Reviews (page 6 of 7)
The best parts are when the guy isn’t singing, but even those are only ok.
Fine but a little boring
Can’t say that I enjoyed. It was pretty standard early 2000s alt that is not really my jam
Boring, depressing indie rock sung with almost indifference. I thought it was satirical at first given the singer's bored inflection and sarcastic lyrics. Music wasn't bad i suppose, just nothing catchy enough to bring me back.
I really liked the music, and the lead singer has a great speaking voice, but he doesn't sing with it. Or rather, he doesn't know how to as an attempt is made. This could have been really good.
Laid back low-key indie. Nothing exciting here really
If someone got into my car while this was playing, I'd be a little embarrassed.
Bronze star for the silver news
Tää meni tällaiseen yleisindieosastoon mulla. Vähän tyhjäksi imetty laari tämä. 2/5
Tanning beds explode with rich women inside …
At first I really hated this and wondered why it was included on the list. Then I started to hate it less. Still, I won’t listen again.
5/10 Do not like the vocals
Feels artsy for the sake of being artsy.
This isn’t a bad album but it’s not for me. I just found it boring mostly. I figured I was almost done with it when I looked and saw I was only on the third song. So for a relatively short album I was done with it about three songs in.
Kind of a clonky album that had me immediately thinking about Pavement. Oh funny, I read the bio as I was writing this review and I guess this band is strongly tied with two members to Pavement. So that made a lot more sense. I don't particularly like the weird "low-fi" sound particularly of the vocals in Pavement and now this band. I really don't find the lyrics profound or even interesting. Is it supposed to be ironic? Melodic? Really falls quite flat though it's not the worst!
David Berman might not be very good at coming up with band names. Or writing lyrics. Or singing. Ok, occasionally he comes up with a gem of a lyric. But those gems are hard to uncover wading through muck like “you’re the only Ten-I-see.” He’s a poet, don’t you know it? Is it satire? Tongue-in-cheek? Is the intention for me to laugh out loud? “Transylvania Blues” has a great sound, though. Probably helped that it was an instrumental.
I like the lo fi sound but does anyone else feel like it was a hallmark of this time in indie folk that male lead singers be kind of crappy vocalists? Also the lyrics leave something to be desired although they did make me laugh out loud. Several songs were very stream of consciousness meets elementary school poetry where things have to rhyme but not make sense (Time Will Break the World was the funniest to me containing gems such as "A kitten from Great Britain" and "tanning beds explode with rich women inside").
It’s difficult to think of a more unexciting voice. Get a new singer or use autotune. Anything to mask the boring.
The tracks Tennessee and Friday Night Fever just about elevate this to a two-star album for me. The singing in general is dreadful, and I feel that this album would best be on a list called 1001 albums to listen to that will make you want to die.
Ok
Some interesting storytelling and lyrics in a very mellow music bed.
Never heard of Silver Jews, and after listening I'm not surprised. While entertaining it's not Top 1001 material, not even Top 2002. Intro tune sounds like a Cracker demo cut and the following songs were all stuck in first gear with no compelling reason to listen to them all the way through. The best song was the instrumental "Transylvania Blues". The other tracks have too many words, not enough music or melody. "Boring" is the word that first comes to mind. I tried. No hits, not influential from what I can tell, weak vocals, no real hooks to draw you in, overall it's a better than average album. There is NO way this album is on ANY other Top 1001 list ever made. I think this was added by mistake or the lead singer is the one assembling this list.
buhhhhhhh
Wannabe Pavement
Meh
Hadn’t heard of this band before. I somewhat enjoyed the music, but a lot of the lyrics were a bit weird for me. And the singer’s voice may be an acquired taste, but wasn’t my cup of tea. Onto the next one.
First listen. Ok.
No lo conocía y no me he perdido nada. Indi, folkie, aburrido. Dos estrellas por pena y reservar los de 1 estrella para los discos malos.
I will never understand albums/bands like this that seem to think music is a joke or something. The singer doesn't seem to care about any of it so he just maybe purposefully "sings" in the most low effort shitty way. If you don't care about your music, why should I?
Pretty unenjoyable, I didn't like the off-key singing. Low 2.
3/10 - "My horses legs look like four brown shotguns" is quite a lyric. Why does this guy hate horse legs? His singing is pretty bad. I did not like any of the songs to be honest.
Feels a lot like pavement. As with other slacker rock, I’m a big fan of the general vibe, but I really could do without the style of signing on this. Right between a 3 and a 4
His voice bored me. Was that purposeful?
This one didn't land well with me. Not very good.
This album was a little bit strange to me. I guess it's indie rock, but the vocals were almost like spoken word so I didn't care for it very much. I would not seek this one out again.
couple decent songs but mostly whack
Dreary vocals and only half-interesting songwriting. Quite the drag.
Some of the music isn't bad, but the singing is rough at best. 2/5
Early 2000s indie rock, but not bad. However, I have to ask, why is this here?
Don't like,,,, molt pla
oh dear, that's not a pretty voice - couldn't make it past the first 6 tracks
This album was so bland and uninteresting that I didn't even notice when it ended and Spotify started auto-playing other artists
What occurred to me while listening to this album is it is something I might find in a remainder bin. If I had even a vague recollection of the group I might pick it up, listen to it once, and file it away. With respect to the performers that wanted to have their voices heard, this should not be on anyone's list of albums to hear before they die.
