Reviews (page 3 of 8)
His voice and the irony. Instantly loveable.
Bright Flight was definitely not like what i was expecting. I was expecting a very indie rock like album considering the fact that the genre is listed on the reviews page and some of the members were in Pavement. But nope, what i ended up getting was a country rock album. It is a perfectly fine one at that as it doesn't really do anything worse or better than it's contemporaries. There were some interesting atmospheric bits which i like and i did find it funny that one of the songs had lyrics from the song Jingle Bells in it but i don't have too much to say about this album beyond that. Its a perfectly serviceable album but nothing beyond that. Best Song: Transylvania Blues Worst Song: Tennessee
Disliked the vocal work at times.
Nada mal. Muchos elementos que me gustaron, pero de uno o dos temas. Nota: 3.4
Do not waste your time like I did.
honestly just couldn't stay interested
Nice music. Nothing to write home about
Definitely not for me. The singer's voice was annoying and not melodic to me at all.
Meh. Don't think I needed to hear this before I die, honestly. Like the instrumentation is alright but the vocals and lyrics are not it. Serisouly some boring stuff and the guy's voice is forgettable. 'Time Will Break The World' is better than the rest but nothing will beat 'Transylvania Blues'. For once in my life I like an instrumental track more than one with vocals. That's seriously saying something about this LP. Also you're telling me the lead singer of fucking Pavement is on this?? As a guitarist?? I think that's the only reason this album is on this list. By proxy of an actually good band. 1.5/5
Excellent record
I was skeptical at first but found myself rather liking this. I often enjoy lo-fi alt-country, but I admit I'm not sure what makes this special enough to be on the list - I'd never even heard of the band before.
I've tried to get into this band a few times, because I am a huge Pavement fan, and I knew they had some connections, but they never really clicked for me. I think this album is good, they have a unique sound, but my biggest problem is that a lot of the songs, just kinda end up sounding the same. Country is also my least favorite genre, so they also have that going against them. Besides that this is a good album. Good, not great. High 3.
no
Nu aan het luisteren maar klinkt goed. Erg 2001. I'm not mad.
no che
Sad indie rock about how hard it is with weak vocals while boring guitar plays. This has been done before, and significantly better than this. I was as bored listening to this as the singer was sad doing it. Save yourself the trouble and listen to some good sadboy midwest emo rock and leave this one behind. Only virtue is its brevity, so we don't wallow in it for too long.
Not for me
Hipster cat nip. All the right parts in all the right places for a good brooding rock album.
Sometimes an album isn't important because it's good, but because its -real-. The emotions that come through on this one are just that. It's not pretty, it's not shiny, it's not fun. Instead, it's a look at the darker corners of life, perhaps seen through the bottom of a whiskey bottle. I'm always going to have a bit of a soft spot for an album like this, at least in part because it's similar to what I think I would make if I could make one. The musical composition is limited, and the voice isn't anything special. The lyrics themselves are the focus, with each song revolving around what's being conveyed. The album is driven more by emotion/feelings than anything else, and that is what makes it come together. All that said... yeah, there's a lot wanting here. It can be a tough listen at times for the reasons mentioned above. I can't say that I loved it, let alone thought it was great. Still, it was a worthy listen. This is an album I probably would not have heard if not for this list. Whether or not it's essential, I'm not sure. But it definitely kept my attention. Overall: 2.9/5
Liked: I Remember Me
Boring, dull, meh, plodding, not wasting more time on describing an album so unworthy of the effort.
Unadorned country-flavored indie rock with tired, played-out chord progressions and half-earnest/half-jaded slacker vocals that make you wonder where they bury the survivors after a plane crash.
Not my kind of music
Album #61, Silver Jews, Bright Flight, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I’ve been intentionally avoiding looking at the full list to keep things surprising, so this was a big surprise. I was delighted, but couldn’t believe that there were two Silver Jews albums included. Then I checked and realised American Water isn’t on the list, which is honestly a travesty. If you’re going to include a Silver Jews album, that’s the one. It’s easily in contention for best album of the 90s. That aside, Bright Flight might not be his best album, but it could be my personal favourite. I consider David Berman one of the great American songwriters. No one does sardonic quite like him. He can make you laugh and make you cry with ease. This is his most depressing record. It's the sound of a man who is about ready to pack it all in for good. The album is very much a vehicle for his lyrics, though there is one cracking instrumental track too. The instrumentation is soft, understated country throughout, and it’s beautifully done. There are also these little jerking chord changes that I love, like the shift before “I can dance real good” on Room Games and Diamond Rain. It’s a dark album, but it’s full of character. It never feels overly self-pitying or completely dour. There’s always humour in how it approaches the heavy theme of death. It’s probably not for everyone, but if the 1001 album generator is your first exposure to Silver Jews and it doesn’t click, I’d strongly recommend listening to American Water. It’s a much better entry point and one of my all-time favourite albums.
I would have never listened to this album otherwise. Pretty fun and overall interesting.
This dude's vocal range is craaaaaaazy
It's 2001. 2 months after the World Trade Center attacks, the world is still confused, angry, and in shock. New stories come out everyday of the victims of the attack. You sit in a dimly lit coffee shop trying to process everything that has happened, and this album comes on ... "I remember her and I remember him I remember them and I remember then.. I'm just rememberin' I'm just rememberin'"
had great potential but voice us hard to enjoy, nice lyrics tho
I actually liked this.
It baffles me how something so obviously crap gets on this list. What even is this, redneck misery rock?
I really should hate this album but I actually quite like it
I really just didn’t get on with the vocals. Apart from that not too bad
вот это название. но слишком повествовательно под нотами, даже за моё любимое когда рифмуют слово киттен не могу перетерпеть
This album is proof that the music industry does not discriminate against artist who can't hold a tune.
Ik heb een gigantisch zwak voor David Berman (RIP). Niet het beste Silver Jews album overigens, maar nog steeds erg lekker.
Begrijp niet wat deze specifieke plaat in de lijst doet. American Water en The Natural Bridge zijn right there... Dat gezegd hebbende, David Berman heeft geen bagger gemaakt in zijn (te korte) carriere.
