Reviews (page 7 of 8)
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.
Thought it was ok.
Nimestä pisteet, mutta itse musiikki aika laahustavaa settiä.
Ok, vähän tylsä
I can name a dozen things that seem adjacent to this that I like. Pavement, Calvin Johnson, The Vaselines, Vic Chesnutt. And yet somehow I hadn't heard it before. I didn't hate it, but I didn't find it as compelling as I would have expected
US indie vaguely related to Pavement, but more lyrical and less noisy. Didn’t really have time to dig into the poetry, so felt this was unremarkable, but not unappealing.
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.
Bob Dylan meets Frank Zappa meets Silver Jews. Doesn't work for me. There was only a single track on the entire album I liked - Trans Blues. So with only one good track, the album is only one star.
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.
Listened to it three times (had some getting used to to do) but each time got better and better
This shit is awesome If you inject enough brood and atmosphere into country rock it turns good apparently
8.4/10 nice lil country sleazy stuff
What did I just listen to... The vocals are awful, like a lazy Bob dillan sound, but less distinctive with terrible tone control. The instrumentals are that of a high school indie band. How did this get on the top 1000?
I’ve listened to a few Silver Jews songs. None of these really stood out immediately but it might be worth another listen.
I enjoyed this, though I feel like I've only scratched the surface here. I definitely wouldn't have been ready for this when it came out. This kind of band is for over-30's at the very least. I really like this era of production. I wonder if anyone has written about this period of the early aughts as a short, golden era of technology really helping trained professionals right before the same technology would rip the entire industry apart, thus creating far fewer specialized professionals. That said, it didn't quite hit me like I think it's supposed to. Maybe on subsequent listens I'll get more out of it.
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.
Gefällt mir nicht.
Awesome!
chill cool
Beautiful, inspiring and relaxing country/indie album. Must listen 🎧
It became immediately obvious as the first song started that I was going to absolutely hate this. It sounds like a shorter version of 69 Love Songs...which I guess technically makes it better? Seriously...who the hell is this shit for? Let's hear from the band themselves! "Well let's just make this record that looks like a record, and has song titles and everything, but the songs would be the ones we make at home that sound terrible." Couldn't have said it better myself.
Dull!
Bastante chulos. Indie rock suave, tranquilo. Un poco a Lemonheads, pero más tristones.
I was going to compliment his songwriting skills, but then he hit me with the fucking "Are you from Tennessee? Because you're the only ten I see" dad joke and I shriveled up like a raisin. Pretty good though. I think this is better than "American Water".
Bit too depressing for me, I have instantly forgot about this album.
I do like Silver Jews, but this just is not strong as an album. I don’t blame anyone for giving a low rating, but something in me feels the need to rate higher than I would had I not known them before.
new fan. dudes awesome. love the prominent lyrics.
Presumably included on the list as a joke. I made it through three awful songs before turning it off.
Stoned album
What.
Odd. Pleasant, enjoyable. No idea how it made this list - seems like something many many artists would be capable of making.
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
Awful droney voice. I would not listen again. 1*
Uninspiring...
Not for me. Slow. Boring. Vocals didn’t sound good. I feel like this is for people who enjoy being sad. “Transylvania Blues” was only good because there wasn’t any singing. Would have liked the entire album more if it were instrumental. This man really goes Tennessee “you’re the only 10 I see” and put it in a song. And people go wow, so poetic. 2/10
It just kept getting worse by the song. I think there are some redeemable tracks on here and I do like his voice but he can't sing for shit. Some of the faster tracks on here play to his style better but other than that he sounds like a awful version of Johnny Cash. I wouldn't listen to another song on this album again unless I had to. 2/10
This fucking sucks. Why is this on here? There is nothing redeemable about this. It is actually tiring listening to this garbage. Kayla missed the review but said “it’s shit. You know when you eat corn and it goes right through you? This is the corn.” 1/10
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.
Meh. Most of the songs on this thing are bland and don’t really do anything for me. This isn’t boring at least. This album is forgettable, and I probably won’t see myself coming back to it.
To much country twang in there for me.
Not the album that fans of Silver Jews remember the most according to Spotify, but also to most "critics". It's still the sort of endearing songwriting performed in a indie-rock/alt-country mode exemplified by *Starlite Walker* and *American Water*. But it's probably not enough to justify the inclusion in a list of "essential" albums. Rest in peace, David Berman.3/5 for the purposes of this list, which translates to a 8/10 grade for more general purposes (5+3) Number of albums left to review: less than 400 (I've temporarily lost count here) Number of albums I'll include in my own list: half so far, approximately Number of albums I *might* include: a quarter, approximately Number of albums I'll never include: another quarter (including this one, many others are more important - *Starlite Walker* and *American Water* for instance).
