RECORD REVIEW: THE WALKMEN

Reviews

Sunday, 19 August 2012 00:00

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Since their beginnings ten years ago, The Walkmen have followed a course many bands would be envious of. A big sound, a good time, and a massive future. Heaven is their seventh studio LP, out via Fat Possum / Bella Union, following on from the excellent 2010 album Lisbon. Produced by Phil Ek (Built To Spill, Modest Mouse), the sound and vibe found on Heaven is that of an aged ten year old Cab Sav, subtle yet full flavoured, capable of being front and centre in the spotlight but not self centred and full of ego, devoid of hype.

Frontman, Hamilton Leithauser harnesses it all together, keeping a tight reign over the album full of two chord bass lines and laid back guitar. Heaven has moments of belting vocals and beautiful contemplation over its arc of thirteen tracks. It is a positive, happy record, one made by a group of guys who are in a good place, and it shines through right there on the vinyl. 'We Can't Be Beat' starts things off and ponders the isolation of perfectionism, with help on harmonies from Fleet Foxes Robin Pecknold. It's a song that starts with aching acoustic guitar and develops into a fully fledged marching band rally cry.

'Love Is Luck' dwells on the aspects of chance and luck in relationships, (which is really how it usually works) but sounds upbeat, almost calypso. 'Heartbreaker' features classic riffs the band has been known for as we hear Leithauser sing "I'm not your heartbreaker / these are the good years / the best we'll ever know", these words have never been truer for this group of five guys. The term 'content' comes to mind, but not defined as so many cynics would have it in a lazy, 'that's it, our time is over' kind of way. They might be one of the first indie rock bands to feature a group photo of themselves posing with their collection of seven children, but hey, why not? And good on them. It might be cheesy but who cares.

'Southern Heart'; "tell me again how you loved all the men you were after" highlights the charismatic delivery of Leithauser and intelligent orchestration of Moroon, Martin, Barrick and Bauer on their respective instruments. Sparse when it needs to be and full throttled when called for, it is clear they are at the top of their craft. 'Song For Leigh' was written for Leitauser's (and possibly all of their) children, a fine present to give and look back on in future years. The value of being surrounded by such awesome music during those formative years is gold, lucky kids indeed.

'Jerry Jr.'s Tune' is a short ninety second instrumental track that tends towards the classification of "golden oldie", while 'Heaven', the title track is a driving and sentimental number, catchy as hell. "Don't leave me now / my best friend / remember remember / all we fight for", Leithauser croons retrospectively, summing up the whole album in a lyric. 'No One Ever Sleeps, with its gorgeous mariachi horn sound and echoed percussion, is a standout track. The LP Heaven is a logical conclusion for a great band like this, and with their staying power after a decade The Walkmen have cemented their place as pioneering indie band of our time. The proof is in the fact that they are still here, sounding better than ever, while most of their contemporaries there with them at the start have faded away. The golden age of The Walkmen is only just begnning.

Dave Roberts - August 19, 2012

Heaven

The Walkmen (USA)

From the album, Heaven', Fat Possum / Bella Union

Download here

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ALBUM OF THE WEEK

June 18, 2013

DAFT PUNK (FRA)

Random Access Memories

Daft Punk Official Site

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2. The Game Of Love

3. Giorgio By Moroder (feat. Giorgio Moroder)

4. Within (feat. Chilly Gonzales)

5. Instant Crush (feat. Julian Casablancas)

6. Lose Yourself To Dance (feat Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers)

7. Touch (feat. Paul Williams)

8. Get Lucky (feat. Pharell Williams & Nile Rodgers)

9. Beyond

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11. Fragments Of Time (feat. Todd Edwards)

12. Doin' It Right (feat. Panda Bear

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The National Official Site

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7. This Is The Last Time

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DIRTY BEACHES (USA)

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6. Aurevoir Mon Visage

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THE FLAMING LIPS (USA)

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The Flaming Lips Official Site

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7. Butterfly, How Long Does It Take To Die

8. Turning Violent

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May 14, 2013

JAMES BLAKE (ENG)