“The terrible band name can not disguise that this is a stinker,” I thought about 5 songs in. That out of the way, I then started not minding it. If they’d only called the band the Kidding Muslims I may have given it 4 stars.
The Spotify algorithm has to be this band’s biggest fan.
Not for me 1/5
I’ll admit, my first reaction was that this sounded like a lifeless, budget-brand version of Pavement. The vocals are flat, the instrumentation is skeletal, and at times the whole experience feels utterly wearisome and dull. However, after sitting with it, I started to realize that the boring quality is actually a deliberate, minimalist country-tinged atmosphere meant to frame David Berman’s songwriting. It’s pretty sad music at its core, but there’s a uniquely poetic wit hidden within. As for whether it has aged well or is a must listen to album, the general sentiment is a resounding "meh", though it's clearly an acquired taste.
Good stuff. But end of the day I didn't love it
never heard this band before. Melancholic lo-fi country tunes, it's pleasant enough in a miserable sort of way. After a few tracks though, it just gets a bit too whiney, like a drunken relative at a wedding reception. You want to get away from them, but you can't...
This started a bit slow but I ended up quite enjoying this.
They were known as Silver Jews, and the opening lyric was about God when he was young. I knew I was in for an obscure experience. You're not going to hear singing like Aretha Franklin, or have songwriting akin to Joni Mitchell, but it's good Folk music(more in a Rock way, not Country way). Sorta reminds me of the "Juno" soundtrack. I was pleasantly surprised with this one. Favorite Track: "I Remember Me".
In the realm of albums with a country-lean this is a bit more pleasant than others. Pretty simple and palatable but some good and meh moments throughout. 3/5
Good discover
I'd never heard of this band before, but found them enjoyable. Very similar vibes to Evan Dando. Might listen again.
Ok I suppose.
J’ai trouvé ça horrible
Hadn't heard of this artist before now. Jewish Country is a genre I didn't know existed. The record is quite dull and dry with a very monotonous singer. The music is drab and doesn't keep my attention. I got through the whole record out of commitment to this project, but that will likely be the last time I intentionally listen to this artist.
Whiny
I listened to it 3 times but it was not enough to know what I think about it. It might be music I like if it grows on me more (common with lofi indie, which is one of my favorite genres) but having it presented as 'one of 1000 records to listen to' is not the right context for an evaluation.
I was alternately mad this seemed so derivative and mad I was kinda into it. Then learned Will Oldham used to be in the group (but not on this album), which probably explains my rating.
I don't mind these songs except I don't really like the singer's voice. I wonder if it would grow on me the same way that like Colin meloy's voice did if I really liked the songs more, but I feel firmly in the camp of people who prefer pavement to silver jews.
I like this, and whether it’s a low 4 or a high 3 is a coin flip. It is my new favorite album from a band where Al Franken is apparently the lead singer. Slow Education especially good.
What a beautiful album. Glad it came today. Reading about it before, I was worried that it would sound like a super depressing indie record, but it has many more faces to it. The songwriting is almost always on a very high level, and I loved the semi-country approach of the production. The guitar work especially was great. Even the vocals that could be a bit rough around the edge sometimes worked really well, and even had a Lou Reed spark to them (which is pretty rare). I want to highlight tracks 1, 2, definitely 5, and the closing 8, 9 10. All beautiful songs. Gonna come back to it. It's a very deserving 4.
This is the kind of country-tinged indie rock that I actually enjoy. I just wish there were stronger vocal performances.
Here starts a run of 10+ albums I neglected to review or rate from the last several weeks, which portends doom with this crap memory of mine for details - especially on first listens which is what all of these were. I do remember what I would rate them though. Expecting a Jewish parody band from the name, I was pleasantly surprised by the quite nice, lo-fi indie rock with intriguing lyrics.
Like the sound, not a fan of the voice
Was not my favorite.
Man his voice was so annoying
Pretty good, couple songs I wasn’t a big fan of. Not my favorite silver Jews album. Decent 5
fine
Music to fall sleep with.
This was actually a pretty decent album! I had never heard of these guys but I enjoyed it!
Mopey.
I didn't mind the more folk country songs, but some of them were insufferable. Which sucks, bc I love American Water.
The music is fine, but his singing is very monotonous. I also don't like the way the lyrics are structured, there's oftentimes too many syllables in a bar, sounds awkward Horseleg Swastikas reminds me of a joke: What did the fish say when he hit a wall? Dam. A waste of good instrumentals ^Nvm just heard Let's Not and Say We Did
I thought they only cared about gold but when there is noney to be made, even silver will do
5.5/10
I’m a sucker for kinda depressing singers who can only sorta hold a tune.
Kind of a chill vibe, didn’t hate it
This was weird but I liked it
i was expecting angry rock.. my default assumption for random indie bands on this list. maybe i *shouldn't* assume that, but i've gotten too many angry indie rock bands on here.. this is fine, i guess. very casual. low key. his voice is fine, but occasionally annoying. i guess this is the kind of deep gravel voice i sometimes really enjoy, but idk, not feeling it today.
Pleasant enough I guess
Sadboy music that hit like a drug after a long day at work
I do not like the main singer.
Skigan som Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen eller kanske Lou Reed aldrig släppte. Och det gjorde dom rätt i. En etta!
Fine
Pretty much the same as Harness. Feels like something I could enjoy more, but it's a 3 on 1 listen.
Vexatious
Probably something I could get in to if I had the time
Inmemorable
Plutôt bon album. Au global j'ai quand même trouvé ça assez moyen avec peu de surprises et un style country vraiment répétitif qui m'a vite fait décrocher. Néanmoins, on peut reconnaitre que l'intro était vraiment efficace avec un long blanc qui amène de la bonne manière la tonalité de l'album. De plus, même si au global l'album avait des sonorités plutôt répétitives, certains sons, notamment Transylvania Blues m'ont énormément surpris de part leur prise de risque. En bref, c'est un album sympathique, j'ai plutôt bien aimé
Oh man another album that doesn’t belong on this list. This kind of music has been done much better by bands from the ‘70s. Not a great singing voice either. Makes it harder to try to enjoy this. It’s as if the appeal of this is that we’re supposed to empathize with him for being such a fuck-up. I can certainly do that and am pretty sure I have with other musicians but this album doesn’t really get me there. Listening to this doesn’t make me care about him or the music. Kind of just seems overly pathetic and pretentious. I’m a very open-minded music listener so I can’t believe how annoyed I am by this one. Still not the worst on this list probably because there’s real instruments played by real people. Maybe I’ll get it some other time when my life has gone completely to shit.
