The Natural Bridge

Last updated
The Natural Bridge
The Natural Bridge (Silver Jews album) coverart.jpg
Studio album by
Silver Jews
ReleasedOctober 1, 1996
RecordedJuly 1996
Genre Country rock [1]
Length35:43
Label Drag City
Producer
Silver Jews chronology
Starlite Walker
(1994)		The Natural Bridge
(1996)		 American Water
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Christgau's Consumer Guide Rating-Christgau-neither.png [3]
Pitchfork 9.2/10 [4]
Spin 6/10 [5]

The Natural Bridge is the second studio album by American indie rock band the Silver Jews. Released in 1996 as an LP and CD on Drag City (DC101) in America and Domino (WIG28) in Europe, The Natural Bridge was engineered and mixed by Michael Deming and Thom Monahan and features cover art by Mike Flood. Featured musicians include: David Berman; Matt Hunter; Rian Murphy; Peyton Pinkerton; and Michael Deming.

Some tracks on the album were originally recorded using members of the Scud Mountain Boys as Berman's backing band, but scrapped. None of these recordings have ever been released, and were rumored to have been destroyed. According to the Scuds' Joe Pernice, the songs sounded "exactly like the Scud Mountain Boys with David Berman singing" and not like previous Silver Jews recordings. An unreleased cover of Echo and the Bunnymen's "The Killing Moon" was also recorded with the Scuds. [6]

Another 1995 session, with Pavement members Stephen Malkmus, Bob Nastanovich, and Steve West, was aborted when Berman stormed out of the recording studio. The remaining musicians used the paid studio time to record Pavement's Pacific Trim EP. [7]

The name refers to two natural bridges that David Berman was aware of, one of which in Virginia that inspired him to name the album after it. With respect to the album, Berman said "I was living in Charlottesville at the time and spending a lot of time in Lexington with Steve West’s family. I was in the [Natural Bridge Park] gift shop and realized if I called the album Natural Bridge, everything in the store would be instantly be converted into promotional merchandise. Sort of like my idea for the band Trad. Arr. that would infuriate record collectors and rock critics who would normally never deign to acknowledge 'my work' by covering their most treasured objects into advertisements for my band." [8]

Track listing

All tracks composed by David Berman.

  1. "How to Rent a Room" - 3:03
  2. "Pet Politics" - 4:05
  3. "Black and Brown Blues" - 4:05
  4. "Ballad of Reverend War Character" - 3:47
  5. "The Right to Remain Silent" - 2:37
  6. "Dallas" - 4:14
  7. "Inside the Golden Days of Missing You" - 2:27
  8. "Albemarle Station" - 3:41
  9. "The Frontier Index" - 3:38
  10. "Pretty Eyes" - 4:13

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pavement (band)</span> American indie rock band

Pavement is an American indie rock band that formed in Stockton, California, in 1989. For most of their career, the group consisted of Stephen Malkmus, Scott Kannberg, Mark Ibold (bass), Steve West (drums), and Bob Nastanovich. Initially conceived as a recording project, the band at first avoided press or live performances, while attracting considerable underground attention with their early releases. Gradually evolving into a more polished band, Pavement recorded five full-length albums and ten EPs over the course of their decade-long career, though they disbanded with some acrimony in 1999 as the members moved on to other projects. In 2010, they undertook a well-received reunion tour, followed by another international tour from 2022 to 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Jews</span> American indie rock band

Silver Jews were an American indie rock band from New York City, formed in 1989 by David Berman alongside Pavement members Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich. Berman was the only constant band member. During the last few albums, Cassie Berman became a regular member of the band. They disbanded in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Malkmus</span> American musician (born 1966)

Stephen Joseph Malkmus is an American musician best known as the primary songwriter, lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Pavement. He performs with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Pavement, The Hard Quartet, and as a solo artist.

<i>Spiderland</i> 1991 studio album by Slint

Spiderland is the second and final studio album by the American rock band Slint. It was released by Touch and Go Records on March 27, 1991. Slint's lineup at the time of recording comprised Brian McMahan on vocals and guitar, David Pajo on guitar, Todd Brashear on bass guitar and Britt Walford on drums. Spiderland was engineered by Brian Paulson and recorded over four days in August 1990. The music and vocal melodies were composed throughout the summer of 1990, while lyrics were written in-studio.

<i>Slanted and Enchanted</i> 1992 studio album by Pavement

Slanted and Enchanted is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Pavement, released on April 20, 1992 by Matador Records. It is the only Pavement album to feature drummer Gary Young.

<i>Wowee Zowee</i> 1995 studio album by Pavement

Wowee Zowee is the third studio album by American indie rock band Pavement, released on April 11, 1995 by Matador Records. Most of it was recorded at Easley Recording in Memphis, Tennessee, where some members of the band had previously worked on Silver Jews' 1994 album Starlite Walker. The album showcases a more experimental side of the band, marking a return to the clatter and unpredictability of their early recordings after the more accessible sound of their 1994 studio album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. Its eclectic nature ranges from mellow yet distorted melodies to noise and punk rock, while the lyrics generally explore humorous and cryptic themes. At nearly one hour long, Wowee Zowee is Pavement's longest studio album, filling three sides of a vinyl record. Side four was left blank.

