Way back in January of 2017 when I first started this little blog of mine, my first major post was a thorough rundown of the previous year's best albums. For most of 2016, the late great David Bowie was pretty much nailed-on to bag the number one spot with his astonishing final album 'Blackstar'. However, right at the death, Missouri native Angel Olsen - who had released two previous albums that hinted at greatness - upset the applecart somewhat with her truly remarkable 'My Woman' opus. A stunning collection of modern-day folk and country-tinged indie-rock, the album set Olsen apart from her peers in staggering style - showcasing her top-drawer songwriting talent and her fantastic vocal chops in a major way. After touring that record solidly for a good 18 months, Olsen released 'Phases' - a collection of B-sides and offcuts - before retreating back home to write her forthcoming fourth album. Released in October, 'All Mirrors' looks set to be nestling very snugly at the summit of No Static At All's Top 50 Albums Of 2019 come December. The first taste of Olsen's new material is this gloriously swoonsome title track, drenched in swathes of delicious strings and synths with Olsen's lyrics touching on the passing of time and, as she sings in the song's chorus: "Losing beauty, at least at times it knew me..." Spellbinding stuff.
DAVID BERMAN R.I.P.
"In 1984 I was hospitalised for approaching perfection...."
Tragic news from the rock and roll firmament this week as it was announced that American singer/songwriter David Berman - he of the massively underrated Silver Jews - has passed away at the age of 52. A hugely talented individual, Berman was also famed for his poetry as well as publishing a book of cartoons. It will, however, be his musical legacy that will stand the test of time, and what a body of work it was. Formed in the early 90's, Silver Jews were sprung from the same experimental and lo-fi indie scene that birthed Royal Trux, Palace Brothers and Pavement. Indeed, Stephen Malkmus - who later led Pavement to huge critical success - was originally a member of the Jews collective. Over the next decade, Berman and a revolving door of musicians and collaborators released a handful of truly great records including 1998's masterful 'American Water' (featuring the utterly sublime Random Rules which you can view above) which came closest to breaking Berman and his band into the wider consciousness. It never quite happened for him commercially though and, after a few more years of constant recording and touring, Berman retired the Silver Jews name and remained inactive for the next decade or so. He re-appeared only last month with a brand new album of glorious songs under his new Purple Mountains moniker. Garnering 5 star reviews across the board, this latest album was already set fair to be way up there in most listeners best records of 2019 before the desperately sad new of Berman's death filtered through.
David Berman was a songwriter and lyricist of great power and truly devastating emotional heft, marrying his wry, literate worldview to a sparkling combination of indie-rock discordia, ramshackle folk stylings and a swooning chime-filled strain of Americana. His songwriting skills were quite rightly feted by many, with a recent Guardian review of his new album suggesting that "you won't find a better lyric sheet all year". Plagued by depression, anxiety and no stranger to drug addiction - as well as previous suicide attempts - Berman's adult life was one of sadness and struggle. A recent admission to the world that his father was none other than Richard Berman, the infamous lawyer and lobbyist who had spent his working life defending gun, alcohol and big pharma companies and was otherwise known as 'Doctor Evil', no doubt contributed to his sense of unworthiness. With the Purple Mountains album now on the shelves, Berman was preparing for a North American tour this autumn but was found dead at his home last week. The death was ruled as suicide.
Rest in power David and untold thanks for all the music.
"We're gonna live in Nashville and I'll make a career, out of writing sad songs and getting paid by the tear..."