Bleh. Really bland. Not horrible to listen to overall.
It was not very good. Again, Indie-artists are just singing badly. Sometimes it makes sense, like Neutral Milk Hotel but this time it was just bad. 2/5
Another album that I should probably spend more time with to enjoy more. I quite enjoyed it again. Bits reminded me of very early Springsteen – Mary Queen of Arkansas/Lost in the Flood type of thing. And I enjoyed the country vibes as well. Probably a 3 plus, but I'll give it a four on promise. I think I'll keep this downloaded to listen to at least once more.
The singer's voice was so distinct from the instrumentals in each song - unfortunately, I found it grating and that it took away from the music. Had the singer had a "better" voice, I feel like I would have enjoyed this album much more.
Fun album. Reminds me of Cake with strains of country. Three solid stars
Truly cannot fathom the inclusion of this completely nondescript piece of soggy bread. That’s probably harsh but I swear I have heard better, more interesting music played by like a local random at a country pub on a Friday afternoon. It’s just dull and beige. I actually do like country vibes and folk vibes in general but this just doesn’t really deliver anything special or skilful. (1.5 stars)
Thank god this was only 35 minutes. I don't hate this sort of unemotive, lyric based indie guitar music, in fact I find it quite interesting. But please, only in small doses. 3.7 stars.
This wasn't a particularly "good" album, but I still liked it.
I kinda liked this. There’s something about alt country that makes me enjoy it more than most relaxed music. I don’t know. This album is just so chill and pleasant to the ear. The vocals are so nice and soothing. It’s not something I’d really be excited about, but I definitely had a good time. 7/10
Isso aqui é chato demais. Parece Bob Dylan querendo ser Colter Wall numa versão grunge.
Jesus Christ this sucked. The lead singer’s voice I’m sure can work in a genre of music, just not this one. Something has to be said about the proliferation of shitty folk rock music in the early to mid 2000’s, is it the reason we all now live in a dystopian capitalist hellscape? I can’t say for certain but I couldn’t rule it out either
- I almost like it, but his out of tune vocals are really hard to get past, even with the poetic lyrics... especially a full album of it. - I like the way the melancholic vibe gives it a nostalgic feeling. - I also enjoy the guitar work - it's a pretty counterpoint. - The keyboard player is a good musician, but I disliked the songs "Let's Not and Say We Did" and "Friday Night Fever", and that's where they showed up the most, so it was tinged with the hokiness of those songs (but they were, by far, the best part of those songs). - Occasionally, the meter of the lyrics feels too 1-2-3-4, tamping down the emotional impact. Ditto with some clunky rhymes. - Yeah, I really wish they had used a different singer.
Solid start, weak ending.
Ok
This is just an okay album, not bad but not super good either. There are a couple of songs that I could nod my head to, but nothing I wanted to save to listen to later.
This is OK. I actually listened to this 4 whole time, trying to decide if I like it or not. Crazy, right? Mostly, the music is similar throughout, typical singer-songwriter stuff with simple guitars. But occasionally it's interesting. Along the same lines, his voice is on the edge of annoying. He's not a great singer. But then, once in a while, I like the delivery. It fits the song. So, here I am back and forth about it. I do like "Transylvania Blues" enough to save it for another time. But the rest of this doesn't warrant a return. I guess being pressed for a rating, I have to give this a 2. I don't imagine I'll come back to it again ever.
Why is this here? I despise this dude's voice, his lyrics are hot garbage, and the music is painfully basic. Not bothering with further analysis.
This is almost gets to where it is interesting and overcomes the bad poetry of the singer. Almost. The music is good. The songs can be catchy. But the syntax and subject matter of the songs makes this less than what it could have been.
Ujdzie. Taki folko country ballady chuj wie co 3
Short and sweet. Om jeg lige er til den ret slackede stil ved jeg ikke helt. Men det var et underholdene lyt til noget musik som jeg ikker kendte på forhånd.
Der er nogle virkelig gode Lo-Fi indie numre. Og så er der noget alt-country. Jeg springer countryen over fremover, men genbesøger gerne enkelte numre på pladen.
Slow education - 4 Room games and diamoind rain - 4 Time will break the world - 3 I remember me - 3 Horseleg swastikas - 3 Transylvania blues - 4 Let's not and say we did - 3 Tennessee - 4 Friday night fever - 3 Death of an heir of sorrows - 3
I liked a few of these songs it's definitely an experience album not to many singles I'd repeat.
Thoughts before listening: David Berman led indie rock band with maybe some alt-country leanings. I know this was roughly in the Pavement sphere and while they're one of my favorite all time bands, I never really paid much attention to Silver Jews. I am however often pleasantly surprised when their songs show up on playlists or Spotify radio stations. I'm interested to hear this. Review: Yeah so this is slightly dark, moody country-ish indie rock, that also has plenty of nice melodies. In general, that should be right up my alley, and while I do enjoy this, I can certainly understand why others wouldn't. There's a bit of a Lou Reed talk sing that I'm picking up in David Berman's delivery, and he is very dry in both his delivery and lyrics. This feels like the type of album that would get better with multiple listens as you start to pick up on more and more of the stories that are being presented in these songs. I personally love that he mentions Chattanooga in "I Remember Me". In general, this is for fans of artists like Smog/Bill Callahan, Songs: Ohia/Jason Molina, etc. I can dig it, but I am also not so sure it necessarily deserves to be on this list, especially with American Water typically being his most celebrated album. I'll give this 3-stars.
Sorry but I really couldn’t stand it. It was the first album I wasn’t able to finish
Could not get past the voice. I'm not saying I could sing better, but I'm also not putting out albums.
Not sure - a little dour, a little Beck, ok-ish but not my main jam
Stop talking to me bro your a singer.
I really didn’t like how lazy his voice sounded. It was ok but definitely not for me.