I quite like a good, sad album. You can really descend into a quiet, contemplative mood and let the music take you. This sad-sack approach on the other hand is really boring and irritating. His voice is so droney and half-arsed. It sounds like he's chronically depressed, and singing all the songs while sunk deep into the sofa (presumably the one on the cover). He's dragged me down to his level and left me feeling a lot worse for it. Thanks for that mate.
Not my music
Hade det inte varit för Transylvania Blues och den otroligt feta lyriken skulle detta album fått en 1. Tråkiga vocals och tråkigt instrumentalt. Låtarna var liknande och han sjunger så jävla monotont. Verkligen inte min stil. Däremot var lyriken otrolig!! bästa lines var: ”Marry me and leave Kentucky, come to Tennesse. CAUSE YOUR THE ONLY TEN I SEE”. Eller annan lyrik som ”The snow falls down so beautiful and stupid. For the black silhouette of Abraham Lincoln trees. The sky’s low and grey like a Japanese table. And my horse’s legs look like four brown shotguns”. Världens bästa ordkonstnär efter Einar.
älskade INTE hans röst - ändå unik😬 Hur kan det låta som varenda rad han sjunger är den första sången som nånsin lämnat hans mun/som han gissar hur varje ord ska uttalas😁 MEN annars var så många grejer bra!! Ibland var texten så så fin typ death of an heir of sorrows (ibland var den dock så inte fin typ tennesse söööög) Men nästan 4/5 om man bytt ut sångaren. För mig bara gifte sig det inte med så smygande instrumental och så anklagande sång damn trippy 😰 Bästa låt: i remember me och horseleg swastikas (vad är detta för titel🤪)
Väldigt monotont album, men ändå helt okej Bästa låt: Horseleg swastikas
It was aight. I liked the voice and singing style. The lyrics per unique and personal, but didn't really resonate with me that much.
Talk singing not my thing but very pretty
I hate this. I don't even know why. The music is pretty at times. The lyrics are often clever. Singing is serviceable. But I can't find anything I personally like here. 2/10
Very Nick Cagey this, and crossed with a lot of country based tunes this was never going to be my favourite. Didn't mind the singing, it reminded of something I can't quite place but was very indie in a can't quite sing kind of way. One playthrough was okay but I wouldn't come back, 1.5.
The first half wasn't too bad but the second half gets too slow and boring. It's a good thing this is a short album because his singing voice would have annoyed me more otherwise. Highlights: Slow Education I Remember Me
Suppose on paper I should quite like this, but it didn't do much for me. However, it's got that pessimism and misery that I often enjoy. The guy hasn't got a great voice, which somehow is fitting, but it bothered me. He also really reminded me of another act and I can't put my finger on it.... Maybe magnetic fields? 2.5
fine. not for me.
The good news. Transylvania Blues is a good song. The bad news. The rest of the album is extremely mediocre. Lesson to bands. Make one good song into a collection of good songs in order to have a great album. Simple.
Jaa miten voikaan musiikki kuulostaa näin paljon tuolta levyn kannelta. Meni vähän liikaa puhelauluksi ja vitseiksi minusta, mutta lisääntyvä countryn määrä ilahdutti.
Levyn kantrifioituminen (eli paraneminen) kohti loppua sai minut sen verran optimistiseksi, että laitoin sen uudelleen alusta soimaan. Mmh, ei alku kauheasti innostavammalta kuulostanut (ehkä vähän). On kiva, että Lou Reed rohkaisee teknisesti kyseenalaisia laulajia esittämään biisejä, mutta olisi toivottavaa kuulostaa hieman paremmalla tavalla huonolta kuin tämän bändin solisti. 2,5
Bad vocals.
Nice instrumental, don’t like the vocals
Monotonous and uninspiring.
I find it really funny that a band named Silver Jews has a song called Horseleg Swastikas
Not a bad album, per se. It’s just a massive amount of boring and has not much going for it. I actually don’t mind the songer’s voice, I just don’t find the music very interesting.
Lyrics are pretty interesting, I feel like this would be an acquired taste with more listens as the vocals are not very immediate
Another album that doesn't seem to belong to the list for any reason other than the author presumably likes it. Instrumentally it's fine. A pleasant mix between indie rock and country. But it falls down with the vocals in my opinion.
Not the best mood setter for a Monday morning when motivation is already fairly low. Musically it’s not too bad, and at times if I really tried, I could pretend it was a bit like a poor man’s Pearl Jam, but ultimately I was just struggling to get through it and was glad it was only a 10-track, 35 minute record.
2 stars, weird.
Usually like this kind of music but found this quite boring, sorry.
Country mellow
It's fine, I think it's another album where I'd be significantly more into it if there wasn't singing. If you were feeling down and were into country vibes this might be the ticket, but outside of that I can't imagine liking this much. I will say, I enjoyed Transylvania Blues, but when it came on at first I thought the album had finished and Spotify had just started playing something else, because it didn't sound like something that belonged on the album. When the good song instantly makes you think you've left the album, I think that tells you something about its quality.
Can't really be more indie than this. The lyrics feel a bit simple and the singer songs like he's bored
It was ok
Plutôt moche. Trop d'artistes sur la scène indie essayent trop de faire le même effet de non-chanteur de Cohen et plus souvent qu'autrement ce n'est pas intéressant. Cet album en est un exemple. Les instrumentations ne sont pas mauvaises, mais ne viennent pas se démarquer en comparaison à ses contemporains. Très oubliable. 3/10
Didn't like the singer's voice.
While I'm sure there's a dedicated audience for this style of music, I am not in their ranks. While not as bad as Radiohead, it's close.