I listened to the first half last night when on a drunken stumble to the local shop to pick up more booze. I listened to the full album this morning when on a hunger stumble to pick up painkillers and caffeine. Both times, this album just spoke to me. The melancholy, the directionless protagonists, the simple, bleak instrumentation. I noticed that the can of beer that I had left half empty next to the sofa I’m crashing on had tipped over sometime during the night. It was right next to a portable heater, and if it had been more full, it would have spilled and probably short circuited something. These sorts of small coincidences are what makes up the vast majority of everyday life and, judging by the lyrics on Bright Flight, it seems as if these are the sorts of stories that David Berman was able to tell, and tell with such mastery. I was kinda shocked at the bleakness of the ending especially
I'm a pretty big fan of Berman's style and talent, and this album hits for me. However, objectively speaking, it's not as stellar as the previous two albums. Even brilliance has an expiration
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.
Por favor QUÉ ES ESTA VERGA
Not my thing
Loved the second half more than the first. The instrumental was the best track on here. Will likely check out some more from them.
I Remember Me - 4/5
Howdy partner Marry me and leave Kentucky Come to Tennessee 'Cause you're the only ten I see You're the only ten I see
3.5/5
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.
The lyrics are so stupid, it’s like listening to a parity of Alternative music. “I want to be like water if I can, ‘cuz water doesn’t give a damn” is an honest to god lyric that was written, shared, sung, and recorded. This is the type of “Alternative” that is very country-adjacent. Not *quite* twangy enough, but it’s got the requisite slide guitar, or banjo. The singer sounds bored, but to be fair, I don’t know who in the hell could muster up any emotion whatsoever while singing these insipid lyrics. This is truly one of the dumbest things I’ve ever listened to.
some weird garage band that is barely famous but sounds like the standard pretentious indie band. Most likely, they're friends with the author anyway, really good, but I definitely need to be in the right mood for this album
It was alright
If the mood strikes I guess
There was some really nice songwriting in the first half, but this whole thing would've been soooo much better with vocals that weren't completely flat. It's a competent album that I didn't hate, but it felt like a missed opportunity
an incredibly slow, comforting indie rock record with country influences. Guitars like this are so nice on the ears.
This is just shit.
not bad. not bad at all.
This is objectively terrible. Just. No.
I liked this well enough and ended up reading about the main guy. Fascinating stuff.
Grovelly voice that doesn’t care so much about hitting the right pitch. Sad songs.
Rolig, lavmælt countrypåvirka indie. Bra
musically interesting 3*
David Berman may not have had a traditionally beautiful voice, but his flat delivery and thoughtful/melancholic lyrics make for instantly memorable listening. I was late to the Silver Jews and only heard about them in the wake of Berman’s untimely death in 2019 but am struck by their brand of indie country set against Berman’s sardonic, sarcastic, and earnest delivery. The songs have a lazy meandering flow despite their short length but have an austere quality that gives them a sense of urgency and potency.
This album, and probably every other album by this band is plagued by dead pan, Dan Mangan bland style vocals. The unenthusiastic style makes me bored. The Instruments are fine but the singer needs to sing. Spoken word, mono tone melodies are uninspiring, and the hinder what else is going on. The lead singer of the band Cake has more enthusiasm than this guy. The only positive about this album is that it's not very long. But it still feels like forever. Cheesy lyrics that have a country rock vive to them but also you would probably hear off of the Juno soundtrack. Just a boring record. There is absolutely nothing that jumps out as to why it is on this list. Won't revisit. Don't care about this band. Is it the worst thing in the world? No. Not even close. It's just boring. It's background music to background music... 1 Zzzz out 5 Zzzz's
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: I did actually, some nice vocals and originality Favourite song: Track 1 - Slow Education
This might have okay lyrics but David Berman's voice turned me off the music so fast I didn't bother even finishing the first song.
Poignant lyricism backed by an inviting, yet occasionally-anxious, indie-country sound
Lyrically I guess kinda interesting, vocally annoying and dull
Unusual. I found it slightly hard to listen to as I felt the singing was slightly out of tune. This sort of made it sound a bit quirky but I found it a little challenging. The songs themselves were interesting as so little rhymes. This was good and bad and I gave it 2 listens and the album became endearing. Certainly an influential album and I can see why it's been included here.
