[.ca] Bright Flight

nearly their best:
I've been a fan since the Dime Map of the Reef 7". Way back. I don't need to tell you how important these records are. I believe their best record is THE NATURAL BRIDGE, with THE ARIZONA RECORD and STARLITE WALKER coming in close second (tied). AMERICAN WATER was very good, but didn't reach those moments of startling beauty and melancholy that mark Berman's best work. I like how a previous reviewer put it: Malkmus's Wowee Zowee outtakes get in the way. BRIGHT FLIGHT finds Berman back in the territory of THE NATURAL BRIDGE without simply doin' the same old thing. He's developed as a songwriter and the musicianship on this record is wonderful. I can't yet say if my nostalgic attachment to THE NATURAL BRIDGE holds me to my conviction that it is the superior album, but for now THE BRIGHT FLIGHT has usurped the Joos' earlier work as a very close second to that 1996 masterpiece. It is simply glorious!

One of the best of 2001 (and underrated by the old fans):
I find this album to be Berman's most accessible album yet (and accessible doesn't mean bad). I'm appalled that people liked American Water so much but hate this album. AW is a great album, but Bright Flight is a throwback to the far superior Natural Bridge. Without Malkmus's Wowee Zowee outtakes all over the album, Berman creates an honest and touching series of songs that grab you right away. I'm shocked that people would say this album dragged -- I found this album more exciting than The Natural Bridge, although the lyrics on Bright Flight are simpler and the melodies mellower. I find the lyrics on Bright Flight to be better than those on any of his previous albums, ESPECIALLY American Water. This album is one of the very few five-star albums of 2001. Who can resist the sadness of "I Remember Me," or the timeless sing-along of "Friday Night Fever"? The guitars on this album complement Berman's songs more so than Malkmus's showy noodlings did on AW. I can't imagine people listening to the honkey-tonk piano in "Let's not and Say We Did" without wanting to ride down the ridge to the military bridge (or see a fireplace that burns backwards). Great Record.

Joy Joy:
What a great record. Listen to it in the bath with a beer when it's raining outside. 'Tennessee' is far and away my favourite track. The female vocals are just wonderful.

Freedom of the Press to Disagree...:
So our man Greg Press thinks Bright Flight ain't a patch on "American Water", saying, " This album seems a result of Virginia boredom." Not to pick bones or nits, but Berman was actually living in Tennessee when this record was made. And I agree with another reviewer that "American Water" was marred a bit by Malkmus' "Wowee Zowee" outtakes. In fact, though I think Malkmus is an interesting guy; somebody I'd be down to have beers with, I don't really like his music, which is why I made the criminal mistake of ignoring the Jews until a girl I was dating played me "Random Rules" a few years ago. Pure genius. "American Water" is a fantastic album, in spite of (and occasionally because of) Malkmus' semi-inappropriate Mark E. Smith aspirations, but I think "Bright Flight" tops it. So, admittedly, no song on the record is quite as brilliant as "Random Rules"--which stands up to just about anyting ever written--but "Bright Flight" is a more consistent, casual record. It finds a poet about as relaxed as he can be and be at the top of his game. There's a back-porch kind of lonliness that recalls the subject of the Blasters' "Marie, Marie". Berman *knows* why she sings so sad, starts at that point and then fragments and simultaneously refines the narrative until everything shines perfectly clear. "The Natural Bridge" is a great disc, but sounds palpably forced beside this one. Simply put, "Bright Flight" finds Berman in a comfortable place, and that's truly not a bad thing. Mr. Press also said that "BF" sounds like the hangover from "AW", and I'd agree with that as well, though for me, it's a postive point. Every so often, the hangover's the best part of the whole experience. "Bright Flight" captures that oft-neglected phenomenon better than just about anything I've ever heard or read.

"punk rock died when the first kid said....":
Hmmm. I expected there to be some disparity in people's rating of this one. So back we are again with another Silver Jews record. No SM Jenkins on this one. Are we going for a consistent even/odd appearance? This record admittedly disappointed me on the first couple listens. No SM Jenkins flourishes. But the more I listened, I realized how brilliant this all was. The lyrics are probably the greatest Berman has done. If you have to have all your indie rock antics and then your country flourishes used as part of some joke, this is going to disappoint you. Mind you I like all that. I'm a big Pavement fan. But I think DB's really has not taken the easy way out on this one. It's just country music with great lyrics. The irony level is way down. Actually, to think of it irony is pretty non-existent on this disc. Diamond Rain and I Remember Me stand with any great love songs ever written. As much as I dig Malkmus, his prescence would have ruined this beautiful record. Maybe I'd like to see him back for a more raucous disc next go round. And he's making some beautiful more mature songs of his own lately. But for goodness sake it's good to hear the poet DCB speak on his own. Plus some nice backup vocals by the GF. I'm jealous. She sounds hot.

• Slow Education
• Room Games and Diamond Rain
• Time Will Break the World
• I Remember Me
• Horseleg Swatikas
• Transylvania Blues
• Let's Not and Say We Did
• Tennessee
• Friday Night Fever
• Death of an Heir of Sorrows