I could listen to this all day everyday, it's just extremely in the mould of 90% of what I listen to. Lo-fi, sad indie with a singer that isn't, on the face of it, very good. Lovely stuff. It's all Wilko, Pavement and even Neutral Milk Hotel adjacent. I'm not quite giving it the big five, because it's also a little unmemorable in a strange way, but it's very nice indeed.
This is a sit on your couch and listen album. Nothing crazy but a decent listen
Didn’t really like this one
I don't think there was enough substance to this album to make it a fully enjoyable experience. It certainly filled the air while I cooked dinner, but "you're the only ten I see" is just... Bleh. That's a good word for this album. Bleh.
this is comically bad to me.... absolutely not the album for me, i am so sorry the country influences are not it this feels like a testament to male mediocrity for this to be in top 1000 albums one must listen to is legitimately shocking (especially seeing what has been excluded in favor of this)... kinda liked the transylvania blues (which is all instrumental 💀) and that's really all i have to say positively...truly almost nothing redeeming at one pt considered a 3 star, almost immediately brought to 2, ending on 1.......... this album made me angry, only ab 35 minutes but felt ab 5 hours long.....fr put me in a bad mood....lyrics feel like mad libs, do not care for the vocals...... I'm so angry....at least the music makes you feel something....an absolutely excruciating listen I'm sure there is some background on why this band is a genius or amazing or whatever but this absolutely does not stand on its own....feels like an inside joke for a niche group of folks
this wasn’t super for me, in fact i didn’t rly like it
Sounds like Wilco’s opener.
Meh….K-Mart Wilco 2.5⭐️
It's alright...I would have been okay with not hearing this before departing this mortal coil though.
Stephen Malkmus is really hit or miss. This one's a miss.
Not the first SJ album I would have tought of for this book, but hey, all SJ is good SJ so I'm fine with that
Enjoyable album.
I love the cozy and heartfelt vibe of Silver Jews, but the best part is in the unique poetry found in the lyrics. The more I listen to Silver Jews, the more I'm a fan!
There's something about Silver Jews' sound that just gets to me. It takes forever to hit, but it's that kind of sound that sticks in my head for the next few days at the end of an album. It's fascinating to see how the singer put his struggles into the album. His singing reminds me a lot of Lil Ugly Mane's later works. It's weird to think that the guy who made this is dead, makes it feel like reading a suicide note. Maybe it was that,I feel the same way about Timothy Very, the drummer for Manchester Orchestra, who died yesterday. He didn't kill himself or anything, there isn't even a confirmed cause yet, it just feels the same way. I don't even really like that band, but reading the news that the drummer died really got to me, and this album reminded me of it. Death always affects the way I listen to music. I hope anyone here who feels any kind of suicidal thought finds a way out of it and feels better. Maybe they could even write an album about it. Life is too short to cut it even shorter. I'm gonna shut up before I make myself cry.
RIP David Berman
I think this band sounds to me like Bob Dylan supposedly sounded to the 60s generation. This isn’t the record I’m most familiar with but it has the same level of literary profundity and understated melancholy as the others.
Yuck
Why is this on here?
The best part of the album is when he shut the fuck up
Feel like I liked this one a lot more on first listen and it progressively got a little worse each time but I also listened to it with tiktok brain. I think 3 is right
Well… It wasn’t 69 Love Songs! It also wasn’t Wilco A.M. I started curious, and then was wondering how an entire group of people can go down on themselves (Slow Education). It was kind of distracting. Was a Marilyn Manson thing or just really flexible? If you could do that, would you ever date again? And then he started talking about all his poor, starving children, (Room Games) and I started thinking of myself, dude, vasectomy! The song HorseLeg Swastika I think kind of described this album: drunk on a couch in Nashville. I didn’t hate it, and there are some good bones here. Transylvania Blues was kind of fun, but think the lack of lyrics and Stay-At-Home-mom Tuesday morning Chardonnay cartoon vocals helped. It was like listening to the Wiggles if they were stoned on a couch in Nashville. I just don’t think this is my thing.
Random thoughts: * I've definitely heard of Silver Jews before but I'm not sure I ever listened to them. * I don't think I was missing much. I couldn't really get behind this one. The vocals were annoying and I just couldn't get into any of it. * I couldn't even re-listen to this one. Which has been a big barometer for me on my enjoyment or lack thereof. * I did enjoy the pun of Tennessee. "You're the only ten I see". * Other than that, skip this one.
I thought that I would like this when I first put it on, but I kind of got bored pretty quickly. Listened through twice. It would be fine to have on, but I really want to actively listen to something, I wouldn't chose this.
Nothing thrilling.
Woefully boring. Terrible voice. Flat as a fart. Boring … awful lyrics that are quite simply meaningless … oh, and did I mention it was boring as sin !? Jesus Christ, save yourself 35 minutes and never ever listen to this album !
Yay
Phew, I don't like the nasal voice or the rather boring music. You can listen to it, but you don't have to. 2/5
тягомотная нудная одинаковость, на алеха г смахивает. зашел только трансильвания блюз^
Part Pavement, Part Uncle Tupelo. Not as good as either.
2.9
3.3 2x decent indie but dont see myself coming back.
A good but more chill SJ album. Sadly one of my favorite more instrumental tracks in Transylvania Blues is followed by their weakest song, a way too upbeat Let's Not and Say We Did. LUCKILY the last verse of that song really really redeems it. Tennessee is also fantastic as is Friday Night Fever. I feel the peak of Berman's whole artistry in that Friday Night Fever song. Enough earnest and heartfelt country sound to counterbalance the sardonic and almost depressing lyrics and delivery.
Best Song: Slow Education. It was a smart idea to add a female vocalist who can actually sing. Worst Song: Time Will Break The World. Nonsense lyrics that jump from non sequitor to non sequitor, while the vocalist absolutely struggles to hold a note. Overall: I frequently enjoy albums like this, but this kind of "lyrics-first, vocals-last" prioritized music only works if the lyrics are so great that they overcome how terrible the vocal performance is. Unfortunately, on this album the balance is rarely in favour of the lyrics. Pseudo-poetic attempts made by a vocalist who is unaware of their own limitations.