Pretty solid. Definitely prefer American water but it’s good
Went from hating it to really getting into it, with over half the songs now liked on Spotify. It's like 90s Pavement alt rock with some country styled vocals, and surprisingly it doesn't suck. It reminds me of wandering alone an American country road just before dawn, a bit melancholic but with moments of sweetness and humour. 26/10/23
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.
Loved it actually. very feelgood 2000s american high school indie
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
Favorite Tracks: Slow Education, Room Games and Diamond Rain, I Remember Me, Transylvania Blues, Tennessee
Blind album and artist once again. This dude I think tried to put me to sleep. I did not like this at all. I accidentally read a review that said he tried to he Tom Waits or something and I'm inclined to agree, he just failed. I was gonna give this a 2 until I heard the lyrics "water doesn't give a damn"? What? Using the cheesy line "you're the only 10 I see" too. Just no.
Pretty decent
First listen Saved 0/10
Well fuck, this is the definition of indie dirge. What a dull album.
Not for everyone, but to me it’s beautiful melancholy
Eh boring
What!?
I've got a special place in my heart for dirty indie country. Really enjoyed this one.
Not my style, did not dig it at all
Quite an interesting album, not at all what I was expecting. Pretty folky but quite modern indie rock.
very decent indie rock country album definitely deserving of a second listen
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
Album wasn't awful but I'll never listen again.
Lyrics are incredible
I forgot to rate this. A few days later and I can't even remember what it sounded like
I think this is the first album from this group I've seen on this list, though the sad story of its leader has popped up several times through U.S. indie scene connections. I like it. The tone (even when the lyrics are relatively positive) is a little unremittently bleak.
Propah borin'
Chanteur monotone et plate
Its a solid ok album.
Meh
Why? Why for the love of God is this album on this list? First, it is indie music but it isn't even semi-decent indie music if such a thing exists. Then it is country as well. Then the singer doesn't really sing but rather speaks the lyrics. Finally, they are trying way too hard to be clever with their lyrics.
LOVE Silver Jews. This, however, is the worst I've heard, why was only this picked?
Can I give it less than a 1?
Rough listen. Song composition and lyrics were decent, but singer's voice was painful.
?? 50% inaccuracy on the correct pitches for this melody Guitar is fire tho fr Needs to use the same voice filters as 2008 Kanye's 808s & Heartbreak
Music is such a beautiful concept that encompasses so many different types of sound
Wanted to like this. I didnt tho
Transylvania Blues was not bad. The rest was.
The talk-singing is not for me.
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.
Bright Flight is the fourth album by American indie rock group Silver Jews. This emotional album contains melodies about love, anxiety, and rich imagery created by the lyrics. I liked this album, but not one track really blew me away. They were all averagely good for the standard emotional indie rock song. Interesting album and band that I would listen to again for another Silver Jews album.
Standouts: Slow Education, I Remember Me, Horseleg Swastikas, Tennessee 3.5/5
I like indie music, but this is just not good. Sorry if I don’t get it.
trash
I like it but why is this not tagged country on this site
this was a real mixed bag for me. i actually liked a lot of the songs and arrangements. the sort of sparse, alt-country vibe is something i really like and appreciate. that being said, i had a really hard time getting over the singer's voice. it was pretty grating and not enjoyable to listen to. i am not opposed to unconventional singing voices, but i felt like the effort in singing was so lackluster, it really took away from the album. so ultimately, i feel like this is a bit middle of the road for me.
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.
Oh. This might be quite a decent album if he’d just shut the f@&k up and stop ‘singing’. One decent track was ‘Transylvania Blues’, not just because it’s an instrumental (but that really helps), but it actually goes somewhere.
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.
This is definitely the kind of thing you either like or don't. I happen to be a fan of lo-fi alt-country, so I like it. I'm not gonna take it over Songs: Ohia or anything, but that's a rather high standard imo. A nice listen that didn't overstay its welcome, dryly humorous with a slacker kinda vibe. Solid.
didn't rly do much for me. i enjoyed the album art and the emo sentiments tho
try being british
Vocals are off key and lifeless. Horribly boring. Thankfully they broke up in 2009. No reunion tours need to happen.
kinda sad, kinda pretty
Never heard of this guys and it was actually pretty boring, but the second half of thr album became really nice. 'Death of an Heir of Sorrows' hit too close to home.
