Wed Apr 20 2022
1
Mumble Sad bastard music
This is a Random Album Generator.
One album a day.
From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Bright Flight
Silver Jews
2001
- Album Summary
Bright Flight is the fourth studio album by indie rock group Silver Jews, released in 2001."Tennessee" was chosen as the title track for an EP that also included "Long Long Gone", "I'm Gonna Love The Hell Out of You", and "Turn Your Guns Around".
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Date
Fri May 06 2022
3
I think this guy likes Tom Waits
Wed Apr 27 2022
2
Well. The music is utterly forgettable indie rock with all the trimmings. Lyrically, there are a couple of zingy moments. But my goodness, that's a voice one could get bored of very, very quickly. So wearing and wearisome, in fact, that these hangdog vocals overshadow everything else. In an already muted soundscape, such a lugubrious performance merely serves to poison the well. Good name for a band, though.
Sat Jan 22 2022
5
These are songs I have listened to over and over already. I wasn't sure about David Berman's voice at first, but it is the right voice for these songs. Each time I listen there is another lovely discovery. "The snow falls down so beautiful and stupid" played as I drove through the snow today, and it was perfect. There is a constant, real ache in this music and yet it feels lovely in a way.
Fri Mar 11 2022
5
When God was young, He made the wind and the sun Since then, it's been a slow education And you got that one idea again The one about dying. Oh oh oh I'm lightning Oh oh oh I'm rain Oh oh oh it's frightening I'm not the same, I'm not the same, I'm not the same There's a screen door banging in the wind Remember you wanted to be like George Washington back then Everybody's going down on themselves No "pardon me"'s or "fare thee well"'s in the end
Sat Jan 22 2022
4
Some shambly 90s de-tuned country music here. When I read this band had connections to Pavement I wasn’t surprised as the first thing that came to mind as the album started was “country Pavement”. The first time through I wasn’t sure about the vocal delivery… but found the songs are very good musically. Love me some steel guitars! Then on a second pass I started to hear more of the lyrics and I really started to like this. The lyrics are fantastic! While there are times when I would like to hear a polished vocal on these songs, I have to give this props for the great music and lyrics. There’s room for some lo-fi Country in my library… Favorite songs: Room Games and Diamond Rain, I Remember Me, Horseleg Swastikas, Transylvania Blues, Let’s Not and Say We Did, Tennessee
Mon Mar 14 2022
2
So far this is boring as hell Still really boring.
Fri Apr 29 2022
2
Pretty dull early 2000s lo fi American indie.
Sun Apr 03 2022
5
Yes this was good I liked this one
Mon Apr 04 2022
5
Smooth, clever, well-balanced. Love the vocals and acoustic guitars.
Wed Apr 27 2022
5
Brilliant. Whisky sodden, laid back, great songs sounding like the band has set up in your living room.
Thu May 26 2022
5
Fans of Pavement will immediately feel at home with Silver Jews. Same languid, country tinged lo-fi indie. I'd not heard this album before, but I'll be returning to it. Mainly because I'm a sucker for the Pavement sound rather than this album being anything particularly unique
Fri Nov 18 2022
5
David Berman is my favorite songwriter. I've heard this album countless times and love it. His lyrics are incredible, when listening to them, I turn into that annoying guy who needs to point out how great nearly every line is on its own. 5 out of 5. R.I.P. D.C.B. Standout Tracks: Slow Education, Room Games and Diamond Rain, Time Will Break the World, I Remember Me, Horseleg Swastikas, Transylvania Blues, Let's Not and Say We Did, Tennessee, Friday Night Fever, Death of an Heir of Sorrows
Wed Dec 07 2022
5
I loved this album - it might be over the top but this is the first time I was really taken aback at the quality of the album - it’s not perfect but it’s a 5* from me - a new find forever!
