Bright Flight

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.

I'd never heard of this group before, but they're rather good!

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.

8/10. Nice , sounds like other silver Jews albums

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.

Folky rocky. Enjoyed but without holding my full attention.

Tipo de som meio sujo que eu gosto com um vocal potente.

It's weird in a good way. I would listen to it again for sure.

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

Loved the slacker country vibe

pretty based, honestly not a big country fan but there’s some really nice indie stuff in here, 8/10

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).

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.

Very good stuff

Não conheci a banda e gostei demais

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.

The singing is not very good but in this context, it works. There's not a whole lot of variation in vibe but that works too. I enjoyed it.

It's aight. Whole time listening I was like "eh kinda feels like a worse version of Pavement" not knowing silver jews has two members of Pavement

This was pretty hit and miss. Some good writing but sometimes it felt like they were trying too hard to be ironic/alt

Meh. Definition of noughties lo-fi indie-Americana. Did what I was expecting without being terrible or especially memorable.

There's some of the gravel here that I love about Tom Waits, but it's more like a little bumpy road compared to a wild, chaotic path into the rocky hinterlands. So ehh.

Some albums you just have to be in the right mood for. This album filled with jangly sad boy songs came at a moment I could use them and the score reflects that. The vocals are a broken mess, something that in other cases would annoy me but now underscores the defeat and sadness in the music.

There was some clever and interesting songwriting, but that amd some decent instrumentation at times didn't do much to help this stay in my mind beyond listening to it.

Had that Beck crossed with Pavement feel, where the lyrics could be utterly nonsensical or surprisingly deep - all sung by what sounds like the same dude from Magnetic Fields. Those are all things I like, but would say the vocals at times skew a little too dissonnant to 100% love.

Never heard of this band or this guy. A little like Todd Snider, folksy/indie singer songrwriter talker poet type, with a melancholy vibe.

Hat was, Tendenz zu 4

Listened with my brother and at some point it just became sad background music with a few pretty decent exceptions.

The vocals sounded so bored???

This probably gets bearded men in plaid shirts very excited. However, it didn’t really grab my attention.

There are some silver Jews songs that I enjoy but none of them are on this album. I was listening out for something witty or acerbic in the lyrics but to be honest I struggled to make out a lot of it both due to the delivery style (I get it, it’s a feature, not necessarily a flaw) and how low the vocals were in the mix at times. As a result it was mostly listening to some pleasant, albeit not groundbreaking, alternative indie rock.

Started off awful but kinda grew on me a bit as it went on

Aight

3/5

More depressing songs by another manic depressive. I think the second listen, in the garden on a hot Sunday morning, mellowed me a little to this. First time around I was bored by the lazy unoriginal Lou Reed-esq vocal delivery. But second time I could buy in to the mellow lazy feel. Ok 3

Alright, but very forgettable. 2.5/5

Was ok. 2.9

Listens: 2.5 Standout Tracks: Room Games and Diamond Rain, Time Will Break The World Sort of lackluster. Minimalist music, mostly out-of-tune singing. Certainly no polished production value, but also strangely compelling for some reason. It's kind of somber and reminds me a lot of Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, though maybe not as dark. Yea, I'm going with "strangely compelling" for this one. I can't quite put my finger on why yet.

An album that only has closing songs. Sometimes Berman hits for me, sometimes he doesn’t. I came in with the SJs when SM and Nastanovich were featured more prominently, so I still prefer those albums, but Bright Flight is pretty much a masterpiece of Berman’s style.

It's like funny country-ish Bob Dylan. Some good ones in here but overall not my thing.

Lowkey ik ging misschien nog wel een beetje gunnen, maar dan kwamen ze met de cringeste lyrics ooit in het nummer "Tennessee": 'Come to Tennesse, cause you're the only Ten I see'. Like komaan das echt te redneck voor mij sorry ze

Indiemuziek met hier en daar een country-smaakje, zoiets. Dezelfde lijzige toon als Bloodhound gang of Tenacious D. Geinig, maar niks waarvan ik opveer. De hoes lijkt gepikt van een kansloze advertentie op Funda (interieur van een vervallen rijtjeshuis in Stadskanaal). Twee keer draaien, doorgaan met de volgende plaat.

nice chill lil guy Will I listen to again: 30%

i dont hate it. yet i also dont like it. like everybody knows, i dont vibe with country and thats all. 3/5

Just verry medium not bad not good just nothing. So 2.5 stars.

“Tennessee - you’re the only 10 I see” Is an actual lyric on this album. Combined with the stupid ass band name is all I would like to mention about this one. 3/5

Man, what coulda been with this album. The music itself is great indie rock, fantastic arrangements and guitars and I really enjoyed the songs themselves, especially the instrumental 'Transylvania Blues'. What destroyed this album was the talentless lead singer. This guy got a PhD in having a flat, monotone voice from Nick Cave University; he is truly terrible and should be nowhere near a microphone. If this band just had a C+ singer who could put any kind of emotion into their performance, this would have been an easy 4, but as they are saddled with one of the worst singers I've ever heard, the best I can do is a low 3/5. Such a shame.