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.
Phenomenal early 2000s melancholic Indie stuff
I like the music and lyrics but not too big of a fan of the vocals
Listen, if you can't carry a tune, then just write the songs and let somebody else front your band. Absolutely ruined some decent lyrics and some more-than-decent slide guitar.
Immediately put me back in high school. The 2005 oozes from this record and the genuineness feels like a bygone era. 3/5
C'est bancal donc j'aime bien
bad cop autodiag
I had never heard of Silver Jews until my son introduced me to them about a year ago. He has pretty cool taste in music so I was intrigued. I kind of like them, for some reason I can't quite place they remind me a little bit of Lou Reed, who I love. I like the simplicity of the songs, the lo-fi nature of the production, but I don't love his voice. Very sad reading the Wikipedia page about David Berman. FWIW, my son said this is actually only his 3rd favorite Silver Jews album, his favorite being American Water followed closely by The Natural Bridge. I listened to American Water and definitely liked it more than this album. So, if you sort of like this album but didn’t love it, you might check out those others. 3 stars.
I cannot imagine why such a bland and boring album is one of the 1001 albums I just *had* to listen to.
Ok….
Actually I thought the worst thing I could listen here was Nico but this is kinda worse.
“I asked the painter why the roads are colored black…He said, ‘Steve, it’s because people leave and no highway will bring them back.’” - “Random Rules” from Silver Jews’ 1998 record, American Water I know I probably shouldn’t start a review with a lyric from an album I’m not actually reviewing, but it’s the Silver Jews lyric that I just can’t shake. It haunts me…an epitaph that was written 20 years before it would prove to be useful…the fate of David Berman, it breaks my heart to this day. So much so that the only unopened and unplayed vinyl record in my collection is his Purple Mountains record: I had pre-ordered it before release, received it and set it aside to listen to when worked slowed down a bit and I had more free time. Of course, I had listened to the album on my streaming platform of choice when it was released, but never got the time to sit down and experience it on vinyl. The next thing I knew, the news broke that he had passed. Knowing what I knew, and the general tone of that record, I couldn’t bring myself to sit down and listen to it. Still can’t. The music on Purple Mountains lays bear his unhappiness in life and by the time it came out, it seems it was too late for much to be done about it. It breaks my fucking heart. Bright Flight, released nearly two decades earlier, is not as bleak as Purple Mountains turned out to be, but it is less upbeat than its predecessor, American Water. As usual, Berman’s uniquely poetic and evocative lyrics are on full display here. Musically, he leans in to a minimal country-tinged indie rock sound, inspired by his recent move to Nashville. It’s a great record that, frankly, I don’t listen to as much as I should. Had I assembled this list, American Water would have been my choice for a Silver Jews record to include. There is something special about that record for me and I think if I could recommend only one Silver Jews record to people, American Water would pique a new listener’s interest the most. Regardless of which Silver Jews record we’re talking about, there is one truth that can’t be understated: David Berman had a wholly unique way with words and was a one-of-a-kind talent. He is missed. Rest in peace, DCB.
I did really “Let’s Not and Say We Did.”
What an excellent album if you are having trouble sleeping. My god what a horrible listen. One of the worst, if not the worst vocals I've yet to hear (and I'm 650+ albums in at the time of writing along with two Tom Waits albums in between) paired with the most basic, middle school-skill instrumentals. I'm so glad I was able to listen to this album before I died [insert sarcasm]. 2/10.
You’re the only 10 I see. RIP DCB.
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.
instantly thought - “oh it’s like country Pavement!”… yeah turns out stephen malkmus was literally in the band for a bit. it’s certainly not amazing but i love sad boring indie. nvm the 2nd half is way less sad and boring. this is a lovely album.
"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.
Monotone talk-singing mostly. Has a country twang with a bit of an alt flair to it. Enjoyed the music, but maybe not the singing so much.
I yawned a lot.
HL: "Let's Not and Say We Did", "Tennessee", "I Remember Me" An alt-country record (and artist) I'm glad I was introduced to, though some of the songs sound a bit samey. Maybe I'll have to let this one stew, as there's something in Berman's voice & words I quite enjoy. 3.5 July 16, 2023
solid
Whiney bullshit
Catchy, fun. Good listen 3.5/5
This album has been awesome. Really really enjoyed it. Kurt Vile vibes in some ways, nice low key country. Will try to keep this in the rotation, for sure!