While I know this is probably a selling point for a lot of fans of Silver Jews' music, frontman David Berman's voice grated on me for a lot of this listen. I did enjoy the opener, "Slow Education," and "I Remember Me" - the latter hits differently knowing Berman completed suicide later in life. And the twangy melodies throughout Bright Flight aren't bad, per se. In fact, the instrumental track "Transylvania Blues" was probably my favorite out of this collection given it was vocal-less and had a different sound than the others. This album as a whole just wasn't my bag, and I'm not exactly sure why it's on the list as a "must listen before you die." Even after reading the editor's blurb in the book, I don't have a solid understanding of what makes THIS particular album worthy of inclusion. (This always annoys me when I finish reading the book blurb on a 1,001 Albums album). I looked up "best of Silver Jews" articles via Google and the three articles didn't have many songs from this collection. I suppose Berman's poetry set to music is more image-ridden than other indie rock works out there and I respect that. But I don't think I'll be revisiting Bright Flight. Interesting Factoids from Wikipedia: *"Walnut Falcons" was tossed around as a potential band name before "Silver Jews" was chosen. Berman, who was Jewish, said that the name came from a billboard he saw reading "Silver Jewelry" and later revealed that the name was actually intended to be a pseudonym for a conceptual art piece but instead evolved into the actual band. Standout Tracks: Slow Education, I Remember Me, Transylvania Blues, Tennessee
The singer is awful. It reminds me bit of Tim Blake Nelson in "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs." But that at least had some moments. This just feels like a band that is trying to put together something, but not sure what. Why again was this put on the list? I feel like some of the songs could be done well by a band with a decent singer, maybe an alt country band. At least it's short. Next.
I don't know about this. It almost sounds like a Pavement knockoff, except that their frontman (Stephen Malkmus) had already left Silver Jews by the time this album was produced and he wasn't the main singer/songwriter anyway. That's David Berman's job and he does pen unique lyrics. But at times it's just smart man nonsense - like if he puts two cryptic or quirky sentences side by side that makes for clever writing. I found it a bit tiresome. Ditto his voice and the musical arrangements. It's the same monotone delivery attached to the same metronome-like alt-country timing on almost every song. I know Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits have flawed vocals, but they can compose songs in a variety of distinct ways and they do attempt different vocal stylings - and pull it off from time to time. Transylvania Blues was different - both stylistically and for its absence of vocals - and Let's Not But Say We Did was more uptempo. But the rest felt monotonous. And not good.
Talk about irritating vocals! The actual music was at least good.
Didn't enjoy.
We should have left this music back in 1965. Even moreso when the singer sounds like he has zero interest in what he's doing. The vocals are so devoid of life and personality, so much that the album's best song is Transylvania Blues, which is an instrumental. Any bit of music with an oomph is overshadowed by this guy's dull voice. His songwriting is interesting at times, but then you get distracted by a dumb lyric like "you're the only ten-ah-see" which is of course, a line in the song Tennessee. Jesus Christ
…….what just happened?
vocalist sounded like the guy from Cake. Nothing spectacular
“Can’t get past the flatness of the singers voice” ~Liz Phair, probably
Monotone and forgettable
Standard apathetic indie fare
This style of music is just ok to me. I think some other bands did it better - but good background music.
I had never heard of this band, which is exactly why I'm here on this site - to listen to and learn about artists that I'm not familiar with. Musically I found the indie/country/whatever-you-wanna-call-it vibe of this album very well done & interesting. The lyrics had some bright spots as well, but I really, really struggled with Berman's vocals. I actually think a second listen would shine more light into some solid songwriting as Berman seems to be very well regarded in that field, but as it is, this is probably not something I'll ever listen to again. That being said, I don't feel like the last 35 minutes were a waste of time either.
Didn't click with me
vind het wel een beetje saai, denk echt aan 2 sterren ofs
Feels like country meets The Velvet Underground meets Presidents of the USA. While I like those two bands, and while this is a sweet album, I found the strong country aspect too offputting and I couldn’t get past it. Listens: Fave Track: Transylvania Blues Rating: 2
Mest gnöl och gnäll.
Its very much in the "Its alright" category
Het zit niet mee deze week, wat is dit voor een saai album ook? Helemaal omdat ik deze meteen na Tim Buckley luister pakt dit me totaaaaaaaal niet. Het is niet 1 ster, want dat is voor mij echt een slecht/dramatisch album, maar het is gewoon zo niets zeggend. Kunnen we alsjeblieft weer wat sterkere albums krijgen?? Ok laat maar, in Let's not say and we did lukt het ze om het toch compleet te verpesten. Dan pakt ie het toch een beetje terug in Tennessee cause "You're the only ten I see" god wat ben ik soms toch makkelijk te vermaken. Ook op Tennessee zingt een vrouw mee, die qua stem een stuk beter is dan de zanger op alle andere nummers, mag ze alsjeblieft wat vaker meedoen?
Tuneless vocalists often work for me, but not in this case! Dreary
Nope really didn’t get this album. Or why it made the list.
Kind of boring to be honest...
Country/Dylan wannabe with a Barenaked Ladies vibe. Weird.
While I liked the voice of the singer, all songs similarly blended together into one long blur of sound. It was gentle to listen to but nothing stood out.
There's some great lyrics in there, but overall he and the music both sound bored of themselves. I'd potentially like it if I listened to it more, but I'm just not going to.
A drunk-sounding man rambling "I'm 14 and this is deep" lyrics, and the whole thing sounds vaguely discordant. The Tennessee/"ten I see" pun was physically painful to hear.
