Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea

Last updated
Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
Album cover silver jews.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 17, 2008
RecordedMarch–October 2007 [1]
Length33:53
Label Drag City
Producer David Berman
Silver Jews chronology
Tanglewood Numbers
(2005)
Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
(2008)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Blender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
musicOMH Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [4]
Pitchfork Media (6.7/10) [5]
PopMatters (6/10) [6]
The Skinny Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Spin Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]

Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea is the sixth and final studio album by American indie rock band Silver Jews, released on June 17, 2008, on Drag City. [10] It was recorded at Marble Valley of Lexington, Virginia and Lake Fever Productions of Nashville, Tennessee. [1] Silver Jews records are known for featuring different casts of musicians. This album features the touring band of lead singer, David Berman, including his wife Cassie. [1] Berman has said that the album is "really different" compared to previous ones. [11]

Contents

Recording

In an interview with Pitchfork , Berman said that while recording he used a new guitar to influence a new mindset. [12] He wrote all of the songs before going into the studio, so that he could make sure each song took "into account its neighbors". [12] The vocals were not recorded until last, as he kept changing the lyrics and wanted to be able to edit them without having to re-record the entire song. [12] Berman went on to say that at the end of recording he wished he had more time to write, as there were still things he would have changed. [12] "What Is Not but Could Be If" was a 'totally different kind of writing' for Berman, and he compared it to bands that sang slogans and epigrammatic writing. [12]

Music

Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea has been described as one of the Silver Jews' 'lightest' albums. [13]

Track listing

All tracks are written by David Berman, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."What Is Not but Could Be If..." 3:08
2."Aloysius, Bluegrass Drummer" 1:54
3."Suffering Jukebox" 4:21
4."My Pillow Is the Threshold" 3:52
5."Strange Victory, Strange Defeat" 2:44
6."Open Field" Maher Shalal Hash Baz 2:39
7."San Francisco, B.C." 6:15
8."Candy Jail" 2:30
9."Party Barge" 2:55
10."We Could Be Looking for the Same Thing" 3:35
Total length:33:53

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "'Lookout': Silver Jews Ready Sixth Album". Billboard .
  2. Allmusic review
  3. Blender review
  4. musicOMH review
  5. Pitchfork review
  6. PopMatters review
  7. The Skinny review
  8. Spin review
  9. Uncut review
  10. "Upcoming CD Releases". metacritic. Archived from the original on 2010-02-07. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
  11. "Silver Jews Reveal Lookout Track list, 2008 Live Plans". Archived from the original on April 5, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Grayson Currin (2008-08-18). "Interview: Silver Jews". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on 2008-09-02. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  13. Heather Phares. "Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea review". Allmusic . Retrieved 2008-09-03.