David Berman is a hell of a songwriter.

Great sadcore indie rock. Bit like a sadder, countryfied Pavement.

mid

20 years ago I had a friend that loved SJ and talked about them all the time. I wish I would have listened intently sooner. I get that this is not for everyone. But I can’t deny the great songwriting. It even name checks my city, Chattanooga? Wow.

Indie music for pretentious people. It’s cool but I accept that it’s music for NPR indie types.

An incredibly unique band that blends country and slow core so deserves its place on the list.

Like Wesley Willis

Hmmmm i initially found this pretty boring just something to get through i’d say there’s a fairly samey section in the middle but it really grew on me. Like a sad, tired Paul Kelly (complimentary).

This warmed up for me, Tennessee was my pick of the bunch, but was too late to get me particularly invested

It has been discussed before but always interesting seeing an album from within my lifetime from somebody I’ve never heard of (obviously I wasn’t fully across the music scene of 2001 but I have never seen the name Silver Jews before). Wasn’t particularly enjoying or engaged by this but then suddenly quite liked Let’s Not And Say We Did and parts of Tennessee

Bright Flight marks a shift toward a more stripped‑down, country‑leaning sound for Silver Jews. The arrangements are sparse, often built around gentle guitars, steady rhythms, and David Berman’s unmistakably plainspoken delivery. The album doesn’t aim for polish; instead, it leans into a kind of lived‑in simplicity that suits Berman’s writing. Lyrically, the record blends melancholy, wry humor, and moments of stark introspection. Berman’s voice — both literal and literary — is the centerpiece. His lines can feel conversational one moment and unexpectedly poetic the next, giving the album a sense of emotional unpredictability. Musically, Bright Flight is one of the band’s most accessible works. The melodies are straightforward, the pacing unhurried, and the production intentionally unfussy. Some listeners may find the minimalism refreshing, while others might miss the more expansive textures of earlier albums like American Water. Either way, the record’s cohesion and clarity make it a distinctive entry in the Silver Jews catalog.

A little odd, but with a good sound. It checks a few boxes, but ultimately falls flat.

Beautiful and soulful while you’re in it, somewhat unremarkable when you’re not. Story telling is becoming a lost art in music, but this album is a collection of folk narratives that draw you in and take you on a journey. But, as your mother says, while the soul is strong, the ear worms are not.

Inget som stod ut något nämnvärt

Lät väl bra men osäker vad som gör att det hamnat på denna lista.

I like a bunch of Silver Jews tunes, and not one of them is on this album.

Nice guitar sound (at least through headphones), uninteresting songs.

An okay album.

this was ok. it was not something i needed to listen to before i die

Ok

Never heard of them before. Pleasantly surprised. Ramshackle americana songs with great lyrics and a sound like it's live in your garage. Probably won't follow them but I enjoyed it

3.25 somehow a more country version of Wilco

I gave their debut a shot cos I was a big Pavement fan, but it didn’t really do it for me and I sold it a number of years later having rarely given it a spin. I wasn’t into his country drawl and that’s pretty hard to get past so I never made it as far as this album (or beyond the debut to tell you the truth). It would have been the lyrics that might’ve hooked me, humorous, and nice way with a turn of phrase, but I wasn’t even drawn to them enough. It’s a friendly enough listen when not being too focused on it, but it’s not something I’m likely to return to.

Great!

Schöne Country‑Melodien, bitter‑poetische Zeilen, aber auch Momente, in denen die Stimmung etwas zu schwer und zerfasert wirkt. Die Highlights („Tennessee“, „I Remember Me“) glänzen, doch als Ganzes fehlt dem Album für mich der durchgehende Sog. Trotzdem ein ehrliches, eigenwilliges Werk, das seine besten Momente tief ins Gedächtnis schreibt.

this was an interesting album. I was a little put off by the first track, but as the album progressed i came to appreciate the quirky lyrics, which were poetic than most popular lyrics, where the rhyme scheme seems more important than the actual message. Good album.

Fallait me le dire que j’allais écouter Toby Keith

Not truly my taste

Ok listen.

3/5. Inte hört talas om, men verkar trevligt lo-fi i sin inspelningsstil.

Interesting album- never heard of this group before. Good sound, but the talking-like vocals sounded boring.

Better than I expected it to be for an indie band.

Mom, can we get Wilco? We have Wilco at home. (gets home, puts on Silver Jews album) I like this more than I expected, but I can't see a time where I'd listen to this over anything Jeff Tweedy released.

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

Nada mal. Muchos elementos que me gustaron, pero de uno o dos temas. Nota: 3.4

honestly just couldn't stay interested

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.

Nu aan het luisteren maar klinkt goed. Erg 2001. I'm not mad.