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
deja vu
Ok
Nice album
This was terrible! The first side of the album had the same structure on every song: acoustic guitar plays for 5 secs and then stops; repeat. The vocals were terrible too. Like a Lou Reed - Johnny Cash fan boy who can't sing OR write songs. The lyrics were so bad that it hurt. ONE good song and that was the instrumental Transylvania Blues. This is the worst thing I ever listened to up to this point. 1/5
My style, but felt a little too slow overall
I wasn't sure at first but Berman sticks the landing with a country inspired indie rock record full of wit and panache. Vivid imagery and story telling, the highlight is Tennessee - you roll your eyes at the 'Ten I See' gag before being dragged in and singing along. Audacious.
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.
There were some nice moments, but overall it's just... not bad.
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 am really finding this very uninspired the instrument work is quite lacking in substance and feels predictable the lyrical work and melody alike are both subdued and feel deliberately unsuccessful in an artful way that hasnt quite come across almost like a blank canvas entitled blank canvas or more like a multicoloured canvas entitled multicoloured canvas i remember me was somewhat likeable and the horseleg swastikas had a bit more interest than the first three tracks but nothing special just starting transylvania blues and i am liking the drums and interesting guitar parts youre the only ten i see oh my that didnt give me much confidence im happy putting one star for this because i really didnt get on with it at all
Love Silver Jews. Clever writing, relatable depression, and fun instrumentals (Shout out Transylvania Blues, great in stereo).
I've never heard of Silver Jews and all of the music on Bright Flight was new to me. The album's semi-droning delivery of the lyrics sounded like it would fit in with Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile. In spite of the drone, there were layers to the music that drew me in for several tracks ("Room Games and Diamond Rain", "Let's Not and Say We Did", and particularly "I Remember Me" with the backing steel guitar). Although the album was good overall, the non-melodic delivery of the lyrics was too much for my taste on "Time Will Break the World".
I actually really liked this one. Thought it was pretty good
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.
It's a nice enough folky type noise but dark lyrics and occasionally dodgy vocals. Depressing, so great if that's the mood you're in, otherwise avoid.
Interesting without being thrilling
Today I have yet another artists that I’ve never come across before. A quick Google seems to indicate they were integral to the American music scene, so maybe that’s why they never hit my radar in the UK. I’ll be reading about their singer, David Berman, on his Wikipedia as I listen to this because he seems to have been a very unwell person. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Horseleg Swastika, Friday Night Fever I started listening to this album earlier in the day while driving and it didn’t click. To give it a fair go, I started again with my big headphones on to give it a proper listen from front to back. It sounds a lot better with headphones and I can appreciate it more. The vocals are a little odd, in that he’s definitely not the strongest singer, but it kind of works for this music. I enjoyed this more than I expected after my first impression earlier today. His Wikipedia was really sad to read, so the pulling of the heartstrings might have biased me a little.
to quote John Hinckley Jr: "Fantastic songs! RIP David Berman."
‘Bright Flight’ contains story-led, well-crafted pieces of pessimistic whimsy that never stole all my attention over a couple of plays, despite some Jack-in-the-box imagery - ‘my horse’s legs look like brown shotguns’ is a clip from one of the more psychotic Loony Tunes skits. The crafty lyrics take precedence over the music, and that’s not enough for me, at least not today. The flat and dry, academic delivery might be the crucial part that doesn’t reach me - ‘Time will break the world’ has what should be a great chorus, but it arrives like a lecture hall recitation of Orwell’s rules for writing. There are some fantastic lines in here, though. ‘…because the dead don’t improve.’
Have never really listened to the post-Natural Bridge era of Silver Jews, as there are only so many hours available in one lifetime. Part of a subgenre I skillfully christen "depressed baritone country-adjacent indie warbling", also inhabited by other talented and prodigious practitioners such as Will Oldham and Bill Callahan. When they're on their game, they can be transcendent; when they're not, it's never bad but also not very memorable. This falls into the latter camp. If you like this at all, please check out Purple Mountains, sadly David Berman's ultimate masterpiece, an easy 5*. This one - a generous 3
I don't know... Some melodies are good, some are not... Some lyrics I get on with, with some I don't... At first 3-4 songs I got bored by the same chords, but then something struck me and I guess I liked some of it.
Not my favorite. Its like tired Beck that forgot the coffee.
Hate is a strong word but this is almost getting there, man. I’m not a fan of Lou Reed at the best of times so right off the bat this Poundshop Velvet Underground is rubbing me the wrong way. The music is nice enough but his tone and faux poetic lyrics sound pretentious as fuck. Thankfully they ran out of “ideas” quickly and had the decency to piss off in just over half and hour.
