AWmusic

I don’t know which old records of The Walkmen to check out but based on reviews but Bows and Arrows seems like one I should check out (comments anyone?). However, it was a bit tough knowing what the Walkmen once were because a lot of the reviews compared You and Me to their previous records which for myself I don’t have that background.

I decided to check out this album after, like I do with most bands, when I stream their songs on their myspace. Like any and every band they go through the same process…if I like it, forget it and if I do like it, I get the album and they face my wrath .

Anyway, I think I was a little surprised at what I wear hearing, I thought of the Walkmen as a more upbeat style band but hey, I’m not complaining.

If you’ve taken particular interest in reading reviews on this album You and Me, this album is gold but it comes in terms of a subtleness that is really hard to explain without hyperboles or anything other then deep and emotional without actually seemingly deep or emotional.

Musically, I really dug the seemingly classical type of approach. Everything is quiet and it creates an atmosphere where I feel that the and the singer and I are alone (kind of like the title of the album). The story telling is great even though when reading the lyrics, they turned out to be less complex then I felt like it was. There’s something about the way Hamilton Leithauser (? I’m having trouble finding out their lineup) sings that gives off a simple soothing voice but with it he can accentuate any feeling.

This album is great from start to finish, it has a real completeness about it that really just had me going through this whole album from start to finish without any real complaints. The only real problem I had were identifying the songs that really stuck out to me (though to be honest saying a certain song stands out is not giving the rest of the album enough credit). Canadian Girl is by far my favorite song…it’s simple in nature but very emotionally inviting. In a close 2nd is The Blue Route, a story about people changing their lives and just reflecting how people change. I’m doing a poor job of describing it in my opinion because you should just listen to it on your own. The New Year is very good as well but it’s probably the most angry, extroverted song on the album and is a bit different but still a great track (it’s more of a stand-alone track then going with the rest of the album)

Overall, this album is wonderful. Maybe not 5 out of 5 material but still it is up there as it is a great album to just lay down and sit still to.

Rating: 4.75 out of 5
No real criticisms, it’s good all the way around, not absolutely the greatest at all points of the album but I have new appreciation for the Walkmen. There is much more to this album then meets the eyes, tons of sonic elements that I tend to notice as I listen to the album more and more.

Canadian Girl by The Walkmen
The Long Route by The Walkmen
In The New Year by The Walkmen

Tags: album