Wed May 24 2023
5
"And I wanna be like water when I can, because water doesn't give a damn. Water doesn't give a damn." I've read about David Berman, especially after his death and I've heard some of the songs he's written and performed on but I've never had heard any of his albums as a whole until this and, quite frankly, I really liked what I heard. Almost cosmic country in its orbit but with a emphasis on despair and death, it's ironic that the album has the name "bright" as its title. But enough about that, this is a pretty stellar entry for me in regards to Berman's work. I can see what the fuss is about. "Punk rock died when the first kid said, Punk's not dead Punk's not dead."
Sun Jul 30 2023
5
You’re the only 10 I see. RIP DCB.
Thu Aug 03 2023
5
“I asked the painter why the roads are colored black…He said, ‘Steve, it’s because people leave and no highway will bring them back.’” - “Random Rules” from Silver Jews’ 1998 record, American Water I know I probably shouldn’t start a review with a lyric from an album I’m not actually reviewing, but it’s the Silver Jews lyric that I just can’t shake. It haunts me…an epitaph that was written 20 years before it would prove to be useful…the fate of David Berman, it breaks my heart to this day. So much so that the only unopened and unplayed vinyl record in my collection is his Purple Mountains record: I had pre-ordered it before release, received it and set it aside to listen to when worked slowed down a bit and I had more free time. Of course, I had listened to the album on my streaming platform of choice when it was released, but never got the time to sit down and experience it on vinyl. The next thing I knew, the news broke that he had passed. Knowing what I knew, and the general tone of that record, I couldn’t bring myself to sit down and listen to it. Still can’t. The music on Purple Mountains lays bear his unhappiness in life and by the time it came out, it seems it was too late for much to be done about it. It breaks my fucking heart. Bright Flight, released nearly two decades earlier, is not as bleak as Purple Mountains turned out to be, but it is less upbeat than its predecessor, American Water. As usual, Berman’s uniquely poetic and evocative lyrics are on full display here. Musically, he leans in to a minimal country-tinged indie rock sound, inspired by his recent move to Nashville. It’s a great record that, frankly, I don’t listen to as much as I should. Had I assembled this list, American Water would have been my choice for a Silver Jews record to include. There is something special about that record for me and I think if I could recommend only one Silver Jews record to people, American Water would pique a new listener’s interest the most. Regardless of which Silver Jews record we’re talking about, there is one truth that can’t be understated: David Berman had a wholly unique way with words and was a one-of-a-kind talent. He is missed. Rest in peace, DCB.
Thu Mar 09 2023
4
I’m a big silver jews fan, but I have to admit I was surprised (though not upset) to see this on the list. I think I’d only listened to it once before. It’s probably their 3rd or 4th best album, so does that mean the others will be here as well? This is no American Water, but it’s a great album. Berman was one of the greatest lyricists of all time and his low voice complements the sleepy country vibe perfectly. This album gets better as it goes. I Remember Me, Tennessee, Friday Night Fever, and Death of an Heir of Sorrows are fantastic.
Fri Jun 02 2023
4
I fucking loved this album. Please listen to it if you havent yet. Silver Jews is great, listened to like half their discog after this album. 100% going on the main playlist. bitches come over and cream when i put this on. the end
Fri Jul 07 2023
4
This album has been awesome. Really really enjoyed it. Kurt Vile vibes in some ways, nice low key country. Will try to keep this in the rotation, for sure!
Wed Jun 14 2023
3
Have never really listened to the post-Natural Bridge era of Silver Jews, as there are only so many hours available in one lifetime. Part of a subgenre I skillfully christen "depressed baritone country-adjacent indie warbling", also inhabited by other talented and prodigious practitioners such as Will Oldham and Bill Callahan. When they're on their game, they can be transcendent; when they're not, it's never bad but also not very memorable. This falls into the latter camp. If you like this at all, please check out Purple Mountains, sadly David Berman's ultimate masterpiece, an easy 5*. This one - a generous 3
Thu Apr 14 2022
2
Bit meh
Mon Feb 14 2022
1
Honestly seemed like some sort of parody, terrible 1
Fri Mar 04 2022
1
nope
Fri Mar 11 2022
1
Dull and lifeless, almost as if written to capture the feeling of a talentless hack who did unspeakable things to record executives to get an album produced.