Uninteresting to me 2/5
Bad country music. Dull vocals, dull instrumentation. Stand-out: Let's Not and Say We Did
Trying to be open minded, but this seems like ironic overrated lo-fi indie rock that someone chose just to mess with people. Is this hipster rock? At first I thought Berman's vocal delivery was a choice but now I am certain this vocal delivery is the result of someone who is too high to perform well. I was not impressed with the lyrics, so I was surprised to learn after listening to the album that David Berman was considered a lyrical genius. Really? If I were Robert Dimery I would swap this album out for a Hank Williams Sr album. Particularly perplexing since Robert Dimery wrote a book about the final days of the lives of 100 musicians with Bruno Macdonald that book included Hank Williams.
This album is conflicting for me. There were parts that I liked and flashed potential. And then there were parts that were boring, annoying, and confusing. I generally don't consider lyricism when rating, but the lyrics were also so bipolar that I had to comment on it. There are some very good lyrics on here. "I want to be like water if I can because water doesn't give a damn" is damn clever. But for every line like that, there's a headscratcher like "We're off to the land of hot middle-aged women" or this so-bad-I-had-to-laugh line: "The sky is low and gray like a Japanese table and my horse's legs look like four brown shotguns." Highlights: the parts of Time Will Break The World that didn't make me laugh, and the last minute of Transylvania Blues goes hard
Het heeft wel wat, het is lekker rustig - maar toch irriteert mij iets. Combinatie van die stem en die teksten misschien. Op de 1 of andere manier zorgt die stem ervoor dat ik me niet kan identificeren met de zanger en me dus ook niet goed in de teksten kan verplaatsen - zoiets.
Nimestä pisteet, mutta itse musiikki aika laahustavaa settiä.
Ok, vähän tylsä
Can't understand how this made the list when there are so many that didn't Okay but doubt I'll listen again
did nothing for me.
Underwhelmed. Very derivative, and not even in a good way. There's plenty of stuff out there that is unoriginal but at least is exciting and fun to listen to. This is derivative and boring. I'll give it two stars because the musicianship isn't bad.
I’ve listened to a few Silver Jews songs. None of these really stood out immediately but it might be worth another listen.
1.5/5
This is, without a doubt, one of the best Country albums I’ve ever listened to. It’s awful. But it’s still one of the best.
Urge Overkill meets the Eels with a dash of the Crash Test Dummies, which isn't something any of us were asking for since it's a mixture of chemicals that don't exactly taste great together.
I started off not liking this at all and then warmed to it slightly and then fell mostly off again. Dudes' monotone is annoying.
Dull!
Bit too depressing for me, I have instantly forgot about this album.
Nicht so meins, obwohl eigtl mein genre.
Irgendwie komisch. In den ersten Sekunden hat mich die Stimme ganz leicht an eine Mischung aus Johnny Cash & Bob Dylan erinnert. Aber mit diesen Größen möcht ich das wirklich nur sehr ungern vergleichen. Je genauer man hin hört, von Song zu Song, wird die Stimme nur schwer erträglich. Außerdem sind die Texte auch eher seicht. 3.1/10
Uninspiring...
Indie but country-like in the guitars. Vocals remind me of the whole "sound out of tune" vibe of early aughts indie. I enjoy the instrumentals but not the vocals on this one. I just don't enjoy the spoken word/not-even-trying-to-be-in-tune singing. Like what is even the start of Time will break the world? 2* for the instrumentals. Transylvania blues was a cool track, much harder guitars and no crappy vocals.
How on earth did this guy get a record deal with zero ability to sing? This album is mercifully short, and I was already at the end of my patience when it did end. Towards the end, it started reminding me of a very bare bones, shitty version of Pete Yorn's musicforthemorningafter album. It's interesting they were both released in 2001. Pretty sure wayyyy more people are still listening to musicforthemorningafter than this. I ended up listening to that album after this, as a much-needed palate cleanser.
Listened to this while playing Aeon's End with my partner against Hollow Crown...we lost twice. I had a friend from Burning Man who was really into Silver Jews, but I couldn't really get into it then. Years later and listening to this now, I enjoyed it more than I did back then...but it is still a tough sell for me. I want to give this a 2.5, but I'm to round down to a 2. There were moments I really enjoyed. I loved the upbeat number in the backhalf of the album...but his voice takes getting used to. There were parts that reminded of The Hold Steady...another band that has a lead singer with vocals that "grow on you"...and even similar subject matter...but I would much rather listen to THS over this. I did enjoy the word play on a few of the songs though.
If the mood strikes I guess
Lyrically I guess kinda interesting, vocally annoying and dull
Alright but lyric heavy, feels like reviewing after one listen is inadequate but what do you do. An alternative band doing a country album, not as good as a country band doing country music but probably better than a country band doing an alternative album.
This guy needs to get his horse's legs looked at by a vet. Their sound drones a bit too.
Like Andy Schauf but sadder somehow
Well fuck, this is the definition of indie dirge. What a dull album.
What!?
Not my style, did not dig it at all
normally i like indie rock but this is just really boring there are some good parts but most of it is ehhh
1. Tennessee 2. I Remember Me 3. Rooms Games and Diamond Rain
I forgot to rate this. A few days later and I can't even remember what it sounded like
Propah borin'
Its a solid ok album.
Rough listen. Song composition and lyrics were decent, but singer's voice was painful.
