EASE DOWN THE ROAD

4 Stars

It’s difficult to believe that at one time, David Berman was known as little more than Stephen Malkmus’ fluky college roommate. Now an accomplished writer with a collection of poetry (Actual Air), headed quickly towards cult status, and five acclaimed albums on the highly credible Drag City imprint, Berman seems to finally be getting his due as an artist. In the time since his career-best album, Bright Flight, Berman settled down into life in Nashville, domesticated himself alongside his new wife Cassie, presumably drank 20,000 (more) beers, became addicted to some hard-core substances and, alas, attempted to take his life. A true poet indeed. Luckily, Berman lived to write another album, the results being the recently released Tanglewood Numbers.

Once recovered, Berman began spending his days at home, collecting modest royalty checks - living off of less than $25,000 per year, a ridiculously low amount, considering his 1998 album, American Water, was regarded by many critics to be the year’s best release. In time, Berman got the writing bug like he never had before, in the spring of 2005 calling on his all-star cast of friends and past band members to help him record what was to become his fifth full-length album. Along for the ride on one of the years most anticipated indie releases was Bob Nastanovich (Pavement), Will Oldham (Bonnie “Prince” Billy/Palace), his wife Cassie (Linda to his Richard Thompson), Steve West (Pavement), Bobby Bare Jr., Paz Lenchantin (A Perfect Circle), Mike Fellows and on again-off again Joo, Stephen Malkmus.

As far as album formats go, aside from the absence of his customary instrumental composition, Berman’s auteuristic habits continue to be a key element on Tanglewood. Yes, as has been the case with each of his works to date, Berman’s vocal quality has once again changed. Truth be told, if you were to listen to TN alongside any other Jews album, you might forget it’s the same band. Sounding old and beaten, campy and funny, Berman finally seems to be just singing, not over-thinking or calculating; Tanglewood might be the first true account of what David Berman really sounds like.

Musically, Tanglewood Numbers takes a slight step away from the Americana sound of recent releases with oftentimes poppy art-rock compositions. The songs are strange yet immediate, as Berman takes the role of a modern day Shel Silverstein. Some songs such as “Sometimes a Pony Gets Depressed” and “Animal Shapes” seem to be borderline kids songs in the vein of the Silverstein-penned “A Boy Named Sue.” A good portion of the remaining tracks are, more or less, children’s songs for adults. Check the titles alone - “How Can I Love You if You Wont Lie Down,” “I’m Getting Back Into Getting Back Into You” and “Sleeping is the Only Love.” Berman’s lyrical quality, while clearly strange, is still very multifaceted and rewarding, most significantly the open account of his suicide attempt on “There is a Place.” Also of note is the return of Berman’s great storytelling ability on the seven-minute, word heavy-epic, “The Farmer’s Motel,” co-written by Stephen Malkmus.

Since the release of his second album, The Natural Bridge, in 1996 Berman has been the songwriter to watch, delivering the indie classic American Water, as well as the Americana gem, Bright Flight. While the writing on TN can’t stand up to such past masterworks as “I Remember” and “Random Rules,” Berman has no doubt released another poignant collection that’s sure to keep all his songwriter chums in check.

Everyone has a different Jews album of choice, and while Tanglewood Numbers might be his first release not to outdo it’s predecessor, it still stands as a reflective, solid piece of work for Berman and, given the circumstances surrounding it, maybe the most important of his career. If you “get it,” TN will leave you laughing, crying and searching for the “repeat all” function. How many people really “saw God’s shadow on this world?” Berman has, and, as he sings “there was a place past the blues I never want to see again” on the closing track, you know he’ll be back soon with more stories, jokes and coy insight.

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