Wed Feb 02 2022
5
Lo amo.
Fri Sep 02 2022
5
Sehr gut
Wed Sep 28 2022
5
awesome
Thu Jul 06 2023
5
Nice album
Fri Aug 18 2023
5
Phenomenal early 2000s melancholic Indie stuff
Sat Jan 22 2022
4
Poetic and wistful but not brooding. Somewhere twixt indie rock and country. It's nice.
Sat Jan 22 2022
4
Never heard of Silver Jews. This Was an interesting album. Twangy, but not country. It was a little tough to warm up to, but it eventually won me over to liking it with its simplicity, I guess. Not an everyday listen, but I am sure it is something that will kind of haunt me into waiting to hear it again.
Wed Jan 26 2022
4
I was very surprised, but I ended up really loving the indie/country/whatever sound. Also, Apple Music started playing Pavement immediately following this, so that algorithm is pretty dead on.
Wed Jan 26 2022
4
Não conheci a banda e gostei demais
Thu Jan 27 2022
4
Very good stuff
Wed Feb 09 2022
4
200 albums into the project and I'm still enjoying it. Didn't know this band; turns out that Stephen Malkmus was part of it, though not on this record. It's a very nice album with strong melodies and interesting lyrics.
Wed Feb 09 2022
4
Had expected American Water instead of this album, but the choice for Bright Flight is not bad either. After all, American Water sometimes sounds half Pavement / half Silver Jews.. and while a Pa/SJ combination is of course a great mix, it is certainly nice to hear Silver Jews "only" and to realize again how good this band was in late 90s - early 00s. I rate American Water as a clear 5* album. This album contains several 5* songs (in particular Tennessee) but for mr it is a very solid 4 overall (conform to my memory of it).
Thu Feb 10 2022
4
pretty based, honestly not a big country fan but there’s some really nice indie stuff in here, 8/10
Fri Feb 18 2022
4
Loved the slacker country vibe
Wed Mar 02 2022
4
Did not expect to like this as much as I did. I really dig the country flavor. Vocals are way too loud in the mix though. Favorite Tracks: Tennessee, Let's Not and Say We Did
Thu Mar 03 2022
4
It's weird in a good way. I would listen to it again for sure.
Thu Mar 03 2022
4
Tipo de som meio sujo que eu gosto com um vocal potente.
Sun Mar 27 2022
4
Folky rocky. Enjoyed but without holding my full attention.
Mon Mar 28 2022
4
7/10. Might even be worth an 8. The mood feels more consistent than monotonous, and is a great way to spend some time being sad.
Mon Mar 28 2022
4
8/10. Nice , sounds like other silver Jews albums
Wed Apr 20 2022
4
Vocals were not entirely to my taste. Lyrics were sometimes okay - I liked the occasional storyteller feel. It was a little bland at times, but overall I enjoyed the sound and just felt like something was missing? Normally I'd give this a 3, but there were so many moments I fell in love with musically that it gets pushed to a 4 even though it's more like a 3.5.
Wed Apr 27 2022
4
I'd never heard of this group before, but they're rather good!
Thu May 05 2022
4
If you've seen the excellent Amazon Prime series Patriot, then this album may remind you of the songs that John composes and sings about his line of work.
Fri May 06 2022
4
I’d somehow never heard of David Berman until he died in 2019, but everything I’ve heard of him since I’ve really liked. It’s like if Pavement was sadder and slightly twangier.
Fri May 06 2022
4
Really liked this one. I would have been obsessed with this band if I had discovered them in like 2013
Sun May 08 2022
4
Much comes down to whether you like Berman’s relaxed-yet-tortured vocal style or not, and (his also relaxed-yet-tortured) imagistic lyrics. I’m good on both and thus consider this a quirky classic and minor masterpiece. Many good songs, with highlights throughout. “Slow Education,”” Time Will Break the World,” “Horseleg Swastikas, “Tennessee”
Fri May 20 2022
4
Really good, will check out their other stuff. Cheers then.