Great roots poetry!
De huevis, suena a una sola canción pero pues lo puse de fondo para trabajar y no se escuchara vacio. Okay, no se que genero sea esto pero definitivamente no es de mi agrado.
Enjoyed
Top 3 Songs: 1 - Transylvania Blues (6) 2 - Friday Night Fever (9) 3 - I Remember Me (4)
This was a fun pseudo country album. I like the sense of humour with lines like ". . . getting paid by the teardrop"
It's interesting that a Jewish guy from New York would form a (1001-worthy?) alt-country band with the "burdensome" name of Silver Jews. Overall, I like the vibe and the songwriting, but David Berman's voice is well below the bar set by even mediocre country singers. A while back, I listened to a few SJ tracks suggested by David Byrne Radio and they benefited from back-up vocalists, one of them his wife I think.
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.
And they say punk is dad….. but this is rock…. Indie rock…. Country? Idk but it ain’t bad
I fucking loved this album. Please listen to it if you havent yet. Silver Jews is great, listened to like half their discog after this album. 100% going on the main playlist. bitches come over and cream when i put this on. the end
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
Townes Van Zandt eqsue indie rock.. What's not to like.
Laid back, toned down delivery with lazy tempo. Liked this, although at some point about halfway through the record the songs started to sound alike.
The songs i connected with I really liked. The ones that were more minimal weren't as interesting for me. This is a hard one to rate for me.
I listeneted to this one twice because I wasn't sure what to do about it. I think I landed on "it's fine." I like some of the songs, some of the lo-fi stuff works. Sometimes the singers vocals work well, sometimes I really dislike them. I will probably listen to this again, but not anytime soon.
Nice med det rip
Pretty nice. Did they seriously use the ”Are you from Tennesee? Cause you’re the only ten I see” joke as a chorus though???
Alltså det här albumet e ba int så jättebra jämfört med andra delar av Silver Jews discog... DB har många som e mycket mycket bättre o Bright Flight e absurt som enda pick ti listan, över American Water (det mest kända silver jews albumet) eller The Natural Bridge (det överlägset bästa) Tennessee e niiice dokk
"And I wanna be like water when I can, because water doesn't give a damn. Water doesn't give a damn." I've read about David Berman, especially after his death and I've heard some of the songs he's written and performed on but I've never had heard any of his albums as a whole until this and, quite frankly, I really liked what I heard. Almost cosmic country in its orbit but with a emphasis on despair and death, it's ironic that the album has the name "bright" as its title. But enough about that, this is a pretty stellar entry for me in regards to Berman's work. I can see what the fuss is about. "Punk rock died when the first kid said, Punk's not dead Punk's not dead."
Never listened to Silver Jews before this and definitely plan to listen to more after this. I very much enjoyed this one - there are some fantastic lyrical turns throughout!
First time hearing this one. Sounds great. 3.5/5
silver jews' bright flight was bland. a lot of the singing by david berman was close to monotone. some lyrics and song titles were witty, but it just felt like silver jews were being try hards. a lot of this album felt like folk rock with a side of country, and... it unfortunately held little appeal to me.
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.
Shite
Shite Flight
Silver Snooze
Cool thick fog drive listen
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
A bit more interesting, but not amazing. Solid 3*.
A solid release from a band with at least two far superior albums - American Water especially not being in this list is a travesty
Why would anyone listen to this on purpose? Some of the lyrics were decent but ultimately not worth it.
First impressions.... I don't particularly like the guys voice and it al seems a bit soft and boring and dreary. Transylvania blues is enjoyable and let's not say we did was more upbeat. And then back to the drearfest with Tennessee... Overall I didn't like it
Jewish country Pavement
I was introduced to the Silver Jews through a friend and was curious mainly because of David Berman's association with Stephen Malkmus and they do sound a lot like Pavement. The band produced some pretty decent records and was surprised, Bright Flight made the list. I would have considered American Waters or Tanglewood Numbers before Flight, because I thought they were better records and there were no contributions from Malkmus on Bright Flight. The songs are okay, but at times Berman sounds like a drunken David Lowery from Camper Van Beethoven. Of course, the lyrics are great, but is it essential? No, but an important and interesting band.
People listen to this crap voluntarily?
Nah. There's some cool slacker/shoegaze sure, but this is a bit boring.
