came FromActual Airby David BermanThe Natural BridgeStarlite WalkerBright Flighta>American WaterTennesee(EP)