116/1001 First listen. I don’t know man. You’re not gonna win me over in a day with a voice like that. Nothing else going on here to help it along. I’m trying to fair and honest with this project but eeshk. 4/10
Sounds a lot like Luna/Dean Wareham. I assume Luna isn’t on this list. I wonder why Silver Jews gets the nod instead. I suppose they’re interchangeable, just funny I hadn’t heard of this band before. Now that I’ve listened to more of the album, it’s a little more country than Luna. Still comes out of the same American lo-fi indie tradition though, and very similiar.
Silver Jews is a top 10 band for me. And time will break. The world is one of my favorite songs; it was a joy to spend time listening to this full album, it's short, it's tight, 5/5 for sure b
-I really like some songs and was not feeling others -I want to pin down who the main guy’s voice sounds like -I might give it another listen
Very nice dynamics (from song to song) and textures. I don't love his voice or lyrics but I get the allure. Every song pretty enjoyable Highlights: "I Remember Me", "Friday Night Fever"
These are some of the worst vocals I’ve heard on a widely praised project. The instrumentals are the only thing keeping this from a 1-star rating. Take the roughest parts of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Tom Waits, strip away the originality, then make it boring. Truly one of the worst listening experiences I’ve had so far. 4/10
I personally don’t get the hate of this album. Sure, the voice can get a little monotonous at times, but the music is beautiful and the vibes are pleasant. I enjoyed this myself.
Never heard of this band, so I had a quick read - some ppl don't like David Berman's voice? Start listening - I don't mind his voice, I wouldn't say Tom Waits, I think of Lou Reed and maybe Bob Dylan? "I know there's a tune, but I couldn't be arsed singing it" - maybe those singers want to be more like spoken? Anyway the guitar lines are often really nice (thumbs up for that) - and the lyrics are cool (interesting and not just weird). So it's good. Not rushing to hear the rest of discography. 7/10
A pretty important day for me, an important realization, and maybe this album played a part in it. You never know. Either way, it’s a great album made by a prophetic lyrical genius. It made me listen to American Water which is even better, a 6-star album.
It was fine, but found it a bit boring. Not bad though, could be good maybe when in the mood.
I like it! Feels like it should be in the movie Juno. Some folksy songs, some indie songs, like Neutral Milk Hotel
No pls thx.
actually disappointing. i wanted to hear this for the first time and like it.
If you like indie, and want to see one of the bands that helped craft the sound, you will like this.
So cool to see Silver Jews on this list! kitten from great Britain. Writing sad songs and getting paid by the tear. I can't raise hell for two. Tanning beds explode with rich women inside. Who writes lyrics like this?!? Crazy and amazing. Honk if You're Lonely is also great by them. 5
2,5
++: Room Games and Diamond Rain, Transylvania Blues, Let's Not and Say We Did, Tennessee, Friday Night Fever +: Slow Education +-: Time Will Break the World, I Remember Me, Death of an Heir of Sorrows -: Horseleg Swastikas 6,7/10
Absolutely fucking terrible. I hated every second of this and wanted to stop listening every song. Bad vocal and corny as fuck lyrics. How did this make the list??????
1/5 Bored to death rn get me OUT bro. Every second of this was excruciating. Bad vocals, bad lyrics, mediocre instrumentals. Just not a good album at all. Bye.
Indie rock, country-rock and lo-fi Aka not for me
Interesting
Interesting in spots, not a lot of focus tho
Love the music of the groups that influenced them as well as those they influenced. Sweet, dark, and funny lyrics. Just like real life.
🥇horseleg swastikas 🥈lets not and say we did 🥉tennessee HM: slow education, time will break the world, i remember me
God, I'm about 700 albums deep and just had the revelation that an album doesn't have to be good in order to be good. This sounds like your most endearing uncle sheepishly hopping on the karaoke, or showcasing his garage-rock project that he's undyingly passionate about but is, objectively, not good. I love it. It's an earnest reminder that an artist is an artist, whether you or I like it or not. Bravo 👏
If They Might be Giants wrote songs for Pavement... ...OK I wrote that before I found out that half of these guys were in Pavement. That just makes it more true!
Me gustaría saber en qué pensó el que inventó esto para poner este disco acá. No tiene nada especial para el 2001. No es mal álbum, pero no le veo nada especial. Y por eso el puntaje tan bajo. 2/10
lyrically fun but only for background - not hooked enough to see live.
This wasn’t terrible. It’s started out slow but grew on me a bit. Still not my thing. It’s not great for sure. It’s just there. 2.75
Not every musical idea worked, but nonetheless a good record.
This was really good. Super entertaining.
It’s fine, no comment
2/5
Wait... wasn't this an SNL skit?
That was a really boring singing style. The instrumentation is alright.
peak
Not the biggest fan of Berman's vocals, but I thought this was solid enough to give a 2nd listen. Don't know how often I would revisit, but it's interesting enough. 3 Stars.
mmmhh no
This style of singing, but not singing can be hit or miss, and this guy is mostly miss.
I'd never heard of the Silver Jews before, and I came with no expectations. While I really liked the underlying low-fi country melodies and instrumentation, I couldn't get past the part spoken word, part half-assed and off-key vocal stylings of David Berman (and even Cassie Berman). It drove me crazy. I'm really torn on my rating because I would totally listen to this again if it had a different singer, but I just... can't. - Heard before? I hadn't even heard of the band. - Will I listen again? No. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? So much no. Notable songs: Horseleg Swastikas, because as a water scientist, I love the sentiment that "water doesn't give a damn."
Country-flavored indie songs with a lo-fi aesthetic and mopey, punny lyrics delivered in a semi-monotone, partially spoken, partially sung. Guy used to work and write with Malkmus from Pavement, so there's a little of that influence heard here too. Sounds a little like Luna only with way too much pathos and not nearly enough levity. Not bad, but also kinda meh. Let’s Not and Say We Did, Friday Night Fever, and Tennessee are the notable songs on this one.