I wouldn't describe this album as a great listening experience. It would have been a 3 if the album didn't sound like one song that droned on for far too long.
trash
This was a modern folksy record that didn’t seem to be that important. Add it to the list of how is this album on here. The style was a more poppy Tom waits without the raspiness. The instrumentals were simple and mostly boring. Overall this album is decent sound but it’s not a good album to listen to. 4.6/10
This was followed on you tube by Jonny Cash and Warren Zevons. All I can say is that is how to do it properly, keep practicing and in 20 years you may get there.
Interesting alternative country sound. Certainly ain't Dolly Parton! Even though I don't normally do Country, I quite liked it. Best tracks; Slow Education, Transylvania Blues and Tennesse. A middle of the road 2.
didn't rly do much for me. i enjoyed the album art and the emo sentiments tho
It was honestly so forgettable that I forgot to rate it after listening to it last week. But it wasn't BAD bad. Just landfill indie for me.
Ok….
I did really “Let’s Not and Say We Did.”
Na
This is probably on the list because it's the most mediocre record ever. I can't think of any other reason. It's not good, it's not bad, it's right in the middle. Generic alt. country. In one ear, out the other. Favorite song: Transylvanian Blues.
"Transylvania Blues" is by far the best song. More of this and less of the Tesco value Johnny Cash. The 1st half of the album has a sound I really enjoy but is so intensely boring The 2nd half of the album gets a bit more interesting and fun but just doesn't sound that great.
I yawned a lot.
Whiney bullshit
this tickled that early 2000s alt country nerve a bit. Reminding me of Old 97s etc though not as good. Thinking about that ‘across the Atlantic culture ping-pong’ I wonder if this was an Americana ping that didn’t receive a proper British pong… Like maybe this is the Britain/Europe music press’ idea of an important example of the Alt Country/Nouveau Americana movement. Whereas I would instead point to Whiskeytown, Old 97s, Jayhawks, Drive-by Truckers, Jason Isbell, …. I dig the instrumental sections- kind of country but kind of chill stoner rock… the lyrics/vocals really let this record down hard though. Someone in my listening group noted: “I think ppl were big on Pavement because of the popular weirdness to their music, still somewhat accessible. Then the Brits heard this shittier country version of the same thing and thought it must be more important.” FWIW I actually truly love this Alt Country genre- those 3 Whiskeytown records are some of my fave music ever. Still
take a handful of boredom, add a pinch of an ugly male voice, and some sad guitar in the background - that's the recipe for the album.
I would like to rate it higher because music is nice but vocals sometimes ruin effect. I get idea of flat, unemotional voice but this time it does not fit.
I have to admit today, I didn't make it past the second song. This guy cannot sing. The instrumentation was nice, but the voice was cringeworthy.
Not my favorite. Its like tired Beck that forgot the coffee.
Top 3 Songs: 1 - Transylvania Blues (6) 2 - Friday Night Fever (9) 3 - I Remember Me (4)
This group has some pedigree, having roots in Pavement, and they sound like a cross of Kurt Vile and Wilco. The material is pretty good, but as some have mentioned, Dave Berman's hang dog voice can become tiresome. If only he had Kurt Vile's voice instead. Tennessee is probably my favourite song because his wife Cassie Berman has a brief stint at vocals to break up the tedium.
This album imo was very boring with questionable titles and lyrics. I thought the songs were unoriginal and boring in general. It was the same acoustic guitar with simple instrument playing and vocals were very boring . I wouldn't come back to this album
This was honestly just pretty boring and bland, and it felt like they were trying to make it that way on purpose. All the music was very lo-fi and low energy, and the vocals were monotonous and effortless (not effortless in a good way). All of it has a slight lazy, kicked back country "flavor" to it, which I don't really felt like did the music any favors in this case. This album felt like drinking something and not necessarily finding it unpleasant, but finding it incredibly flavorless and unquenching. It just didn't seem to have any life in it. I truly have no idea why this album would be included in this project. But I guess I'm rounding it up to a 2.
Silver Snooze
annoying vocals, ok instrumentals, bad mix, iaaots
While not really a bad album (on the boring side though), this is the epitome of the album I wish we had less of on this list. I can't see why it would be particularly relevant, it is not well-known and doesn't teach me anything. It's simply an American indie rock album - that's all (and it's not enough).
I really don’t know
Why would anyone listen to this on purpose? Some of the lyrics were decent but ultimately not worth it.
Nah. There's some cool slacker/shoegaze sure, but this is a bit boring.
Country-infused folk rock by someone who sounds like Bill Callahan (of Smog) or Matt Berninger (of The National), only unredeemable in his rustic vocals. He collaborates with two members of Pavement, and you can hear that in cool songs like "Time Will Break the World" and "Let's Not and Say We Did", but it's never as cool as the atonal nature of Pavement, leaving much to be desired. Funnily enough, my favorite track is the one without any vocals, "Transylvania Blues." I think his lyrics suck, and the vocals don't even feel like he's trying to fit the music half the time.
This was a pleasant way to ease into the working morning. It didn't really deserve any more of my attention though. The vocals sounded too slow and laid back for my liking. It felt a little too retro for retro sake.
This country stuff is not for me
Got halfway through, wasn't in the right mood. Sounded dreary. Like a poor man's pavement.
Dylan he ain't.
Best: Slow Education Worst: Let's Not and Say We Did
This album would surely win SNL’s old game show skit, “who’s more grizzled.” It certainly aged me while listening to it and, dammit, I want to still be young. I know someone is going to call me shallow or say I’m being unfair — maybe I am — but I don’t have time nor desire to do a deeper study of “death of an heir of sorrows”. It’s not for me, not now at least.