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James Blake Official Site

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THE KNIFE (SWE)

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Rabid Records

The Knife Official Site

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2. Full Of Fire

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7. Old Dreams Waiting To Be Realised

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April 30, 2013

KURT VILE (USA)

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Kurt Vile Official Site

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3. Was All Talk

4. Girl Called Alex

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SALLY SHAPIRO (SWE)

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Sally Shapiro Official Site

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7. Starman (feat. Electric Youth)

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9. Sundown

10. Don't Be Afraid (feat. Anoraak)

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PHOSPHORESCENT (USA)

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Phosphorescent Official Site

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YOUTH LAGOON (USA)

Wondrous Bughouse

Fat Possum

Youth Lagoon Facebook

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April 2, 2013

AUTRE NE VEUT (USA)

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Mexican Summer / Software

Autre Ne Veut Facebook

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8. Don't Ever Look Back

9. I Wann Dance With Somebody

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DOLDRUMS (CAN)

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Arbutus

Doldrums Official Site

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4. Sunrise

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7. Singularity Acid Face

8. Live Forever

9. Golden Calf

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BEACH FOSSILS (USA)

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March 12, 2013

MY BLOODY VALENTINE (IRE)

mbv

Self Released

My Bloody Valentine Official Site

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6. New You

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9. Wonder 2

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March 5, 2013

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS (AUS)

Push The Sky Away

Self Released

Nick Cave Official Site

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1. We No Who U Are

2. Wide Lovely Eyes

3. Water's Edge

4. Jubilee Street

5. Mermaids

6. We Real Cool

7. Finishing Jubilee Street

8. Higgs Boson Blues

9. Push The Sky Away

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February 26, 2013

DUCKTAILS (USA)

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Domino

Ducktails Facebook

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2. The Flower Lane

3. Under Cover

4. Timothy Shy

5. Planet Phrom

6. Assistant Director

7. Sedan Magic

8. International Date Line

9. Letter Of Intent

10. Academy Avenue

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February 19, 2013

INDIANS (DEN)

Somewhere Else

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Indians Facebook

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4. Magic Kids

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6. Reality, Sublime

7. Cakelakers

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9. Melt

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February 12, 2013

SUPERSTAR (AUS)

A Toast To...

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Superstar Official Site

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February 5, 2013

OLOF ARNALDS (ICE)

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2. Bright And Still

3. Return Again

4. Treat Her Kindly

5. Call It What You Want

6. A Little Grim

7. Fear Less

8. Numbers And Names

9. Sudden Elevation

10. The Joke

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12. Perfect

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TOP 30 PLAYER

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THE TOP TEN

1. Get Lucky (feat. Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers)
Daft Punk (FRA)

2. Gun
Chvrches (SCO)

3. Pathos Y Lagrimas
Mood Rings (USA)

4. Sea Of Love
The National (USA)

5. The Hardest Part
Kisses (USA)

6. Echeance
Police Des Moeurs (CAN)

7. Mobile Homes
Banana Beach (SWE)

8. Never Leave Me
Karl X Johan (SWE)

9. You & Me (feat. Eliza Doolittle)
Disclosure (ENG)

10. Overgrown
James Blake (ENG)

FULL CHART CLICK HERE

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ON THE TURNTABLE

Dirty Beaches (USA) - Drifters/Love Is The Devil (Zoo Music)

Deerhunter (USA) - Monomania (4AD)

Daft Punk (FRA) - Random Access Memories

Vampire Weekend (USA) - Modern Vampires Of The City (XL)

ADULT. (USA) - The Way Things Fall (Ghostly International)

Small Black (USA) - Limits Of Desire (Jagjaguwar)

Camera Obscura (SCO) - Desire Lines (4AD)

The National (USA) - Trouble Will Find Me (4AD)

Boards of Canada (SCO) - Tomorrow's Harvest (Warp)

Disclosure (ENG) - Settle (PMR)

Savages (ENG) - Silence Yourself (Matador)

Saturday Looks Good To Me (USA) - One Kiss Ends It All (Polyvinyl)

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