Silver Jews - American Water (Album Review)

 

Silver Jews - American Water 

(1998)

My copy: 2018 remastered reissue by Drag City.

When reviewing music, I typically focus on three core elements: the sound, the production and songwriting. So where does lyricism fit into my critique? Typically, unless lyrics are overwhelmingly obnoxious I tend to gloss over them in favor of simply viewing the voice as another instrument, as deconstructing another individual's poetry is a laborious and far more subjective task. However, In the case of David Berman the lyrics are at the very core of the album. 

American Water very well may be the absolute best execution of Berman’s approach: not quite as choppy and personable as the Silver Jews debut record but instrumentally creative unlike some later releases. If the dry, honest wit of “Random Rules” doesn’t immediately pull you into Berman’s world, you should just quit while you’re ahead. Berman was a master of disguising his more depressing thoughts behind timely jokes and wordplay: his songs retain bits of the storytelling element of country music while injecting them with surrealist themes.

“Smith And Jones Forever” is a swaying piece of indie-meets-americana that satirizes the American ideal. Fiery hammer-ons adorn the jam session interlude “Night Society” before Stephen Malkmus (Pavement, etc.) joins up for the hung-over duet of “Federal Dust.” “People” is the perfect soundtrack for a melancholy summer day, blending 70s dance with mid-tempo rock. American Water also features some of the best instrumental bridges and side steps on a Silver Jews project with more of psych undertone than any of the prior works. 

Malkmus and Berman totally embrace trailer park charisma on the bouncy choruses of “Blue Arrangements” before turning to the more heartfelt ruminations of “We Are Real.” Powerful classic-rock riffs back up the verses of “Send In The Clouds” before reversed guitar lines give a peaceful respite for some of the darker lyrical themes. “Like Like The The The Death” is an airy and eccentric concept track in which Berman’s phrasing and cadence plays into the very theme of the lyrics; truly a song where doubters of Berman’s creativity should turn away their skepticism. 

Just the right amount of sleaze is applied to the forewarnings of “Buckingham Rabbit” and the jovial honky-tonk of “Honk If You’re Lonely,” which is so brazen and honest in its writing that it works. “The Wild Kindness” is one of Berman’s most intriguing poems, and perfectly captures a universal tone of mental anguish that is felt across all of American Water. Berman knew, however, that life’s disappointments often come in humorous packages, and injecting humor into his dense lyrical reflections is a key aspect of his genius. 

I find lyrics to be more akin to songwriting in that it is completely subjective what chords and progressions certain people might be drawn to. Some people may like major progressions more than minor progression and some people may like simple lyrics more than complex ones. I find it more interesting to dissect unique uses of sound, as tones can be objectively overused, etc. With all this being said, I think that Berman, through all his works, is an objectively intriguing lyricist, and “Random Rules” is all it should take to convince you of that. American Water is worth your time.