Silver Jews - American Water LP

Where to start (and end) with this one? Every David Berman/Silver Jews album is essential in my books, but this is one in a small group (along with The Natural Bridge and the Purple Mountains LP) that seem to stand slightly above the rest.

A masterclass in Berman’s oblique lyricism that despite the cryptic lines still seemed to get at the heart of the absurdism, black humour, and nightmare of life at the end of the American Century™. Any artist that’s able to reference high art/poetry and sport within the same breath is a winner to me. All these tracks delivered like they were played in the back of a dive bar with an alt-country backing band featuring the return of Stephen Malkmus of Pavement on guitar and backing vocals.
-Mitch