Bright Flight

Silver Jews, Silver Jews | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 20, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Drag City
• ASIN: B00005QXCM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,716 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Their 4th album contains all the Silver Jews traditions - vague country-rock, solid silver tunes, David Berman's moan & yowl, way out lyrics of human tragedy...From Drag City Records.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best of 2001 (and underrated by the old fans), January 29, 2002

By 

josh bratcher (arkansas, dude) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bright Flight (Audio CD)

I find this album to be Berman's most accessible album yet (and accessible doesn't mean bad). I'm appalled that people liked American Water so much but hate this album. AW is a great album, but Bright Flight is a throwback to the far superior Natural Bridge. Without Malkmus's Wowee Zowee outtakes all over the album, Berman creates an honest and touching series of songs that grab you right away. I'm shocked that people would say this album dragged -- I found this album more exciting than The Natural Bridge, although the lyrics on Bright Flight are simpler and the melodies mellower. I find the lyrics on Bright Flight to be better than those on any of his previous albums, ESPECIALLY American Water.
This album is one of the very few five-star albums of 2001. Who can resist the sadness of "I Remember Me," or the timeless sing-along of "Friday Night Fever"? The guitars on this album complement Berman's songs more so than Malkmus's showy noodlings did on AW. I can't imagine people listening to the honkey-tonk piano in "Let's not and Say We Did" without wanting to ride down the ridge to the military bridge (or see a fireplace that burns backwards). Great Record.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Freedom of the Press to Disagree..., December 1, 2003

By 

"slant6mofo" (Benicia, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bright Flight (Audio CD)

So our man Greg Press thinks Bright Flight ain't a patch on "American Water", saying, " This album seems a result of Virginia boredom." Not to pick bones or nits, but Berman was actually living in Tennessee when this record was made. And I agree with another reviewer that "American Water" was marred a bit by Malkmus' "Wowee Zowee" outtakes. In fact, though I think Malkmus is an interesting guy; somebody I'd be down to have beers with, I don't really like his music, which is why I made the criminal mistake of ignoring the Jews until a girl I was dating played me "Random Rules" a few years ago. Pure genius. "American Water" is a fantastic album, in spite of (and occasionally because of) Malkmus' semi-inappropriate Mark E. Smith aspirations, but I think "Bright Flight" tops it. So, admittedly, no song on the record is quite as brilliant as "Random Rules"--which stands up to just about anyting ever written--but "Bright Flight" is a more consistent, casual record. It finds a poet about as relaxed as he can be and be at the top of his game. There's a back-porch kind of lonliness that recalls the subject of the Blasters' "Marie, Marie". Berman *knows* why she sings so sad, starts at that point and then fragments and simultaneously refines the narrative until everything shines perfectly clear. "The Natural Bridge" is a great disc, but sounds palpably forced beside this one. Simply put, "Bright Flight" finds Berman in a comfortable place, and that's truly not a bad thing. Mr. Press also said that "BF" sounds like the hangover from "AW", and I'd agree with that as well, though for me, it's a postive point. Every so often, the hangover's the best part of the whole experience. "Bright Flight" captures that oft-neglected phenomenon better than just about anything I've ever heard or read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Way to Go DB!, November 30, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Bright Flight (Audio CD)

I just picked this one up and think DB has found a great niche. In fact I was pleased to notice that Malkmus wasn't around to muddle this one up with his annoying overdubs and lackluster vocals. Lyrics are the cornerstone to the Silver Jew construction co. and Berman pulls out some original beauties to expand on his already wonderful repetoire. All in all I think the Silver Jews are moving in a great direction.