You know what? I didn’t hate this. I really expected to, but didn’t hate it. I have a low tolerance for sad bastard music, but this was solid. Something about it was relatively homely and forthcoming. Not trying to make something fancy of the sadness or slices of life it portrayed. Everything was presented nice and plain. I respect that. “I Remember Me” and “Friday Night Fever” were my clear favorites. 3/5 you alright sadboy
Haven't heard of before. Enjoyed as well as reading about the Pavement connection
From the opening bars of track 1, my expectations plummeted. Look, I get that they're trying to be chill, music you could hear your Leonard Cohen/ Dolly Parton-obsessed friends playing at a hangout, but it's just too earnest and without hooks.
No
This album rings as an old man recounting the great joys and greater regrets of his life. The simple music contains and grounds David Berman’s less-than-serious-yet devastatingly-sentimental words and deadpan vocal delivery, allowing the few moments of inflection to punch through and deliver. Transylvania Blues is a brief moment where David and his dense lyrics take a breather. The simple timekeeping and melody of the rest of the album transitions to a musical inflection where percussion and ghostly guitars swirl around each other before soaring off in the final moment. Berman and Silver Jews have one love and it’s everything. David’s gift of wit and storytelling keeps the listener at the edge of whatever aural equivalent there is to a seat, constantly aware of the fact that we aren’t always promised tomorrow. There passion, panic, and sagacious care placed in every word and note of this album.
mmmmmm no. didn't like it at all
I liked it quite a lot. Kinda liked the country vibes mixed with the depressive inde rock. Good album.
I liked it! A bit too honky tonk at times (Tennessee did my head in a bit), but overall good - I'd listen again.
not bad i suppose
Boring and uninteresting, the vocals of a boring man singing like he thinks he can sing and not even trying. I wanted to skip all the songs except the instrumental one.
Could have been so much better
I am very familiar with the Silver Jews, grew up listening to their early records that had Pavement members Steve M and Bob Nastanovich and I loved those. This is my first time listening to Bright Flight. Upon my first listen my initial reaction was "yeah this sounds like the Silver Jews but way more country", which isn't my favorite. I really like their early lo-fi sound. Then I listened to it a couple more times and it grew on me. Dave's vocal style is consistent so that always sounded like I remembered, but the music is really good and it is filled with that ear candy I loved in their early records. The story telling is great and the music is haunting and beautiful at the same time. I still prefer The Arizona Record and Starlite Walker but I will add this one to the rotation.
More into this than just reading the tags. It has a nice little country Nashville type vibe but with the indie spin. Maybe not the greatest thing of all time but decent. I remember me was the standout for me. The duet with the lady toward the end was close but the Tennessee 10 i see thing made me almost vomit. Nasty shit lmao. The vocals blend well though. Alright little record
Just words
Top Review - "Mumble Sad bastard music"... My favorite! Right up my alley. I feel like this would stand up well to multiple listens to go deeper into the lyrics. Not quite my favorite Silver Jews album, probably "American Water", but still really good. 4.5 stars, probably rounded down to 4 because even though I love this I would consider it a minor album, not essential listening.
Boring indie
What the fuck. Yet another forgettable snoozefest fronted by a guy who can't sing, or even summon an iota of effort to pretend he can. Allow me to take this one-star opportunity to remind you that Songs for the Deaf didn't make the list of 1001. Somehow this did, and I'm one step closer to burning this fucker down and walking away entirely.
Gdyby to grał mój kumpel w piwnicy to powiedziałabym, żeby się nie poddawał, bo ma talent. Ale żeby jedna z najlepszych płyt świata? No chyba nie. 6/10.
Not sure why this one was included over American Water. This one is still really good. The lyrics are the standout here. Silver Jews is a lot like country tinged Pavement. Favorite songs were Room Games And Diamond Rain, I Remember Me, Horseleg Swastikas, and Let’s Not And Say We Did.
Sorry Jews
It was ok…I feel like I was listening to Jonathan Richman trying to sing Wilco…but not as good.
vocals sound like the jellyfish song from bee and puppycat would need multiple listens to distinguish songs but i liked the vibe. liked friday night fever their more popular songs are from "American Water" (1998) so may listen to that one day
Hey kids, are you sad that Leonard Cohen is no longer around? Want to hear more primary school level poetry stuffed with half rhymes stuffed into tortured meter with the occasional guitar chord behind it? Well this is the album for you.
I liked this! Might come back to this artist in the future.
Nope
I know its not for everyone but I really love Berman.
Not at all a fan. Found this one to be pandering and boring.
didnt know what to make of it. it was on in the background didnt really inspire me to listen properly, it was a bit dull but managed to stick it out.
Reminds me of one of those singer-songwriters but don't know which one. Cohen? Dylan? Reed? Someone else? Maybe a bit of all of them. It isn't as annoying as whoever it reminds me of, but blimey, pretty boring. The fact the music has more than a whinging acoustic guitar gets it an extra point.
I really appreciated the songwriting on this album. They found a balance between tongue and cheek and honest in a way that I found really compelling. His voice can take a little bit to appreciate, but I think by the end actually really plays into the whole vibe of this album.
I've been a fan of the Silver Jews for a while now. They've got a great alt-country/indie rock vibe, but I feel like I need to be in the right mood to listen to their music. This album is a bit on the dark and depressing side, which doesn't always make for the best listening experience.
The whole album has a very monotonous sound. Two or three songs in, I didn't mind, but by the end of the album it was extremely grating. Lyrically there are a few impressive lines, but there are also a lot of nonsense lines. Overall, it was an okay listen. Three stars. (Favorite track: I Remember Me.)
This was gunna be a 1 but the lyrics saved it a bit. Will never listen again though
Not for me. Tone deaf singer
Not bad 2.5
In the land of Wilco/Bright Eyes/ MJ lenderman/pavement. Not my favorite style of production / lyrics, but the upfrontness is charming and personal. Lyrics can be too goofy/on the nose/absurd but again it’s charming and I like his voice. I think I struggle with the sort of storytelling sort of songs like the girl and the boy who gets hit by the truck after he proposes, but it’s also compelling. Awesome production on Transylvania Blues when it goes electric unexpectedly.
It's either depressing or jangly and depressing. Plus the singing sounds like Lou Reed if he were even more bored with life. This is kind of exactly the type of music I associated with the indie rock movement of the oughts, twangy, boring music with too much treble. The only track I really liked was Transylvania Blues, probably because there were no vocals, and the music was better. Let's Not and Say We Did than takes us right back into jangly BS. 2/5
Boring music, monotonous vocals, and bizarre lyrics don't make for good listening.
