Why does David Berman’s voice remind me of Neil Diamond? The lyrics sound darker and the music generally rocks harder than Mr. ‘Forever In Blue Jeans’ ever did.
Berman’s voice is deep and soothing but possesses a darker undertone that adds an edge to the songs, keeping things interesting. He’s a great storyteller in the tradition of Johnny Cash and Nick Cave.
Most of the songs on ‘Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea’ follow the classic Cash/Cave ballad school. In ‘Candy Jail’, for instance, Berman visits a grave just to make sure that particular person is gone for good.
The music can be loosely described as laid back alternative rock. Think early REM. Other musical influences include Country and 1950’s pop. The sound on ‘Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea’ is fairly polished.
Strong ballads, like ‘What Is And Could Not Be If’, sit next to atmospheric mid-tempo rockers like ‘Suffering Jukebox’. In good 1950’s tradition, a lot of the songs here clock in under three minutes - Short and sweet.
Hailing from Nashville like their ‘bigger’ compatriots Kings Of Leon, the Silver Jews inhabit an altogether more reflective, low key place of mind. It’s all about the stories here. So listen carefully.
If you like the songcraft of alternative rockers like The National or the Cold War Kids, then ‘Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea’ is worth a listen.
Listen to ‘Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea’ and download the album from iTunes.
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