Tag Archives: The Walkmen

It takes an ocean not to break part 3: US indierock

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US indie music had a huge year with older bands such as The Walkmen and The National releasing fantastic albums while a new San Francisco orchestra and stoner surfer girl doing some perfect pop music paving new roads. Today two of those albums are given a closer look:

The Walkmen – Lisbon
I only found the Walkmen’s song The New Year (that I wrote about here) in 2010 and immediately thought it was one of the best songs I’ve heard in years. I think this often but this time the feeling stayed on for longer. As I sat with a troubled mind this summer both in the lyrics and desperation completely smacked me in the head. In a good way. Then came their new album Lisbon and it was pure class all the way through. This fall this was one of the records that was around the most as the desperation and raw power in their music reached whole new levels with this album. Outstanding songs: Juveniles (above) and Stranded.

The National – High Violet
This year my favorite orchestra came out darker and heavier than ever. Hope was nowhere to be seen and Matt Berninger stood in an ocean of angst beating on his heart while screaming ‘it takes an ocean not to break’ during the Way Out West festival this summer. I felt like going home afterwards so I would not risk losing the sheer power this band has on me. Then I ended up staying and dancing to LCD Soundsystem. Many people have written many great things about this band (I can suggest this recent review of a London concert for those interested), and it would surprise me anyone reading this have missed them, so I will not dwell on but just conclude that in my book this is the greatest band on earth. For those of you that do not believe me I will forward you to my last.fm page.

For continued coverage of the 2010 year in music check back after the holidays where Swedish indie pop, strings and magic things will be explained and covered.

Oh I’m just like you I never hear the bad news

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There are some pop songs that manage to capture something more than just a fleeting feeling, or sudden infatuation. The Walkmen uses 4 minutes and 22 seconds to display the dream and decay of love and all its crucial emotional components. The bands singer, Hamilton Leithhauser, stands in the middle of distorted guitars and rumbling drums and screams his dreams. Its punky and painful in the same way that Yeah Yeah Yeahs are.

Hamilton impatiently runs through the dream of love, its eager anticipation, its buzzing love, and eventually the heart breaking end. When the guitars and drums give up the dream is still there, left unsaid and unexplained, bubbling within as the only true driving force in his life. ‘You took a sweet time’ he sings but there are worse ways to spend four and a half minute than on this 2008 masterpiece, and Sunday suggestion. Lyrics below

Oh I’m still living
At the old address
And I’m waiting on the weather
And I know you’ll pass

I know that it’s true
It’s gonna be a good year
Out of the darkness
And into the fire
I’ll tell you I love you
And my hearts in the strangest place
That’s how it started
And that’s how it ends

And I know you’re with me
It’s a point of pride
And it’s louder than lightning
In this room of mine
Oh I’m just like you I never hear the bad news
And how come that
We won by a landside
Our troubles are over
My sisters a medic
She warned my friends
Yeah, that’s how it started

Took our sweet time
?

So it’s all over
It’s all over, anyhow
You took our sweet time
And finally I opened my eyes

My friends and my family
They are asking of me
How long will you ramble
How long will you still repeat
The snow is still falling
And I’m almost home
I’ll see you…