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

I would have never listened to this album otherwise. Pretty fun and overall interesting.

This dude's vocal range is craaaaaaazy

I actually liked this.

I really should hate this album but I actually quite like it

This album is proof that the music industry does not discriminate against artist who can't hold a tune.

The Spotify algorithm has to be this band’s biggest fan.

This started a bit slow but I ended up quite enjoying this.

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

I'd never heard of this band before, but found them enjoyable. Very similar vibes to Evan Dando. Might listen again.

Ok I suppose.

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.

This is the kind of country-tinged indie rock that I actually enjoy. I just wish there were stronger vocal performances.

Like the sound, not a fan of the voice

fine

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.

5.5/10

Kind of a chill vibe, didn’t hate it

This was weird but I liked it

Pleasant enough I guess

Fine

Pretty much the same as Harness. Feels like something I could enjoy more, but it's a 3 on 1 listen.

Probably something I could get in to if I had the time

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

Bleh. Really bland. Not horrible to listen to overall.

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

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.

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

- 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

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.

Slow education - 4 Room games and diamoind rain - 3 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

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.

Not sure - a little dour, a little Beck, ok-ish but not my main jam

This is a sit on your couch and listen album. Nothing crazy but a decent listen

Enjoyable album.

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

Part Pavement, Part Uncle Tupelo. Not as good as either.

2.9

3.3 2x decent indie but dont see myself coming back.

-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

It was fine, but found it a bit boring. Not bad though, could be good maybe when in the mood.

If you like indie, and want to see one of the bands that helped craft the sound, you will like this.

++: 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

Interesting in spots, not a lot of focus tho

🥇horseleg swastikas 🥈lets not and say we did 🥉tennessee HM: slow education, time will break the world, i remember me

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!

It’s fine, no comment

This style of singing, but not singing can be hit or miss, and this guy is mostly miss.

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.

Haven't heard of before. Enjoyed as well as reading about the Pavement connection

not bad i suppose

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

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.

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

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.)

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

my David Berman issue is that im not a lyrics listener but this album is so nice!

This one's all right, though I prefer American Water. Still, I like the cut of his scruffy, downtrodden jib.

After a rather turgid start this progress into something with substantial legs. Certainly worth revisiting.

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

It's ok. I'm not usually overly impressed with albums that are all about the lyrics.

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

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

Fine. Not quite my thing. There’s something going on here but not for me.

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

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.

Country/Folk-Rock für lange Autofahrten. Sonst wenig spektakulär. 3/5

Was ok but I won’t remember it

Wasn’t expecting much. Not bad

This is a very melancholy indie rock album. It features guitar jangles with a very downbeat vocalist singing world-weary lyrics. This is definitely not a record to listen to at a party. The lyrics are better than most of the stuff I've listened to recently, but the songs show very little sonic variance. It kind of all sounds the same: mid tempo, jangly indie ballads with very forlorn-sounding vocals.

Coming into an album like this I'm gonna have an immediate question: "Why is this here?" Y'know, it's never something I find all too important to my overall opinion, but I still think it's worth asking nonetheless. I mean, in a book that proclaims to have 1,001 albums you **must** hear before you die ... you as well find out if it's true for you or not. It's not exactly a unique question. But you have an album like this — from a group you've never heard of before in your life, that was released in 2001, and that's labelled as "indie rock" both in this book and on Wikipedia ... well, I find I'm gonna have certain biases. Like, early 2000's indie rock is one of the banes of this book. Next to New Wave, 60's psych rock and nearly anything that comes from the UK ... it's one of those categories of albums you get and you jus' kinda hafta groan at. "Another one??" And, y'know, I try to not let this sort of mentality affect me — I really do. I keep telling myself, "Every album is here for a reason, whether **I** can see it or not." They all hafta have one. Though, I'll admit I'd be lying if I said that with albums like this I wasn't sort of looking for a reason to say they **didn't** belong here — y'know? And I can't think of the last album that's given me so many reasons right off the bat. The first side of this album ... I mean, sonically, it's fine, but, holy shit, this guy's voice. I spent a lot of these first five tracks wracking my brain to come up with what he sounded like, and all I could ever come up with was that it sounded like he wasn't trying. I got this impression that he felt he could get away with halfassing his vocals and never really trying to sing that well because, hey, it's lo-fi indie rock, and that's just what the singers on this shit sound like. Especially if they're trying to sound **deep, meaningful and important**. But he never does. He just sounded uninterested, which by extent made the music completely uninteresting. I mean, I read one review saying that the singer has "a wry, world-weary drawl", and that "it’s like listening to a guy at the end of the bar tell stories that are equal parts poetic, absurd, and devastating", and ... I guess? And if that's the case, I'd rather take Nick Cave or Tom Waits over this guy. They at least care enough to put **some kinda** spunk on their vocals. So I was all ready to write off this album. I just couldn't think of a single reason why I needed to listen to this album before I died. And I'm not gonna say the second side made me do a complete 180º on my opinion of this album's "must hear" factor, but ... jeez, it did make the first side look all the worse. Like, I **really** don't know why'd hafta hear **that side** especially. Here's the thing. All throughout the first side, you can make out a lot of country music seasoning. There's some pedal steel in there ... y'know. But it sort of gets lost next to how hard this album clearly wants to be **meaningful** lo-fi indie. However, by the second side, it seems like the band decided to completely give up on that, because they suddenly lean **way more** into country and the album practically **immediately** gets a **lot** better. It's sort of crazy how hard this album shifts on the second side. "Transylvania Blues" is already a marked improvement, but then once you hit "Let's Not And Say We Did", it's like you're not even listening to the same album anymore. The singer's vocals fit a **lot** better over this more straight-forward country shit, and as a result the instrumentals start to sound a lot better as well. It's crazy. Even "Tennessee" hits, despite the (probably intentionally) corny line "You're the only ten **I** see." And ... y'know, it leaves me with a more important question than whether or not this album belongs here: why didn't the **whole album** sound like this second side? They're clearly a lot better at this indie country thing than they are at this indie lo-fi shit, so why did it take them half the dang record to lean in? I'm just saying, it'd been a country album or longer, I wouldn't have found as much reason to dismiss this thing out of hand. My standards for country music are not very high; they could have gotten more of a pass from me. As it stands, though, looking at it for what it is than what it could've been ... it's pretty good indie country that's unfortunately brought down by an indie lo-fi first half. If you wanted to listen to this thing, I'd honestly tell you to just skip to back five songs. Whether or not they're anything you **must** hear, believe me, you'll give more out of them than the **first five**. Goodness...

