Review
The Walkmen – Heaven
The Walkmen – Heaven (Fat Possum / Bella Union)
Nowadays so much music is so focused on mood and production that the vocals effectively serve as an instrument and the lyrics a mere afterthought. Not so with this NYC band: singer Hamilton Leithauser’s croon/howl is one of a kind, and the stories he tells are infinitely relatable, running the gamut of human emotions. Even at their most negative they have a comforting ‘Que sera, sera’ attitude, and at their most positive they serve as proper fucking anthems. Their sixth album is lush and optimistic and fun, giving the impression that after ten years together they’ve all finally gotten to where they want to be. These guys rank in my top three bands to inadvertently sing along to like an idiot while cycling, and if they stay this damned good I’ll be getting funny looks for many years to come.
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