David Berman's voice is not for me. I thought I could get past it like I can with Kurt Vile, cuz I appreciate a lot about these songs. Hearing the female vocal suit Tennessee so much better just blew out the contrast. The vibe is solid and the lyrics have depth and humor, the sound is familiar because it's Pavement, who I like. Berman just cannot sustain a note, and his tone doesn't compensate enough for the experience not to feel consistently grating to my ear. I honestly wish I could get past it cuz I feel like there's worthwhile stuff here. Transylvania Blues felt like an oasis in the desert. Unfortunately, it's overshadowed by other faults, namely what I feel is a critical lack of momentum or real differentiation between the rest of the songs in the first half of the album. I guess I can appreciate that you need Silver Jews before you can have the National but this is not one I'll be returning to. 2 feels fair for me. "Goodbye users and suckers and steady bad luckers"
A fine album that has no place being on this list. What is essential about this? Why should this be on here and not Drake, lil Wayne, future, most Grateful Dead albums, etc. the pedal steel was nice when used. And good band name.
Sad boring American music, sounding very dated twenty years later.
Another Lo-if record that just didn’t click for me. Tennessee was fun but none of it was exactly memorable
This is one of those just "why?" albums for me. I don't dislike it, but I don't think it is a must hear. It's just mediocre and boring even for a guy that likes chill indie rock music. The vocals just don't do it for me either, his voice is just too "Tom Waitsy" for me. I don't like it and I don't hate it. I just don't think it belongs on the list. It isn't bad enough to earn a 1 but a 2 star is about where I'm feeling.
It kinda sucks at times but I didn’t hate it enough to give a 1/5. Sounds like what Leonard Cohen would have written if he were born in Ohio in the late 70s. Favorite was Transylvania blues, because it sounded cool and also because there was no singing
It was fine... feels like someone's pet project that they forced onto the list. Forgettable.
This is pretty painful. Country flavored indie is one of my least favorite musical subgenres, particularly when it's more cerebral than soulful.
Wow, it's been a long time since I have heard a more reprehensible voice. This was my equivalent of sharp nails against the chalkboard sound. Every note that came out of the main vocalist was slowly burning down my neurons, until there was nothing left. Fittingly, at the end of the album, I started to like a song, "Friday Night Fever", possibly because my senses were already gone at the time. I'm not a fan of country and country indie rock , or whatever that was, didn't really fall far from the tree. I am actually quite impressed I sit through the whole record. Okay, no reason to bash this anymore than necessary, from the positive note, I have found even worse albums on this list, and some songs were actually listenable. It's something between one and two stars, but I really don't think it is worthy one, so... here you go!
Tylsää ja vähän jopa ärsyttävää country rockia. Levyllä kuitenkin yksi hyvä instrumentaali kappale
It sounds a lot like what it is, I guess. Namely, a joke that they started to take seriously. Consequently, it's a bit of a mess. But it's not altogether unenjoyable for all that. In fact, though there were points where I wanted to hate the album, I found myself just apathetic to it instead. I guess it could be worse but it sure as hell could have been better.
boring but ok instrumentals and insufferable whiny vocals 1.5/5
Alt country needs the best lyrics or vocals in the world to earn a pass and these are just ok.
Quintessential American Flyover State music, but it’s nothing to write home about.
I suppose the lyrics deserve some mention but for me Transylvania Blues was the best track, and it was an instrumental. All in all, this album was 35 minutes of my life that I'll never get back.
Wow, I was really sick of this guy by the end of the album. Musically and lyrically, I quite like it, but his voice and singing style ruin it for me. When the female vocal popped up on "Tenessee" it gave me such relief. At that point I just kind of accepted that this isn't my cup of tea.
Like flying into the twin towers
meh
Fucking hell, this guys voice and pitch are terrible. Had to stop midway through. Can't finish this one. Some okayish indie vibes on the first 3 tracks but can't listen to this.
Al zit er hier en daar een geniale lyric in, de muziek is maar zozo
Don’t much like the country influences or the singer’s voice. Lyrics are good though
Interesting, but definitely not for me. I do really appreciate the lo-fi "slice of life", soothing quality of this record but I don't love the vocals and the way the lyrics constantly go from good to cheesy real quick. My favorite track was the instrumental "Transylvania Blues" which was a nice change of pace.
Quirky lyrics, but the music didn’t interest me
While listening to this all I could think "There better be some Flying Burrito Brothers or New Riders" in the 1001.
Oof, do not like. Reasonably adequate country-backed songs, some clever lyrics, but the voice... I understand that the Silver Jews were originally intended to be deliberately bad, but I can't tell whether this singing is ironically bad or just plain bad. It is passionless, lifeless, tuneless and without flavour. Did not enjoy.
Lyrics we're interesting but music was boring/basic. Almost spoken word on some tracks.
Ok. So the music is entirely uninspired, the "singing" is just a dude mumbling and never quite hitting maybe 3 notes. But the backstory of the frontman and his life are tragic and fascinating. But I'm not rating his life. Just this album. And it's bollocks. (He won't be reading this, or any, review.)
This somehow sounds bored and drunk at the same time, like an overtired child just making noise with its mouth because it doesn't want to go to sleep.
This 35 minute album achieved something I thought impossible, feeling what entering the event horizon of a black hole was like without leaving earth. Time slowed down, a lot. It felt like over an hour of boredom. So many things to dislike. Lyrics that I'm sure were meant to be profound missed the mark. Cliched twang of a country guitar, and that droning voice. No thanks.
Pretty boring, didn't really like the vocals.