Not sure what I should say about this album. 3.5 bumped down to 3.

This reminds me of Pavement, but the singer has a deeper voice. Not suprised to find out from reading thru the wiki page that the band originally had Stephen Malkmus of Pavement in its lineup. Seems appropriate.

Slow. Kinda boring. Might check it out later

Good enough album, didn’t find it doing anything particularly original, but still enjoyable

Short, bittersweet and twanging of Nashville. This reminded me of both Leonard Cohen and Wilco. The songwriting is equal parts witty and depressing and this seeps into the overall mood of this album. Some songs, such as I Remember Me, Room Games and Diamond Rain, and Tennessee stood out to me. As for the rest, despite clever songwriting and talented musicians, I found the consistent downtempo feel of the album did drag in places. I'm glad to have heard this and will be returning to some of it to listen again.

I think the last song alone earned a star: it was the first I liked on first listen, and may be the only song I liked. While listening I had the thought that only Dylan and Young had earned the right to release entire albums filled with terrible singing--and right on cue Apple Music played a Dylan song right after this, like, "oh, you like acoustic music by people who can't sing", how about this. Reading a little about the band, and this album, the morning after listening I find myself thinking I should go back and listen again--and actually pay attention to the lyrics, which I always come around to last. Apparently they're really good, according to various reviewers. Yet, my first impression is still that most of this is unfinished or just not very good. It would be 2 stars, but I do love that last song.

A band I say I know much more than I do. I like David Berman because he was a longtime Shmuel favourite. The only song I really know is How Can I Love You If You Don't Lie Down, which I recorded myself for his 40th. This is not that, but it carries Berman's lowlife poet charm on its sleeve. Somewhere between Lou Reed and Stephin Merritt. I want to run through his discography sometime, but it's so awfully sad, even back in 2001; and I hear it doesn't get better in the following 18 years up to his suicide.

honestly i liked this and felt like the best moments were when it was bare instrumentals without his vocals, but then i got to the track where he said "i want to be like water if i can, 'cause water doesn't give a damn" and i found it so tender after reading about his life...this is the most 2001 album to ever exist for better and for worse, may he rip

Lovely stuff.

Had never heard of this. Quite enjoyed it for what it was.

i thought i'd like this more

Today I learned that the origins of Pavement were in a short lived, cult status, alt country band called The Silver Jews. My first thought was about the oddness of having a country band in Hoboken, NJ. I spent a lot of time in Hoboken when I was younger and the vibe is very young professional meets punk rock. You get the people who want a quieter place to live with a very easy commute of Manhattan. You also have one of the punk and indie Meccas, the venue and bar Maxwells where the likes of Sonic Youth, J Mascis, and early Nirvana would play. None of that screams country. Yet I can imagine an intense sadness from lead singer David Berman, working out his identity (as aluded to, slightly cryptically in the band name), and looking out at the New York skyline with the hectic pace it represents. Maybe country, or a form of it, is exactly the outlet to channel that sadness. But the Silver Jews were as far from Nashville as they could possibly be, physically, musically and culturally. The style reminds me much more of Elliott Smith as a reflection of depression. But with Smith, I always found a slight amount of hope, like the music was helping him to cope. Berman feels a bit more desperate to me, at least for much of the album. It's definitely an interesting one, especially as Pavement would later come about from The Silver Jews' break up. I'm unlikely to return to this one often though.

very peaceful

Nothing special but good. Didint bother me but not an unforgetable album

The music is alright, easy to listen to and some songs have lines that go really hard, like "And I have no idea what drives you mister But I've killed you in my mind so many times before." But damn it, I cannot handle "Marry me and leave Kentucky Come to Tennessee 'Cause you're the only ten I see" What were they on, writing those lyrics???