Wed Jun 01 2022
4
Familiar voices sonic delight
Sun Jun 05 2022
4
Bastante chulos. Indie rock suave, tranquilo. Un poco a Lemonheads, pero más tristones.
Thu Jun 23 2022
4
Love it all.
Thu Jun 30 2022
4
A good mix, enjoyed it.
Fri Jul 08 2022
4
Surprised to see this averaging sub-3.
Tue Jul 19 2022
4
It's weird, it's quirky, it's not great, but there is something about it that keeps me listening, and I'm seeking out their other work to listen to, so I guess I like it? really not sure how to feel about this.
Sun Aug 07 2022
4
While solidly downtempo from my usual taste, this LP contains an unexpected wealth of lyrical and instrumental power not belied by the first few tracks. The first half excels at less is more - powerfully raw lyrics set against minimal but appropriate melodic tracks can never go wrong. The second wows with an almost orchestral swell in the melodic and rhythmic sections, bringing the album to an emotional breaking point before drifting away into the ether.
Wed Aug 10 2022
4
Great listening. His lyrics are thoughtful and draw you in
Sun Aug 28 2022
4
fav song - horseleg swastikas - reminds me of elliott smith - great lyrics about being lost in life and feeling like you always do the wrong thing least fav - tennessee - the only song that went too far into the silly side without the emotional side to balance
Mon Aug 29 2022
4
4.0
Wed Sep 14 2022
4
Una buena voz para temas muy tranquilos en un ambiente desenchufado, pero aun así, cómodo de escuchar. Un descubrimiento
Wed Sep 21 2022
4
pretty sad ad blue fun and acoustic
Wed Oct 05 2022
4
Didn’t really listen to any of his stuff at the time. This is a very good record. Interesting songs and lyrics.
Thu Oct 06 2022
4
I, too, wanna be a water if I can. Because water 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠𝑛'𝑡 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑛.
Wed Oct 12 2022
4
Very calm, chill start to the album, a bit country a bit indie. Not too sure about the vocals I think the songs could sound much better if the singer, gave more fucks? I liked the heavier tracks and particularly enjoyed Transylvania Blues. Saved tracks: Room Games and Diamond Rain, I Remember Me, Transylvania Blues
Thu Oct 13 2022
4
4/5 Johnny Cash und Bob Dylan auf Wish
Wed Nov 30 2022
4
For someone that grew up listening to some folk this album went pretty well. Im giving it 4 stars and it might go up
Thu Dec 22 2022
4
Actually a very good album.
Fri Jan 20 2023
4
Nice artist, good vibe
Sun Jan 29 2023
4
With the first couple of songs I was expecting to dislike this album, but I found myself enjoying it more and more as it progressed. Maybe another situation-based enjoyment? Right now I'm on a bus to the city and watching the bleak wintery countryside going past proved to be a nice match for this early 00s American indie country rock record. Gave me time to reflect. I think on a normal day, either at home or in the car, I would have found this album extremely boring, but it just worked today so it turned out to be an album I honestly enjoyed. Favourite: Transylvania Blues
Fri Feb 03 2023
4
This was some really nice Nashville indie rock. Let’s not and say we did was my favorite and the rest was pleasant but sad. Not much more to say.
Fri Feb 17 2023
4
Witty, heartbreaking songwriting
Sun Feb 19 2023
4
Surprisingly good
Thu Mar 09 2023
4
A conundrum. While this is a good release, with a few great songs (Tennessee, I Remember Me), I prefer American Water, the Silver Jews first release. I didn't expect there to be two releases from Silver Jews on this list. Notwithstanding my reservation, this is a good listen from an underappreciated group,
Thu Mar 09 2023
4
Music for me.