Extremely bland with disinterested vocals.
Top 5 worst vocalists so far. And that’s saying something.
I wanted to like this and there were quite a few elements of it that were up my street, eg an ‘Americana’ style with quite interesting lyrics. But in the end it was too folk/country for me. If I’d liked the singer’s voice more, it would definitely have helped. Interesting to learn that this was the band Steven Malkmus of Pavement started with, and periodically retuned to. Pavement are good!
Musically pretty decent but I didn't like the vocals at all. They sounded drab and often off-key which didn't fit with the music at all.
Who? Supposedly Indie Rock, but Country Rock is more appropriate. This is what you get if Leonard Cohen was to do Country Rock - depressing. Best track on the album is "Transylvania Blues" which is slightly upbeat, and best of all, an instrumental.
album curtinho :0 FAVS (top 3): time will break the world, horseleg swastikas, lets not and say we did mençoes honrosas: slow education, transylvania blues compraria o vinil: NAO estou gag dos gags com a letra "youre the only ten i see" na musica TENNESSEE KKKKKKKKKKKKKKK CHEGA. mas enfim, eu odiei esse album... ainda bem q é curto pq meu DEUS esse eu poderia morrer sem escutar facilmente; tipo tem uma vibe mas como projeto inteiro não é bom nota final: 2.5/5
A lo-fi mess of an album. Most of the songs are weak musically, and the lyrics are even weaker. Lines like “water doesn’t give a damn” (from “Horseleg Swastikas”) and the punny “you’re the only ten I see” (in “Tennessee”) come off as corny and forced rather than witty. The one bright spot is the instrumental “Transylvania Blues”, no lyrics meant it couldn’t drag the track down.
Нуднувато.
Wow. It's bad spoken word poetry set to boring music. Seriously why did I listen to the whole thing?! Who lives this?! Why is this on the list? Is it an experimental album that went wrong? Is this a band that other bands like? Why list makers?!
feels like a depressed guy trying to make normal people music, the depression sounds seeping through, i couldn’t finish because it’s not my style, it’s probably good to somebody else though
At first I thought I wasn't gonna like it, but the whole album I was thinking "this is some real shit". He was tryna tell a story and teach a lesson with all of his songs and I respect it, even though I wont be adding any. The one that sounded the best might be horseleg swastikas, but the name is crazy.
Liking the dark kind of heavier sound of "Time Will Break the World" Not sure if the singer's voice is selling it to me though. Saved (4/10): - Time Will Break the World - Horseleg Swastikas - Transylvania Blues - Tennessee
Big fan of David Berman and I’m a bit surprised that this is the album on this list ahead of American Water or Natural Bridge but still very happy to seem them included.
This one was rough. The vocals were unbearable, and the instrumentals weren't offering anything exciting either. The only somewhat good song was "Transylvania Blues", which coincidentally had no singing.
Spent a lot of time trying to get into the Silver Jews since hearing them referenced in one of my fav albums, LVL UP’s Hoodwink’d, and some of it bumps against me but the strong moments are strong. Don’t like this as much as American Water but I’ll go 4 still
my David Berman issue is that im not a lyrics listener but this album is so nice!
weird broken up cadence throughout, also try not to sound bored as fuck throughout. The rhyming schemes are pretty basic, but I kinda get the vibe they were going for. I just think Bright Eyes did it better.
What an awful album to end 2025 on. Just boring, bland, poorly sung lyrics that don’t seem to even fit the god damn songs HE wrote. Dude if you want to cram wordy sentences into your songs than rewrite them so they fit! Quickly stumbling through syllables makes for a real shitty listening experience. Why is this on here?!? I get that this dude had a tragic life and killed himself but tragedy doesn’t always = worthwhile art. Let’s hope 2026 gets off to a better start.
Quite a weird album. Today is 31 December and I can't believe that I'm leaving the year with this. There are definitely worse ones that I've listened to, so it's okay, I won't complain too much. It was overall alright having it in the background, but it was just a bit meh.
David Berman was a pretty great songwriter, huh?
Good to know this album exists Next time I have some serious insomnia, this will be my new go-to solution During the daytime, I'll pass
Lyrics as interesting as you will hear anywhere. Ever. I love this man (Berman) The music a perfect low-key accompaniment to the lyrics. The alt-country hovering outside should be asked in for a beer and a shoot-the-shit session to all hours. You'll be best friends forever, maybe even move to Nashville.
This was new to me. All the way through I kept thinking oh it sounds like X or Y or Z. It seemed to sound like a lot of things but all things I really like so that was a positive. I was quite swayed by this and listened to it a second time just approve to myself that it was a quirky and fun ride. It was.
I'm somewhere between a 3-4 on this, and that alone is a surprise. The low energy not quite singing nature of this group could have sent me sideways, but something about the lyrical whimsy kept me afloat and I rather enjoyed it. One of those rare albums where I was surprised and a little sad when it was over. So I guess that merits a 4!
This one's all right, though I prefer American Water. Still, I like the cut of his scruffy, downtrodden jib.
Boring
I like the music a lot, but David Berman is really not the best singer in the world. He actually kind of makes this a difficult listen. 2.5/5
After a rather turgid start this progress into something with substantial legs. Certainly worth revisiting.
инди-рок в плохом смысле этого слова.
I really like the twangy, sad country style guitar playing on this album. The lead singer's voice is quite off-putting to me though. He somehow sounds like a 2010s hipster despite this album coming out in 2001. Overall it was fine, but not particularly enjoyable
Lyrics and no musical quality.
This is the music a wannabe hipster would say changed their life. SOAD for posers with a frontman who can’t sing in tune.
I got to the end of I Remember Me and was so close to turning off the music and throwing myself from the car. I liked the guitar, but the vocals truly I could not get past. I don't think I was depressed enough for this album. "my horse's legs look like 4 brown shotguns"?? okay man maybe you need to see somebody about that. It got better after that, just about cried from relief that Transylvania Blues was instrumental - that was my favorite track. Some of the lyrics were good but some were just massive stinkers.
cant get into it
The music is really nice. The vocals can be grating at some points. It's not really enough to ruin my enjoyment. Pretty solid album.