In college, I took a poetry creative writing class, and in addition to writing poetry, we sometimes had to analyze published poems of our choosing. In the first class, our professor stressed that we could not pick song lyrics. "Not even Bob Dylan," she said. "He's a rock lyricist. Not a poet." Then she thought about it and said the only exception she would allow was David Berman from Silver Jews, and maybe a few songs by Tom Waits. Listening to this album, I totally understand why David Berman's lyrics might count as poetry. His lyrics are surprising and inventive. The language is plain and direct, but the imagery feels dense. A lot of lines make you tilt your head to consider them a little more. Some of them make emotional sense before they make logical sense. Speaking of Tom Waits, this particular verse from "Horseleg Swastikas" could easily be in a Waits song: "On the wrong side of Sunday morning Shattered in the terrible light Working for a bankrupt circus On the wrong side of Saturday night" Also, "horseleg swastikas" is an incredible phrase. Feels like the kind of image you could roll around your mind a bunch and have totally different "A-ha, now I get it" interpretations of over the years. "I Remember Me" is beautiful and touching and surprising and a little funny. The bit where he buys the car that put him in a coma and touches the part that hit him? It's heartbreaking but not without a bit of humor. The music is very good too. The country style complements Berman's half-spoken style of vocals. Also, William Tyler is the guitarist here -- I love his instrumental solo albums. I didn't realize he was in Silver Jews beforehand.

This was just a middle of the road, mediocre album for me. It pretty much falls under that indie country movement that artists like Bill Callahan and Bonnie “Prince” Billy are known for. So if you’re a fan of those guys, then you’ll probably enjoy this album more than I did.

I like a mellow indie rock record, but I'm not a fan of Berman's vocals. And lyrically, I prefer a more impressionistic style rather than the bold-face type here.

Sad album with some character. I actually like David Berman's voice (RIP)

First time I heard these guys. I like it enough that I'm going to buy the album.

In the vein of Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground

Album #943 The music was ok, but I wasn’t a fan of his flat voice. It helped when the lady joined in on Tennessee. Was this song the first time the line “you’re the only ten I see” was used?!

Standard shoe gaze indie

A suprisingly decent listen. A bit too modern hippyish for me but some nice bits.

I tried to pay attention. But this did absolutely nothing for me aside from a couple moderately interesting hooks.

So very indie sounding. 2.5*

American Water is a better album

- Zu Beginn hat es mir ganz gut gefallen, wurde dann gegen Ende etwas eintönig - Trotzdem etwas besonderes, finde es gut das ich es mal gehört habe Topsong: Tennessee

Didn't mind it, but nothing really stood out.

I tried with this one, I really did. I went into this album knowing the backstory of the band, and the tragedy that befell the lead singer. I went in knowing the style of this album, on an overcast day that seemed perfect for the downcast nature of the songs. But man, Berman’s voice did not click with me. Everything else is very nice, but yeah, I couldn’t get over the vocals.

Bright Flight reminds me of the album Teddy In The Sky With Magnets by Fish Karma. It features the tunes "God Is A Groovy Guy" and "Baby, Let's Be Methodists Tonight." Check it out. Bright Flight is also fine.

Słuchałem tego albumu chyba 4, jeśli nie pięć razy. Przyznaję, że za każdym razem robiłem coś w tle (czytałem, trenowałem albo brałem prysznic), więc moja uwaga nie była w 100% skupiona, ale też nie czułem, żeby coś mnie szczególnie do tych utworów przyciągało. To fajny album, przyjemny, z bardzo ciepłą, miękką perkusją, która mi mega odpowiada. Trochę fajnego basu i pianinka od czasu do czasu. Przyjemny wokal (a w zasadzie wokale) i zgrabne teksty. Ale brakowało mi jakiegoś hooka. Czegoś, co sprawi, że będę chciał się całkowicie skupić na tym albumie i do niego wracać. Ogólnie mam dobre wrażenia, ale zabrakło mi odrobiny czegoś specjalnego. 3,5/5

Odd, not bad

Best Track - "Tennessee"

First I’ve heard of these. Has a kind of Bright Eyes meets Tom Waites feel, with a sprinkling of humour on top. It’s a pleasant mosey. Nice sound and easy to digest. ‘Let’s not and say we did’ is a nice fun change up, at a good time. But generally okay with the overall style and approach. It feels full, fun and substantial. Special shout out to “you’re the only Ten-I-See” close to giving it 4* but maybe more closely (3.5)

It was fine and relaxing to listen to.