Folky, I caught some funny lyrics but don't remember them now
So terrible. What genre is this album supposed to be top tier of? I honestly don’t understand the requirements to make it on this list.
You can’t convince me this isn’t a parody album.
I thought this was pretty good! Never heard before, but was interesting. I wasn't a big fan of the singer though with his dragging and borderline out of tune sining. I think most of their songs sounded very similar, so it all blended together and became a bit unmemorable unfortunately.
I just didn't like this. I found it mumbly and pretentious. Lo-fi indie with a country twist was just not for me. The highlight were some of the more blues/rock-oriented tracks like Transylvania blues. Maybe if i focused more on the lyrics it would be better? Now i just listened while i worked
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.
Ich mochte die Musik aber die Stimme nicht so :/ 3,5/5
Decent 7/10
Crap name, ploddy songs that take themselves way too seriously. Although Let's Not (aptly titled) sounds like a less fun version of Chas n Dave. Next.
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
Not sure qualifies as music.
Got halfway through, wasn't in the right mood. Sounded dreary. Like a poor man's pavement.
Very melancholy, loved it
Dylan he ain't.
4.5
Ok.
ennakkoluulot ei koskaan ollut näin hirveitä.. ei ole koskaan ollut vältelty näin..... yllättävän hyvä kuitenkin. siis paskaahan silti, 35min tuntui pitkältä, mutta en halua kuolla ja totanoin ... niin...... huomenna parempaa varmasti heh. btw mikä vittu usa president konsepti taasko meikä kuvittelee room games and diamond rain
Awful. One of the worst so far.
Mostly boring, but some bright spots are found here
Love the music itself, but I find the vocals to just not my style. There are some gems both lyrically and musically on this album that just get ruined by monotonous droning vocals. I really wanted to love this album.
The music and the vocals are just atrocious. Maybe there's something I'm missing or just don't get. I just couldn't get more than 30 seconds through any song.
Best: Slow Education Worst: Let's Not and Say We Did
A quirky folk album with some lovingly meaningful songs.
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.
This is VERY VERY different from anything i've ever listened to (on purpose). That does not by any means I dislike it, in fact, I really dig the vibe (even though some songs can be a little gloomy). I read through all the wikipedia info on the bands frontman (Berman) and was entranced in all the crazy details and events that this guy went through in his life, mostly very sad. There was, however, a hilarious quote I found: "I've got a credit card rotisserie system that would dazzle the ancients"
Music for me.
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"
I’m a big silver jews fan, but I have to admit I was surprised (though not upset) to see this on the list. I think I’d only listened to it once before. It’s probably their 3rd or 4th best album, so does that mean the others will be here as well? This is no American Water, but it’s a great album. Berman was one of the greatest lyricists of all time and his low voice complements the sleepy country vibe perfectly. This album gets better as it goes. I Remember Me, Tennessee, Friday Night Fever, and Death of an Heir of Sorrows are fantastic.
Interesting composition and lyrics, caught my attention for being interesting but not something I’d near still listen to again
A conundrum. While this is a good release, with a few great songs (Tennessee, I Remember Me), I prefer American Water, the Silver Jews first release. I didn't expect there to be two releases from Silver Jews on this list. Notwithstanding my reservation, this is a good listen from an underappreciated group,
As a rule I like alt-country. This is good but feels somewhat maudlin. Give me Son Volt or Whiskeytown instead.
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.
Didn’t grab me
Sad boring American music, sounding very dated twenty years later.
Country pavement
is it antisemitic to say this is like country leonard cohen? can't tell if the songwriting is genius or ultra cringe. vocals are nice despite that and the overall sound is great. best tracks: room games and diamond rain, slow education, time will break the world
Another Lo-if record that just didn’t click for me. Tennessee was fun but none of it was exactly memorable
I tried. I was displeased.
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.
Rock alternativo
Surprisingly good
Witty, heartbreaking songwriting
I liked them more 20 years ago
I quite enjoyed this stripped back simplicity of this. At least on the surface. There were some fairly catchy little numbers. I would listen again, I think.
I wanted to hate it, but cant. This quirky messed up faux country bulldang whatever it is. Surely its satire and then the quirky smile creeps up. Country (mostly) sucks, but we are mocking several genres here, even Dylan. So yeah its oddly fun/soothing and the lyrics are at least entertaining and different. And I give a point for originality (as long as I like it). and like country, it grows on you.