<i>Terror Twilight</i> 1999 studio album by Pavement

Terror Twilight is the fifth and final studio album by the American indie rock band Pavement. It was released on June 8, 1999, on Matador Records in the US and Domino Recording Company in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Berman (musician)</span> American musician, singer, and poet (1967–2019)

David Cloud Berman was an American musician, singer-songwriter and poet. In 1989, he founded – and was the only constant member of – the indie rock band Silver Jews with Pavement's Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich.

<i>Pacific Trim</i> 1996 EP by Pavement

Pacific Trim is the fifth EP released by American indie rock band Pavement on January 23, 1996 through Matador Records. It was recorded on short notice to coincide with the band's Australian tour.

Robert Nastanovich is an American musician and member of the indie rock band Pavement, as well as a former member of Silver Jews, Ectoslavia, Pale Horse Riders, and Misshapen Lodge.

<i>Starlite Walker</i> 1994 studio album by Silver Jews

Starlite Walker is the first studio album by American indie rock band Silver Jews. It was released in 1994 as an LP and CD on Drag City (DC55) in America and on Domino (WIG15) in Europe.

<i>American Water</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Silver Jews

American Water is the third studio album by American indie rock band Silver Jews. Released in 1998 as an LP and CD on Drag City (DC149) in America and Domino (WIG56) in Europe, American Water was recorded at The Rare Book Room in Brooklyn and mastered at Abbey Road Studios. The album features musicians Tim Barnes, David Berman, Mike Fellows, Stephen Malkmus, Chris Stroffolino, and artwork by Chris Kysor.

<i>The World Wont End</i> 2001 studio album by Pernice Brothers

The World Won't End is the second studio album by American indie rock band Pernice Brothers. It was released by Ashmont Records on June 19, 2001. It peaked at number 26 on the UK Independent Albums Chart.

<i>Tanglewood Numbers</i> 2005 studio album by Silver Jews

Tanglewood Numbers is the fifth studio album by American indie rock band Silver Jews, released in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Pernice</span> American indie rock musician and writer (born 1967)

Joseph T. Pernice is an American indie rock musician and writer, who has fronted several bands, including the Scud Mountain Boys, Chappaquiddick Skyline, The New Mendicants and the Pernice Brothers.

<i>Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea</i> 2008 studio album by Silver Jews

Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea is the sixth and final studio album by American indie rock band Silver Jews, released on June 17, 2008 through Drag City. It was recorded at Marble Valley of Lexington, Virginia and Lake Fever Productions of Nashville, Tennessee. 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. Berman has said that the album is "really different" compared to previous ones.

Thom Monahan is an American producer/engineer and musician who is best known for his work with the bands Pernice Brothers, Fruit Bats and Vetiver. He has also produced albums by Devendra Banhart, Wild Nothing, Beachwood Sparks, and the Chris Robinson Brotherhood.

Purple Mountains was an American indie rock project formed by musician and poet David Berman. The project debuted in May 2019, over a decade after the dissolution of Berman's previous group Silver Jews. An eponymous album was released in July 2019. The album was recorded primarily in Chicago and produced by Jarvis Taveniere and Jeremy Earl of the band Woods.

<i>Massachusetts</i> (Scud Mountain Boys album) 1996 studio album by Scud Mountain Boys

Massachusetts is the third studio album by American alternative country group Scud Mountain Boys. Released in 1996 on Sub Pop, Massachusetts was recorded and mixed at Studio .45 in Hartford, Connecticut, except for the track "Grudge ****", which was recorded on a four track at home.

<i>Purple Mountains</i> (album) 2019 studio album by Purple Mountains

Purple Mountains is the only studio album by American indie rock band Purple Mountains. The album was released on July 12, 2019, by Drag City. It is the final overall album by David Berman before his death on August 7, 2019, less than four weeks after the album's release.

References

  1. ↑ Oakes, Kaya (2009). Slanted and Enchanted: The Evolution of Indie Culture. Henry Holt and Company. p. 145. ISBN   978-1-4299-3572-2.
  2. ↑ Phares, Heather. "The Natural Bridge - Silver Jews". AllMusic . Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  3. ↑ Christgau, Robert (2000-10-15). "Silver Jews". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s . Macmillan Publishing. ISBN   9780312245603.
  4. ↑ Sodomsky, Sam. "Silver Jews: The Natural Bridge". Pitchfork . Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  5. ↑ Stovall, Natasha (December 1996). "Silver Jews: The Natural Bridge". Spin . Vol. 12, no. 9. SPIN Media LLC. p. 146.
  6. ↑ Bryant, Will. "A Few Words With Joe Pernice". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 1, 2003. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  7. ↑ Hawthorne, Marc. "Pavement". The Online Daily. Archived from the original on February 17, 2007.
  8. ↑ Walsh, Ryan H. (October 3, 2016). "The Untold Story Of Silver Jews' The Natural Bridge: How David Berman Lost His Mind, Left Pavement Behind, And Made A Masterpiece". Stereogum .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.