The Walkmen are proof that past failures do not prohibit future successes. But the thing is, you can never predict whether the band’s next album will be an instant classic or an ignored flop. After disappointing fans and critics with two lackluster albums, A Hundred Miles Off and Pussy Cats Starring The Walkmen, the band turned around and released 2008’s killer You & Me, which ended up on numerous best-of lists. So how does the band follow that?
With Lisbon, a solid sixth album that shows a consistent and coherent focus and a sparser sound than the band has ever shown before.
The junky, yard sale-quality instruments that the band uses have always been one of the things that has set The Walkmen apart. Even though I heard it live a year ago, the sound of the vintage Gibson that opens “Blue As Your Blood” still stops me in my tracks, unlike, say, an off-the-rack Fender or Yamaha. Listening to Lisbon is like walking through a room of rare antiques—the sound can be appreciated by anyone with a well-trained ear. Lead singer Hamilton Leithuaser’s voice resembles Bob Dylan’s with its drawn out, nasal croakiness. These two elements work well throughout the album, but are especially potent on this track.
There is a deliberateness that really makes this album, too. Viola and horn sections are used sparingly to highlight parts of the songs. Lisbon is also a succinct 11 tracks, three fewer than You & Me, which makes easy to listen to in one sitting, although it does sacrifice some of the depth that the last album had.
Still, this album’s sound is not too different from You & Me with its twinkling guitar, honest reverb, and a horn section that at times sounds like a drunken mariachi band. Lisbon does not have the kind of lyrical imagery that The Walkmen have shown in the past, and as much as the album’s strength lies in its subtlety, Lisbon’s understated instrumentation leaves some holes. You & Me had an enveloping quality and a bounciness that built anticipation. Lisbon is noticeably slower and quieter, particularly on tracks like “While I Shovel The Snow” and “Stranded.”
This is a very self-assured album, and that’s what sells it in the end. “Lisbon” is one of the best songs the band has ever written, and it’s because of the band’s ability to pick an idea and follow through with it. On Lisbon, The Walkmen have continued to hone their songcrafting ability—let’s just hope their batteries don’t run out.
Voice’s Choices: “Blue As Your Blood,” “Woe Is Me,” “Lisbon,”