Struggled with this one but a few bright moments
Frustrating. There are so many elements to this that I should love, but it just doesn't really work for me at all. I love a good alt-country album and this just isn't it. Friday Night Fever is pretty good but it came far too late to save this album or make me want to re-listen. I'd give it a 1.5 if I could.
Another boring questionable choice for this list
Kinda like Leonard cohen but without the emotional impact
the fact that two of the guys on this album were also in pavement isnt surprising, but i feel like this lacked something pavement had. didnt enjoy it
Weird, country rock, with bad lyrics
Pretty meh
Not my kind of music but I didn’t hate it. That Transylvania has more teeth at least for a while. Boring
Needs a second listen but I didn't find it that accessible on the first listen
I read a piece describing the Silver Jews as being ‘ramshackle’, and that’s exactly how ‘Bright Flight’ sounds. That and bleak. Founder and main man David Berman’s songs and lyrics are the aural equivalent of defeat. From what I’ve read it sounds like he had a tortured life, and that experience often informs the tone of this record. YMMV, but I don’t see myself revisiting this any time soon.
I'm not a vocals snob at all, but there's something about the lofi, low effort vocals here that are not doing it for me. Sometimes I find this kind of thing really charming and genuine. But in this case, it's just not doing it.
Le di varias vueltas y no me agarró. La voz me terminó hastiando y su lírica no me gustó. Tenía buen potencial pero no lo logró.
Me aburro. No le encontré nada interesante o memorable a este disco, ni razones para estar en la lista. Suena a indie con contry sin mayor detalle especial, salvo lo depresivo del tipo (que lo llevó al suicidio en 2019 según leí) pero eso no es mérito alguno… En fin, solo llega a la segunda estrella porque aunque no llamó la atención en dos vueltas, tampoco fue algo que me sonara fatal.
Kolejne indyjskie rokowanie z hameryki, nowosc wedlug lastfma, ale nowosc nie nowosc, bo polowa skladu to czlonkowie pavementa, ktory rozpadl sie w 99, ale liderem jest zupelnie inny pan, ktory poprowadzil indyjskosc w kierunku smutnych piosenek, mowa o panu Bermanie, ktory jest odpowiedzialny na teksty i wokale wiekszosci utworow, dodatkowo brzdaka na gitarce, pewnie na tym akustyku, bo plyta stara sie laczyc brzmienia akustyczne z elektrycznymi, banda podczas nagran liczyla siedem osob, wiec brzmienie ma zalozona teksture i potrafi zaczynac sie minimalistycznie zeby dodawac kolejne instrumenty jak w miare progresuje utwor, wiec pod tym wzgledem jest w miare roznorodnie, ale wokalnie i lirycznie calosc brzmi nijako, wiekszosc jak typowe smutne indyjskie kawalki na ktorych pan Berman razem ze swoja pania Berman wylewa z siebie smutki bialego czleka artystycznie obdazonego wrazliwoscia na otaczajacy swiat, bywaja takze kompozycje bardziej pavementowe, ktore jakos przypominaja ten humorek i energie lofikowa przemycana przez bande, dobrym przykladem bedzie tutaj lets not and say we did, ale takie piosenki sa w mniejszosci na tym srednio dlugim, bo 35 minutowym krazku, na plejke dodam jedynie zamkyjacego death of the heir of sorrows, ktory przypadl mi do gustu za pianinkowe wstawki i najlepsza prezentacje energii typu braku energii, ktora dominuje cale nagranie i dopiero na ostatnim traku wychodzi w pelnej krasie
Interesting. Not my favorite, but certainly has a place amongst bands like Cowboy Junkies.
The name and cover art do not inspire me to listen. But this my album today so listen I will. First song, slow education, lyrically strong start in that the first verse makes me want to hear the second verse. But it never really gets going. Some of the turns of phrase are nice but they feel thrown together instead of building to a greater narrative. Let's Not and Say We Did almost won me over. But in the end I can't say the album is more than "fine".
Hate the vocals. 4/10
Nope
Ok, some hipster cunt (I assume fairly safely) trying to be Bob Dylan. Problem is, the original Bob Dylan is fucking horrendous - why would anyone then want an imitation? This shit just makes me cringe. Stop pretending your lyrics are deep. Stop pretending your whiny hipster folk shit "poetry" has anything to do with country. And learn to hold a note ffs. You're an embarrassment. 2/5 - should be a 1 but it only pissed me off for half an hour.
ok, but a bit boring and with no rhyme
I have the exact same problem with this type of music as I do with mumblecore cinema, in that a lot of it is depressing for the sheer sake of it without saying much of anything particularly substantial. Dull sadboi stuff
This was certainly something, even the instrumental couldn't save it. Really, it sounded like the guy didn't particularly want to sing on it either
This singer’s voice is absolutely putrid. If I had a critic working underneath me and they told me this was an album I must hear before I die, I would have fired them 30 seconds into the first song.
Bland country-indie-pop. Sounds like mid-to-late 90's Grandaddy with a smattering of U2 guitar part way through. Another barrel of 'Meh'. What specifically made this a "must listen" album? I can guarantee that I won't remember any of it by this afternoon...
I was going to be nice and give this a 2 until "you're the only ten I see."
The opening song had given me high hopes, however, the next slew of songs were some of the worst music I’ve ever heard.
The first track of an album sets the tone for the rest of it. Was not surprised that the rest of the album was indeed shite
another entry into the "how the fuck did this make the 1001 list" list.
