Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
| Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 17, 2008 | |||
| Recorded | March–October 2007[1] | |||
| Length | 33:53 | |||
| Label | Drag City | |||
| Producer | David Berman | |||
| Silver Jews chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
| Blender | [3] |
| musicOMH | [4] |
| Pitchfork Media | (6.7/10)[5] |
| PopMatters | (6/10)[6] |
| The Skinny | [7] |
| Spin | [8] |
| Uncut | [9] |
Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea is the sixth and final studio album by American indie rock band Silver Jews, released on June 17, 2008 through Drag City.[10] It was recorded at Marble Valley of Lexington, Virginia and Lake Fever Productions of Nashville, Tennessee.[1] Silver Jews records are known for featuring different casts of musicians. This album features the touring band of lead singer, David Berman, including his wife Cassie.[1] Berman has said that the album is "really different" compared to previous ones.[11]
Recording
[edit]In an interview with Pitchfork, Berman said that while recording he used a new guitar to influence a new mindset.[12] He wrote all of the songs before going into the studio, so that he could make sure each song took "into account its neighbors".[12] The vocals were not recorded until last, as he kept changing the lyrics and wanted to be able to edit them without having to re-record the entire song.[12] Berman went on to say that at the end of recording he wished he had more time to write, as there were still things he would have changed.[12] "What Is Not but Could Be If" was a 'totally different kind of writing' for Berman, and he compared it to bands that sang slogans and epigrammatic writing.[12]
Music
[edit]Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea has been described as one of the Silver Jews' 'lightest' albums.[13]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by David Berman, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "What Is Not but Could Be If..." | 3:08 | |
| 2. | "Aloysius, Bluegrass Drummer" | 1:54 | |
| 3. | "Suffering Jukebox" | 4:21 | |
| 4. | "My Pillow Is the Threshold" | 3:52 | |
| 5. | "Strange Victory, Strange Defeat" | 2:44 | |
| 6. | "Open Field" | Maher Shalal Hash Baz | 2:39 |
| 7. | "San Francisco, B.C." | 6:15 | |
| 8. | "Candy Jail" | 2:30 | |
| 9. | "Party Barge" | 2:55 | |
| 10. | "We Could Be Looking for the Same Thing" | 3:35 | |
| Total length: | 33:53 | ||
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "'Lookout': Silver Jews Ready Sixth Album". Billboard.
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ Blender review
- ^ musicOMH review
- ^ Pitchfork review
- ^ PopMatters review
- ^ The Skinny review
- ^ Spin review
- ^ Uncut review
- ^ "Upcoming CD Releases". metacritic. Archived from the original on 2010-02-07. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
- ^ "Silver Jews Reveal Lookout Track list, 2008 Live Plans". Archived from the original on April 5, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
- ^ a b c d e Grayson Currin (2008-08-18). "Interview: Silver Jews". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on 2008-09-02. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
- ^ Heather Phares. "Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