Happy chap 😁

At first it seems like just another one of those indie bands that are just so indifferent and sarcastic about everything, but this is actually a mildly clever and entertaining album. Musically speaking it’s not amazing, but it manages to stay interesting. The vocals are nothing to write home about, but do the job. The lyrics deal with some serious stuff, but also find room for more lighthearted passages and little jokes. It’s three stars from me. Props to the band for sticking to a run time of 35 minutes - some of the albums on this list are just way too long. 3/5

I like Silver Jews but could not really get into this album

Fav: Let’s Not And Say We Did Least Fav: I Remember Me I came around to this album in the end, but those vocals are terrible in parts and lets down the rest of the music

Alrightish sad dad indie I guess. Short so easy to get a relisten in which helps it grow on you a little. Not a fan of the vocals as a whole, a few tracks are misses.

His phrasing and voice remind me of Adam green but the overall effect doesn't have the innocent charm of the mouldy peaches. I get the impression with a few listens there may be some magic or insight within the lyrics that didn't jump out on a first listen. A lot of it kind of plodded through, it was ok, but it hasn't made me desperate to look more of them up.

Tough one to start with, but i like this personal introduction to country. Tough because since it’s 1001 albums you can’t die i think i put too much emphasis on it being life changing. Did enjoy it tho. 5/10

I’ve never heard of this band before, interesting music though. Rhyming lyrics that were not so clever, seemed like it was their shtick though.

This was ok. Both vocals and instrumentals were decent. So by indie rock standards, it was pretty good.

Meh. Can't find a single other word. Just meh. 2.5/5

Back in the 2000s you could make a classic indie album by not being able to sing and writing sad lyrics.

chill

It was alright I guess? Nothing particularly stood out good or bad.

3.5

Some really good songwriting and worthy of being on the list, but ultimately not an album I'll be revisiting.

There were moments on this that I enjoyed, but the underlying country rock / alt-country vibe tends to be a turn-off for me, or at least not engaging. It was always ok/good, but rarely great. 3/5

This was a great find! The band is right up my alley

I've really enjoyed other Silver Jews songs but as a collective, it's hard to get behind the monotonous delivery of the vocals

Decently good

One of those things where I really enjoy it while listening, and then immediately forget all about it afterwards.

Nice and easy listening

This was ok, kind of a standard circa-2000 indie rock flair.

It wasn't bad, but the singer really wasn't noteworthy. Alas, background music.

Interesting! It felt more like country than indie rock. I did like that influence. The singer’s intonation was certainly unique. I’m not sure how I feel about it. It was a pretty pleasant listen. 6/10

I knew David Berman from a distance, which is to say my sister was friends with him and other artists in the late 80s/early 90s growing up in Dallas. I was only familiar with earlier Silver Jews albums, and so I probably lean more in that direction. But this record still delivers on enough tracks. Overall the music is more of a background to his evocative lyrics and storytelling.

I prob liked this more than most... I have a soft spot for this kind of talk singing approach, though the relatively unknown band, Thee More Shallows, is my favorite of the genre. Anyways, this is good enough for an average rating. 2.5/5

Listening to this album on a train has a very soporific effect but in a good way. Not fantastic, but not bad at all.

The music part I like enough to give us album before, but the singer was so bad. I would’ve given him just a two.

I know they have better records. The songs here are not his strongest.

Kinda fun. Weird.

27/1001 Silver Jews - Bright Flight Heard before? ❎ Revisit? 🫳 Country enthused indie. I think I far prefer the musicianship and arrangements than the drawl that David Berman has. The lyrics can often be quite wry and witty.

Kinda good

I like the instrumentation and lyrics but his voice is just a tinge too off key for me to really enjoy it

This was just a middle of the road, mediocre album for me. It pretty much falls under that indie country movement that artists like Bill Callahan and Bonnie “Prince” Billy are known for. So if you’re a fan of those guys, then you’ll probably enjoy this album more than I did.

Listened to this and his first two albums today. In general I like and respect him but don’t love him. But it’s nice to get his to know his music better

Album 833 of 1089 Silver Jews -Bright Flight (2001) Rating : 3 / 5 A very unique album. I wouldn’t turn to Bright Flight for catchy melodies or polished hooks, but as a change of pace, it really delivers something special. David Berman’s deadpan vocals and stark lyrics pull you into a strange, poetic space—like a drunk conversation with your own thoughts while staring out at the Nashville skyline. It’s reflective, raw, and unexpectedly beautiful. “Tennessee” stood out as a highlight, but the whole thing left an impression. A very interesting listen.

Alright album but not life changing. The last song was my favorite

Its fine...

It’s an alright album. I enjoy some of Pavements music, and this is like a stripped down version of some of that. Missing a real attention grabbing track though. 3/5 Probably won’t listen again

Great songwriter - but not sure this is their best or a particularly stand-out album

Pretty enjoyable listen. They sound like pavement with less distortion. Some of the lyrics made me laugh a little. I like the sound, the guys voice has the perfect detached irony that fits the time/style.