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
С одной стороны очень минималистичный, но с другой очень существенный (?) альбом, который зайдёт далеко не всем (привет всем безбожным элитистам данного сайта). Лично мне этот альбом нравился всё больше и больше с каждой минутой и уже в конце я не мог как-то отрицательно высказаться по нему. Сначала вокальные партии казались совсем вычурными и скучными, но со временем пришло осознание, что именно так всё и задумано. Объективно говоря, такая подача текста идеально подходит под звук и тексты. Кстати о текстах, они просто пестрят своей фразиологичностью, и из-за этого доносят своё глубинное значение, даже если не обращать особое внимание на них, а также они совершенно не наскучивают, даже если снова обращать внимание на вокал. В общем, я совершенно ничего не ожидал от этого альбома, особенно, что он мне понравится, but here we are. Хватит хейтить всё подряд (7 - 7.5)
No good
This was some really nice Nashville indie rock. Let’s not and say we did was my favorite and the rest was pleasant but sad. Not much more to say.
With the first couple of songs I was expecting to dislike this album, but I found myself enjoying it more and more as it progressed. Maybe another situation-based enjoyment? Right now I'm on a bus to the city and watching the bleak wintery countryside going past proved to be a nice match for this early 00s American indie country rock record. Gave me time to reflect. I think on a normal day, either at home or in the car, I would have found this album extremely boring, but it just worked today so it turned out to be an album I honestly enjoyed. Favourite: Transylvania Blues
Je ne me souviens plus exactement de ce que nous ont proposé ces juifs argentés mais je me rappelle très bien les entendre répéter "la vérité !" à tort et à travers, rendant l'expérience assez peu agréable.
Un album de piètre qualité, malgré quelques sursauts d'orgueil, donc notamment le moment où le personnage principal refuse de partager l'addition.
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.
Reading Wikipedia on the band and David Berman is a wild and sad trip. There is something appealing to me about the almost outsider-indie-country vocals, although they aren't "good" by any standards. I can 100% see the cult appeal here. Definitely a drunken-style country confessional. I'm interested to checking out the entire discography though, as well as David's final project "Purple Mountains". Beyond that, I'm conflict but probably don't enjoy this enough to relisten. But I'm glad I heard of the group.
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!
Nice artist, good vibe
Tylsää ja vähän jopa ärsyttävää country rockia. Levyllä kuitenkin yksi hyvä instrumentaali kappale
Country, slow tempo sort of psychodelic. Not my cup of tea, the vocalist sounded like he needs more vocalization practice.
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.
Sounds kinda generic.
boring but ok instrumentals and insufferable whiny vocals 1.5/5
Actually a very good album.
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.
Wanna be Johnny Cash who misses the mark and can't even convince himself he believes what he sings
Indicative of late 90's / early 00's indie. The subject hits personally; the whole album is tinged with disparate sadness through the clean, evenness of the music against unenthused and depressed vocals It's smart honestly. Initially sounds like nothing notable, but the album does create a unique story through the play. Not reaching for it any time soon, but its a good blend of sad country and thoughtful indie. Makes sense on this list
Four stars for the lyrics, minus one for the terrible singing, which may or may not be an affect. Think of it more as a wobbly, spoken word performance.
I loved this album - it might be over the top but this is the first time I was really taken aback at the quality of the album - it’s not perfect but it’s a 5* from me - a new find forever!
Feels like it's trying too hard to be edgy and emo.
For someone that grew up listening to some folk this album went pretty well. Im giving it 4 stars and it might go up
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.
kind of alright. He's got a voice that sounds a bit like a camp bear in a cartoon. like a cross between mr slave and sexual harassment panda.
Like flying into the twin towers
David Berman is my favorite songwriter. I've heard this album countless times and love it. His lyrics are incredible, when listening to them, I turn into that annoying guy who needs to point out how great nearly every line is on its own. 5 out of 5. R.I.P. D.C.B. Standout Tracks: Slow Education, Room Games and Diamond Rain, Time Will Break the World, I Remember Me, Horseleg Swastikas, Transylvania Blues, Let's Not and Say We Did, Tennessee, Friday Night Fever, Death of an Heir of Sorrows
Off brand Johnny Cash. Not good at all
I don't think I really felt much on this one. Nice tones.
Indie-alt-country. Somewhat boring.
Stand-outs: "Room Games and Diamond Rain," "I Remember Me," "Transylvania Blues," "Tennessee"
Some alright stuff, but some so so
folky indie pretty slow and lots of ballads too