Lyrics. That’s why I love the group Silver Jews so passionately, with such fierce admiration. I’m thinking at the moment of their 1998 album American Water in particular, which I just finished listening to again. Their main creative force, David Berman, is also a poet, and it shows. The album begins, on “Random Rules,” with, “In 1984 I was hospitalized for approaching perfection.” I fell in love instantly.
I could just read the lyrics to Silver Jews and marvel at the wordplay, but I get to listen to Berman turn poems into songs (and not just crappy ones). That is something I can’t thank him enough for.
“Smith and Jones Forever” is a favorite for the line, “The alleys are the footnotes of the avenues.” You just have to hear him sing it. And they prove their instrumental chops with “Night Society,” which is a fine song, if lacking the lyrics I love so much.
“Blue Arrangements”: “I love your amethyst eyes and your Protestant thighs.” A funny rhyme, but also suggestive of the barriers set up by people between people. The album has depth, but also whimsy, and I have to respect that.
It has a touch of weirdness, and I can’t make sense of some parts—but in a beautiful way. At its very worst moment, I’m busy puzzling why I’m enjoying it so much, which isn’t a bad place to be.
The album ends, in “The Wild Kindness,” on, “I’m gonna shine out in the wild kindness/and hold the world to its word.” I’m not sure what that promise is. But I’m rooting for the world to give the Silver Jews their due.
“When something breaks it makes a beautiful sound”—“Blue Arrangements” (http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/The-Silver-Jews/showall.html).
Sincerely,
Spencer Miles Kimball
No comments:
Post a Comment