Customer Reviews

NATURAL BRIDGE, THE [Vinyl]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the view of some, it was actually the bewildering perfection of this disc that drove Malkmus to disband Pavement (there's an apocryphal story that he admitted they'd never make an album as good as this one.)
Berman's a songwriter's songwriter, and it's no wonder he's got such a loyal cult following. This album encapsulates a worldview and a loneliness so vast and profound that listening to it, you just fall inside. If you're the kind of person who drives all night, you'll never feel the same way about the world after you hear it. All the other SJ albums are good -- Starlite Walker (the previous album) especially -- but none has the degree of imagery and startling revelation that this one carries from start to finish.

This is my favorite Silver Jews album of all time, but more importantly, my favorite album, by any artist, of all time! DC Berman writes how most of us dream. If you haven't listened to the Silver Jews yet, start with American Water. The Natural Bridge takes a bit longer to get into, but is very rewarding in the end. DC Berman's genius continues to amaze me!

A couple disclaimers on this five-star review that I don't feel like I've been generous enough with:

- I'm an "American Water" guy. It's the album that got me into the band; while I have no problem with Malkmus' absence here, I don't think that the music Berman writes without him is any better than the bonus of having him around.

- Most of the praise I've heard for Natural Bridge mentions how beautifully cohesive it is. "Cohesive" is in a very small minority of compliments that I would never think to pay this album. I can't explain why I feel that way, or why that seems to be so anachronistic, other than that this was the Silver Jews' first really polished effort, and the first time that everything really worked. Berman's poetry being what it is, I don't think that makes it an unreasonable candidate for "second-favourite album by my favourite band" -- which it absolutely is. It's just that it sounds to me more like a miscellaneous catalog of some of their best material. As an album, it doesn't do anything special; as a band, they're magic. In this case, there's no reason to differentiate.

This album features some of the most intelligent and witty lyrics that you'll find in any record. The gloomy tone is extremely easy to relate to and very relaxing. Yet, the melodies lack much variation and get a little drawn out at times. Still a definite "must-have" for the rare poetic songs and deepness.

Full of perplexing, funny and prophet lines- Here's an example of all 3 in 1:
"A robot walks into a bar
orders a drink
lays down a bill
The bartender says, hey we don't serve robots
and the robot says, oh but someday you will"
The lyrics on this album are astounding and the album as a whole is beautiful and easy to listen to. The band does not go out of its way to perfect all of their parts in these recordings, but there is a lot of charm in what they are doing. There's something special about the lyrics, the music and the whole album. This is a classic and my favorite of the fearless Silver Jews.

One of my favorite albums period. The lyrical roll that DB was on, which started here and continued through American Water, ranks up there with all-time greats. Still in heavy rotation after all this time.

Not sure that YOU have the capacity to like The Silver Jews? Here is what you do:

You go and download the song "Dallas" from wherever it is the kids these days get their tunes, and then you listen to it over and over again in your car until you understand what's so sweet about it. That's it. That's what you do. Why, you ask? Here's a good reason why:

The Silver Jews, like so many other good bands, take a lot of time to really get/understand. So go, right now, and learn to be intimate (ooh la la) friends and/or lovers with a few of their songs. You'll get it. I believe in ye.

I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE SILVER JEWS . IF YOU ARE INTO THE VERY POLITICAL, AND SMART LYRICS TYPE OF MUSIC THEN THIS ONE YOU HAVE TO CHECK OUT."I CAN SEE YOU IN YOUR ROOM AT NIGHT PICTURES ON YOUR WALLS/LITTLE FOREST SCENES AND HIGH SCHOOL HALLOWEENS / BUT THEY DON'T COME TO YOU, THEY DON'T COME TO YOU AT ALL." THIS CD IS ONE THAT I NEVER GET SICK OF. I JUST POP IT IN WHEN I FEEL LONELY OR LOW BORED OR HAPPY AND INSTANTLY I FORGET ABOUT ALL MY PROBLEMS.

The Natural Bridge is Cormac McCarthy, Dave Berman is the best songwriter since Waylon Jennings died ten years from now, and the linseed oil from the carpet still stinks from last year. Nuff said.

I think this is one of the best albums ever. if you like it too, maybe you would also like the stories of Barry Hannah. try "airships". Beautiful, bizzare accounts of life, history and noticing things.