510/1089 - Wow he sounds exactly like Steven Wright. This album would probably be a lot better without any music and if he told one liners and the name was changed to "I Still Have a Pony." On a serious note: Transylvania Blues was by far the best one for being an instrumental and a sloppy generic pile of indie at that. Tennessee is probably one of the worst songs I've heard in the generator.
I obviously don't like Americana and country because I read excellent reviews for this but it does nothing for me.
We beginnen gelijk met een hal-zingende, half-pratende overslaande stem. Als er niet genoeg van dit soort; laten we hem er maar weer bijhalen; Dylanesque troep voor 1001 bestaat. De eerste keer dit album direct uitgezet. Dit is geen dagstarter. 's middags dit wel uit kunnen zitten. En toegegeven, niet alles valt onder bovenstaande beschrijving. Maar wel veel, en veel, teveel.
This johnny cash wannabe is a real laugh. The moment he starts singing off note ( first line of the albumn btw) the comedy begins. I dont understand why this is in here yet some entire genres of music are criminally under represented. It baffles me.
Sad, slow and folky songs aren't my thing. Silver Jews isn't gonna change that. It's mixed very well and this would be a plus, if this didn't mean you could hear the bad vocals so well. I can say that the vocalist's voice fits the tone in the sense that he sounds pathetic. Atogether, it's just pretty bad. I have heard no songs on this record that could at least partially redeem this record. The one good thing I found in this track is the tennesee joke. It's so hilariously bad that it's kind of charming. But I am obviously grasping for straws. 2/10
This sounds like a 45 year old man whose wife and kids left him because he hasn't been passionate about anything in the last 30 years, and after drinking way too much he decided he had to win his love back. So he went to her with a guitar, and it's a little awkward because she has been remarried for 3 years now with a pretty cool bloke. Now the wife opens up and thinks it's awkward but also a little heartwarming, but then he starts singing... And it is just pathetic, not just bad but pathetic, everything is offkey and offbeat, the lyrics feel like they're written by a 14 year old boy who believes he already knows everything life has to offer. Now the wife is desperately trying to figure out a way to tell him this isn't going to work, but she wants to be supportive of the man, so she looks for something positive to say but there just isn't anything. However true horror strikes her when he, after finishing his song, starts a second song and you realize this is an entire album. It isn't even funny bad, it is just pathetic and you want to put it out of its misery as it would be better for everyone, but you can't.
What the fuck is this list even about man? This is horrible Best Song: N/A Rating: 1.5/10 Stars: 1
un álbum raro que no me gustó para nada
Beefheart’s indie back country cousin.
Can I give less than one star? This sucks so much. He should not be allowed to leave his garage.
Una mierda pinchada en un palo. Que tios mas tristes. Hoy ascendimos,forza depor
Don't see how this is on the list. Just wanted it to end. Last song was ok
I can't be the only one tortured by all that wrong notes he sings........ can't listen to this fr. This sounds like a vinyl put on wrong speed. If you put it on double speed it could pass as punk at least.
For my last album being Paranoid this was absolute shit I need to listen to Christian or Jewish music for no reason
This might be the second worst thing that happened in 2001…
Be great as a sedative. His voice and most of the song tempos are soporific. Ironically the instrumental Transylvania Blues is the only thing with any real life.
An easy one to review 😀. This was dreadfully boring, simply hated the vocals even though they probably did match the emotional intent.👎🏻
Day854 - he aims to be bob dylan but is more like jean-ralphio saperstein
nooo
😴
I fell asleep. This was boring and bland.
Interesting choice of career for someone who can't sing, and the songs are incredibly boring. How did this get on the list?
Sjöng falskt.
I almost fell asleep
This is bad. Really bad. The music is ok, boring and generic, but tolerable to listen to. The vocals however, are absolute crap. I hate this guys voice. He sounds drunk and depressed, and the speak singing annoys me (unless it's Leonard Cohen, who I don't mind for some reason). This sounds like a bad Tom Waits impersonation, and I don't like original Tom Waits. 1.5 I guess because the music is tolerable.
Not a fan at all, the lyrics were so repetitive and meaningless. It’s like they tried to find a president to mention in every song. There was no variation in lyrics nor instrumentals. It was a difficult listen.
The good thing about a short album is that you can listen too it a few times, unfortunately this is a short album
aburridisimo como la san puta
Nah,,, first song turned me off
Lo-fi indie rock and alt-country built on loose guitars, modest rhythms, and dry, spoken-leaning vocals unfolds with understated, ramshackle charm. Listening feels like reading a worn notebook of sharp observations while a band casually plays in the background. The result might be lyrically rich, but musically it feels subdued and meandering, leaving me with the impulse to just turn it off throughout.
Do not waste your time like I did.
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
no
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.
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.
It baffles me how something so obviously crap gets on this list. What even is this, redneck misery rock?
Not for me 1/5
J’ai trouvé ça horrible
Was not my favorite.
Man his voice was so annoying
Music to fall sleep with.
I thought they only cared about gold but when there is noney to be made, even silver will do
Skigan som Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen eller kanske Lou Reed aldrig släppte. Och det gjorde dom rätt i. En etta!
Vexatious
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)
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
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.
Sorry but I really couldn’t stand it. It was the first album I wasn’t able to finish
Didn’t really like this one
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
Yuck
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 !
тягомотная нудная одинаковость, на алеха г смахивает. зашел только трансильвания блюз^
No pls thx.
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
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
Wait... wasn't this an SNL skit?
mmmhh no
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."
mmmmmm no. didn't like it at all
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.
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.
Nope
Not at all a fan. Found this one to be pandering and boring.