This one has some decent songs and then a few that are just kinda whatever. “I Remember Me” is pretty damn sad, that’s easily the best song on the album.

Alright. 3/5

I like lofi indie from the 90's-early 00's, but this one didn't grab me. maybe their earlier albums cuz i don't hate it. simple but samey tho i like the song names and aesthetic overall. if i had to prop it up at all, its from its punk adjacent style that at least makes the entire album feel authentic for the time period. its strikes me as a very transitional time for alternative and its stands out even tho ive never heard of them until this rec. 3 out of 5, it would be lower but i would def go to their show with a friend who was a bigger fan than i. 06/19/2025

Droning indie rock

I gave this one an honest shot, but just don’t think I’m riding the same wave. I get why people would like it, but that’s true about key lime pie too and you’ll never see me order it.

Interesting music with intriguing lyrics, a bit like Lou Reed singing country!

Solid folksy album

That's not my taste in music - But ok

This was cool. I liked it overall. Kinda meh though

This is ok, a pretty run-of-the-mill early 2000s indie rock album, and there is no mistaking it for anything else. It’s perfectly pleasant.

I couldn‘t stand it at the beginning but it aomehow grew on me.

way too slow for me, but for this style i must admit i tolerated it better than expected lol.

DID NOT LISTEN

I almost gave it a four but I listened to it a couple times and it got a little tiresome so I would give it a 3.5 if they

Love the voice, lyrics and sound of this album.

Still waiting for his stuff to grow on me more. Love the lyrics but it's still a slow grind

David Berman's vocals are absolutely gorgeous. This with combined with loose, extremely slow paced approach to country, makes for an enjoyably melancholy listen. I am a lover of sugary treats, so I must admit that the pop factor Berman later brings to Purple Mountains is more my speed, but I certainly have no regrets spinning this for half an hour.

The bizarre lyrics kept me entertained. Otherwise this would be a 2

For a country record, I think it is very good. The voice is soothing and sad, while the instrumentation borrows elements from other genres such as indie-rock, and it works very well. I just wish I could connect with it a little more. Emotinally speaking, it didn't do too much for me.

No way - I know these guys. I listened to "Purple Mountains" a little over two years ago, which is the successor band to Silver Jews. That album was pretty good, though it's too much of a downer for me. This guy's vocal fried, sad sack voice gracing my eardrums again after all these years is a nice feeling. Welcome back. Comparing this to Purple Mountains leaves a bit to be desired, though in all fairness both albums have different things going for them. The biggest difference is that Bright Flight is the more emotionally complex album. BF is about as hopeful and affirming as it is desolate and hopeless, whereas Purple Mountains is much more resigned to fate. Berman's depressive vocals are sure to polarise, though for what it's worth, I think they're quite good. They're very good at holding my attention and it's pretty endearing when his voice occasionally breaks into a more positive tone. Instrumentally this album is quite similar to Purple Mountains, though I recall PM having a bit more of an atmospheric edge whereas this album is a lot more straight-laced in it's musical identity. Very old-country influenced, which I think works with the directionless, helpless feel of the music while also being pleasing to listen to. The electric guitars on these albums feel like a warm hug, and the acoustic guitar that pierces through it is equally as comforting. I'm privy to the idea of giving these lyrics a closer look sometime in the future. Silver Jews are officially on my radar. I added them to my little notepad file and everything.

good enough

It's lackadaisical, smug and a little too simplistic for my taste. Mostly it just reminds me of smoking cigarettes in a beanie in 2008. Not exactly a bad feeling, but nostalgia for a different time can only carry me so far.

Indie country anyone? No, me neither.

Snow falls down so beutiful and stupid.

Generic sounding indie landfill. Move on.

On first listen, I didn't like it. Felt that it was some kind of Lou Reed tribute. But there are moments of authenticity that make me think I should relisten to this later. Like maybe when I'm drunk on a couch in Nashville.

I love American water and have a great deal of respect for SJ. Bright Flight is sort of a bummer. It's lovely poetry. The music is enchanting. It's just real raw in a way I don't prefer. I had the chance to see them live in there third show ever and was already a fan of American Water and Natural Bridge. They played one song off of this album.

Interesting lyrics, but overall a sad/beautiful album. The lead singers voice is different, but it kind of works. Has an alt-country sounding twang, but feels very stripped down.

An album with a drunkenly sad atmosphere. It didn’t resonate quite as deeply as I thought it might, but I still enjoyed it. Favorite: Time Will Break The World 3-3.5

í anda alternatífs köntrí. er frekar áreynslulaust en með textum sem gefa vísbendingar um framheilaskaða. gæti fílað með aukinni hlustun, 3.5.

My kind of thing, but would really struggle to justify its inclusion on this list.