Thu Mar 09 2023
4
This is VERY VERY different from anything i've ever listened to (on purpose). That does not by any means I dislike it, in fact, I really dig the vibe (even though some songs can be a little gloomy). I read through all the wikipedia info on the bands frontman (Berman) and was entranced in all the crazy details and events that this guy went through in his life, mostly very sad. There was, however, a hilarious quote I found: "I've got a credit card rotisserie system that would dazzle the ancients"
Wed Mar 29 2023
4
4.5
Sun Apr 02 2023
4
Very melancholy, loved it
Wed Apr 12 2023
4
Decent 7/10
Fri Apr 28 2023
4
I was introduced to the Silver Jews through a friend and was curious mainly because of David Berman's association with Stephen Malkmus and they do sound a lot like Pavement. The band produced some pretty decent records and was surprised, Bright Flight made the list. I would have considered American Waters or Tanglewood Numbers before Flight, because I thought they were better records and there were no contributions from Malkmus on Bright Flight. The songs are okay, but at times Berman sounds like a drunken David Lowery from Camper Van Beethoven. Of course, the lyrics are great, but is it essential? No, but an important and interesting band.
Mon May 22 2023
4
Never listened to Silver Jews before this and definitely plan to listen to more after this. I very much enjoyed this one - there are some fantastic lyrical turns throughout!
Fri May 26 2023
4
Nice med det rip
Mon May 29 2023
4
Townes Van Zandt eqsue indie rock.. What's not to like.
Fri Jun 02 2023
4
And they say punk is dad….. but this is rock…. Indie rock…. Country? Idk but it ain’t bad
Wed Jun 07 2023
4
Enjoyed
Fri Jun 09 2023
4
Great roots poetry!
Fri Jun 16 2023
4
to quote John Hinckley Jr: "Fantastic songs! RIP David Berman."
Sun Jun 18 2023
4
Today I have yet another artists that I’ve never come across before. A quick Google seems to indicate they were integral to the American music scene, so maybe that’s why they never hit my radar in the UK. I’ll be reading about their singer, David Berman, on his Wikipedia as I listen to this because he seems to have been a very unwell person. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Horseleg Swastika, Friday Night Fever I started listening to this album earlier in the day while driving and it didn’t click. To give it a fair go, I started again with my big headphones on to give it a proper listen from front to back. It sounds a lot better with headphones and I can appreciate it more. The vocals are a little odd, in that he’s definitely not the strongest singer, but it kind of works for this music. I enjoyed this more than I expected after my first impression earlier today. His Wikipedia was really sad to read, so the pulling of the heartstrings might have biased me a little.
Wed Jun 21 2023
4
I actually really liked this one. Thought it was pretty good
Fri Jun 23 2023
4
Love Silver Jews. Clever writing, relatable depression, and fun instrumentals (Shout out Transylvania Blues, great in stereo).
Thu Jul 06 2023
4
deja vu
Thu Jul 20 2023
4
instantly thought - “oh it’s like country Pavement!”… yeah turns out stephen malkmus was literally in the band for a bit. it’s certainly not amazing but i love sad boring indie. nvm the 2nd half is way less sad and boring. this is a lovely album.
Thu Aug 10 2023
4
C'est bancal donc j'aime bien
Thu Aug 10 2023
4
Immediately put me back in high school. The 2005 oozes from this record and the genuineness feels like a bygone era. 3/5
Thu Aug 24 2023
4
This is definitely the kind of thing you either like or don't. I happen to be a fan of lo-fi alt-country, so I like it. I'm not gonna take it over Songs: Ohia or anything, but that's a rather high standard imo. A nice listen that didn't overstay its welcome, dryly humorous with a slacker kinda vibe. Solid.
Fri Sep 01 2023
4
I like it but why is this not tagged country on this site
Sat Sep 09 2023
4
LOVE Silver Jews. This, however, is the worst I've heard, why was only this picked?
Thu Jan 20 2022
3
I liked this somewhat - this indie-rock-meets-country album somehow sounds bleak, but in the first couple of songs manages to hit the right notes for me. The songs on the opposite end aren't as strong, though. 3/5