Mmmm I’m torn. I liked some of this album, but I felt it got old pretty quickly. It reminds me of geese, but in the way I don’t really like geese. I would probably listen again to see how I really feel.
Really struggled with this one, some of the lyrics are so cringe. There's something about the way the vocal is processed that I just find so flat, like it's dubbed over a whole band that was recorded separately for library music. Car Seat Headrest 10 years prior without any feeling
I'll admit, this one has me a little stumped on first listen. I'm not sure I understand the whole aesthetic. About the best I can say is there are plenty of likeable moments
Five stars for "Transylvania Blues" alone
didn't get much out of this
Got excited by one of the songs but checked and saw the album was over and it went into similar artists, that was better
It's ok. I'm not usually overly impressed with albums that are all about the lyrics.
Early 00s indie rock, it's slow and laid back, but I've found it just boring. His voice is sleepy and the songs are just uninspiring. At least it's not a long album and I listened it in one go. I don't think I should listen to this before I die...2 stars.
this is such a friday treat for a girl like me
Cool indie album. Very lo-fi and all I’d want out of this kind of album. Talked vocals, funny topics, simple instrumentals. Definitely enjoyed.
Excerpt from a fellow reviewer's 5-star review: "A kind of indie version of Tom Waits with Nick Cave, with a touch of country but without the cheap country lyrics. Also, some Bob Dylan characteristics, but in this case it is still listenable, even though he sometimes sounds a bit dissonant." and I wholeheartedly agree. This sounds terrible.
This was my first introduction to Silver Jews and I liked it a lot. They’re one of those bands I’ve been aware of for some time but hadn’t taken a dive into their music. I’m looking forward to exploring more.
I had a few ideas about what this could sound like based on the cover, and the moment the vocals started I realised I was completely wrong. There were some good songs on here, but the album as a whole wasn’t super interesting and it didn’t inspire me to want to explore the rest of the band’s discography.
Most 5/10 album ever
this was awful and i feel like i am probably the demographic they expect to like this
I can see how this would not be for everyone but I actually think this is pretty damn good. I'm inclined to be partial to lyric-forward artists that may not be classically great singers and this fits the bill. Solid opening, and track two is just a great love song (a little happier than I Remember Me which is a love song too but tragic). Some other great one liners interspersed ("tanning beds explode with rich women inside"??!!) Instrumentally there isn't anything really groundbreaking here but pleasant sort of Wilco-ish country rock abounds, although I do dig the vibe of Transylvania Blues with the metal riffing at the end. Great closer - some of these lines hit even more knowing about David Berman's personal struggles and eventual death.
Unlistenably dull, lifeless, boring, yet somehow annoying enough to turn off.
𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘍𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 leans fully into David Berman’s weary storytelling — dry, funny, sad, and often beautifully resigned. The arrangements stay sparse and unfussy, giving space to his voice and plainspoken delivery, but that also means the album can feel a bit muted if you’re not fully tuned into his lyrical world. There are sharp lines and memorable moments, yet the record moves at such an understated pace that parts of it slip by without leaving much impact. It’s thoughtful and intimate, but not consistently gripping.
Looking forward to exploring this band some more.
It was ok, but not sure I'll listen to it again.
Never heard of Silver Jews before, thought they were pretty good. Saved Transylvania Blues to my playlist
Weird that this is the Silver Jews album that makes this list, because there are other, probably better options! Which isn't to say this is bad, of course - David Berman's blueprint for a certain brand of 2000s indie shit was, unlike many blueprints on this list, better than its progeny. I have a theory about quality that is basically, with time, the reputation for best things goes to things that do the simple stuff perfectly, get everything right and nothing wrong, so when their reputation precedes them you go, "this is it?" That's kind of what this is. Wonderful lyricist, simple music that's not so stripped down as to be distracting, nor baroque enough to misstep. A voice that, as others have mentioned, mirrors Malkmus but works better with the music here than I find it does with Pavement. Simply good shit here.
So so bad
Fine. Not quite my thing. There’s something going on here but not for me.
I mean, I think it’s perfect but I worship at the altar of the late great DC Berman. This is one of my favorites, though I kind of just love them all the best.
I never really got into Silver Jews, but I need to.
We have Smog/Granddaddy/Sparklehorse at home. I expected to like this a bit more than I did. Silver Jews sound like a lot of bands I like but I just happened to hear those other acts first. The lyrocs are undoubtedly great but that just wasn't enough for me and I wanted to listen to the other bands I've already mentioned. Probably with a few more listens my rating would rise but it's just a three on first listen.
A little on the dull side but gets bonus points for not being 2 hrs long
Pretty bored. Didn't do too much for me outside the keyboard/piano on the 2rd/3rd song.
This was short and sweet, two thumbs up
All silver jews albums are 5 stars. This is one that I've definitely listened to less than others, but they're all phenomenal. Purple Mountains is still my all time favorite Berman project but the man was just a genius. Slow Education, I Remember Me, Let's Not and Say We Did, and Tennessee are highlights for this one.
Ha, lots of folks complaining here about all the dad rock, but when I listened to this played songs felt like a breath of fresh air. Anyway its not breaking much new ground, but some memorable songs and turns of phrase.
God I dislike indie music, and this album did nothing to change that. The Nashville sound they mixed in was a nice touch, but it still felt like I was listening to a country version of the Crash Test Dummies the whole time. There were a couple moments where the vibe almost worked for me, but overall it just dragged. Not completely terrible, just definitely not for me.
Country/Folk-Rock für lange Autofahrten. Sonst wenig spektakulär. 3/5
One of the extremely rare albums I couldn't even suffer through.
Yea this ain't it bud
What a drag. I appreciate Berman’s way with words but he is the epitome of a sad sack. Sorry, maybe that’s disrespectful to the dead… He was a real artist and I have sympathy for his struggles and his fate. But I’ve always had a hard time getting through a full album of his material. I guess I need a little more emotional range in the albums I enjoy (at least in the absence of good hooks).
Not really overwhelmed one way or another on this
Have not listen to any of their stuff. Really enjoyed this. Will listen again and look forward to hearing more from them.