Pavement but more boring? Hmm... I like it fine enough but it's missing something. Sometimes it reminds me of Galaxie 500 or Yo La Tengo. Glad I heard it but not really for me.

Långsam indie

It’s fine? Inoffensive, nothing spectacular but definitely not bad. Nothing I care to seek out again. I Remember Me is nice.

Woof. 3 stars I mean I appreciate hometown pride but its so so sad.

Average at best

Alright

3/5

Strangely grew on me. Reminiscent of early Beck, One Foot in the Grave, to be specific. Not that it sounds just like it, but has sort of the same feel to me. At first I was unimpressed, but by the end I could see listening to this again.

The lyrics aren’t good, but I heard how it would influence certain genres later. (3)0

Enjoyed but a little depressing

I do like this. It comes across like other slow indie type albums of the mid 2010's. I know I liked the first half more than the second half. Worth listening to some of their other stuff.

slow, melancholy, awesome!

heroin

No termina de convencer, a veces es lento y otras muyyyy lento, pero aprecio que la grabación parece ser hecha sin el aporte de mucho laboratorio

I can't believe I got a band with Jews in the name in the same week as Kanye. That's kind of hilarious. Anyways, Bright Flight is a good album. It's not a super interesting album to me personally. I've listened to a few too many 90s/2000s indie albums for this one to really speak to me. However, I can absolutely tell that this album is one that was made with a lot of care. The style is nice. It's definitely indie, but it has some country elements that would make it stand out if it weren't for other bands like Wilco that kind of do similar things. I've also seen comparisons to Tom Waits in some of the reviews, which I didn't get much of. I can kind of see it, but as far as artists with 5 albums on this list that I'd compare this album to, I definitely got more of a Nick Cave vibe from this than anything. That's probably because of David Berman's vocals, which I think are good for the songs. The writing is pretty good. I don't think there are really any bad songs on here. It's definitely on the shorter side. I would've been okay with it being a bit longer, but I'm also totally fine with the 35 minutes we have now. This is far from my favorite album of 2001. However, I would still like to give praise to this album, because I think it deserves it. High 3/5.

Bright Flight is an album that feels like it’s constantly teetering between deadpan humor and crushing sadness, and somehow, David Berman makes that balancing act feel effortless. His voice, as always, is more of a wry, world-weary drawl than traditional singing, but that’s part of the charm—it’s like listening to a guy at the end of the bar tell stories that are equal parts poetic, absurd, and devastating. Songs like Slow Education and Let’s Not and Say We Did are beautifully lazy in that Silver Jews way, drifting along on twangy guitars and lyrics that feel like inside jokes between Berman and the universe. Then there’s Tennessee, probably the closest thing here to a proper country song, but still laced with the kind of irony and longing that makes it unmistakably his. It’s not an album that demands your attention—it just exists, unfolding at its own pace, and either you’re on its wavelength, or you’re not. The arrangements are more stripped-down than on previous Silver Jews records, making the songwriting feel even more exposed, sometimes to the point of feeling too slow or sparse. But there’s something undeniably hypnotic about Berman’s world, where love, loss, and deadpan one-liners coexist in a way that makes you laugh right before it punches you in the gut. Bright Flight might not be as immediate or iconic as American Water, but it’s still a beautiful, melancholy trip through Berman’s singular mind. It’s sad, it’s funny, and it’s got just the right amount of existential shrug. If you’re already a Silver Jews fan, it’s another chapter worth savoring. If you’re not, this probably won’t be the album to change your mind—but for those who get it, it’s a quiet masterpiece.

I feel very conflicted about this album. Musically, I liked a lot of this. The vocals, however, just sound wrong at times; it’s like he does not want to be there. I feel like this would be like a 3,5/5 but I’ll round down because 4 stars is too much for this.

This was quite nice and relaxing

malkmus? i'm in.

I know nothing about this. Is it hipster country? The music doesn’t seem to match the vocals. Voice is strong and distinct. Songs are fragments. It’s like a less nerdy Beck or a less cool Supersuckers.

A intimate and honest record with vivid imagery. Lyrically focused, vocal-front music with a loose-feeling indie rock supporting cast that also has some rootsy vibes. Bermanmay not have a traditional “good” voice, but it’s perfect for the music he’s creating. You can feel his melancholy, loneliness, despair, and occasional slight glimmer of hope. However it can get dull, particularly if the lyrics don’t pull you in.

This sounds like country music but done ironically by someone from New Jersey. Not bad, I think guitar and so on are great. This sound is reminiscent of Bojack Horseman to me idk.

smarmy and simple indie rock music. the vocals especially remind me of something johnny cash would put out in his final years. he almost sounds bored. not sure if i'm feeling this one too much, it's a very quiet sound and it doesn't do too much to keep me interested for long. some of the lyrics are interesting, but it's just... blah. sorry.

not what is expected. a more country album than I thought it would be. Needs another listen