SILVER JEWS Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea (Drag City) Rating: NNNN
There aren’t many artists whose every release could be considered their best yet, but every Silver Jews disc seems better than the one before. On Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea, David Berman releases another solid album, chugging through infectious Cash-like country, his wife, Cassie Berman, playing June to Berman’s Johnny.
Lyrically, these Pavement pals retain their usual cynical look at life, but more positive feelings are definitely lurking around in some of these tunes. For example, disc closer We Could Be Looking For The Same Thing is a touchingly romantic number about finding love. The words are upbeat, the gentle slide guitar refreshing and Cassie’s pitch-perfect vocals complement her husband’s off-key but undeniably passionate pipes.
If this isn’t the band’s best yet, it’s still damn good.
Silver Jews play Lee’s Palace September 2.
