Purple Mountains

Stunningly beautiful in conception and execution David Berman's last music project is a perfect record of ten intimate songs both heartbreaking and humorous. Forgoing the Silver Jews moniker for Purple Mountains Berman has made something that moves beyond the basic functionality of an album into a place that is sacred for both the creator and the listener, providing a sort of exorcism for both in delineating his extremely personal struggles. Born from depression and tragedy Berman bleeds his pain onto his canvas leaving behind a self-portrait of a man with a great deal of wit, insight and cleverness. His death is an unavoidable component to the record much like David Bowie's death is intertwined in his last album Blackstar. The two are inseparable for better or for worse. Its occasionally profoundly sad to know how Berman would pass away and listen to Purple Mountains but it can be strangely therapeutic to hear his poetry which unfolds in layers like a really bright flower in the rain, sparkling with droplets holding what little light shows through the storm clouds overhead. I marvel at how meticulous each layer is built within each of the ten songs, the writing so dense with metaphor and mirrors that I refer to the lyric sheet that comes with the cd on a regular basis just to appreciate the complexity of Berman's pen. The songs are lived in and live in a listener with the capacity for as long as they need to, maybe forever and Berman captures this sentiment from the perspective of the songwriter in Snow Falling in Manhattan, my personal favorite. It's such a gorgeous realization three quarters of the way through the track that it has repeatedly elicited tears and goosebumps. I can't recall a song that has such a brilliant meta effect. But each track has a moment of wonder that grows depending on how and where you look at it. Darkness and Cold also has a lot of fun with lyrics despite being about a miserable situation. One has to appreciate dark comedy to enjoy some of Purple Mountains but the music itself often is upbeat and contrasts with the melancholy nicely like sweet and sour. Each melody is manifested by Berman with a skilled capacity for sophisticated indie pop flavor that stand out and gets stuck in your head. Although most of the songs have a duality of humor and sadness there are a couple full-on tearjerkers such as All My Happiness is gone which glitters with profound thoughts and imagery of someone on the brink and the crushing I Loved Being my Mother's Son, a tender ode to Berman's dearly departed mother. Overall the album is breathtaking and at ten songs, each one perfectly created, there isn't a soft spot or filler. It's my personal favorite album of 2019. I am grateful to David Berman for building these "little rooms in time" before he left this world.

The music underlying "All My Happiness is Gone" seems to intentionally recall "Love Will Tear Us Apart". And since Berman is a better writer than Ian Curtis, I end up loving this song more. What makes the album superior to "American Water" and his other, must-hear classics is that every song is a gem, and worth re-hearing multiple times. Perhaps there is nothing as completely catchy as "Random Rules" here, but the lyrics seem rawer, and the throwaway lines don't exist. "Darkness and Cold", a song mostly about a love's affair, does brilliant things with the "light of my life" metaphor, with the words definitely elevating the chorus. I can see lovers of vocals not being super fans of David Berman but when fellow musicians John Darnielle and Stephen Malkmus put his songwriting on a higher level than their own, it's far from mere talk. Lou Reed occasionally reached similar literary heights ("Harry's Circumcision", or his tribute to Delmore Schwartz), but Reed wrote with far more affectation, most of the time; Berman always stayed true. I still would put Randy Newman at the top -- check out "I Want You to Hurt Like I Do", "Miss You", "My Life is Good" -- but how many writers make you go back to the works of his creative writing teacher (James Tate) after listening to his stuff? Anyway, "Purple Mountains" is brilliant. The accompanying videos on Youtube seem to add nothing to the music, btw.

I was late to the David Berman party and only started listening to Silver Jews and Purple Mountains in the last two months after hearing about Berman's death in August. As they say: better late than never. I've listened to all the Silver Jews albums and there's some really great songs on each of them. Berman's latest band and eponymous album title Purple Mountains is a posthumous masterpiece. I wish could have seen (and heard) Berman and his new band live. Every song on the album is good. My favorites are: "All My Happiness Is Gone," "Darkness and Cold," "Nights That Won't Happen," and "Storyline Fever." And with winter nearly upon us, I'm sure I'll be listening to " Snow is Falling in Manhattan."

I am a huge fan of the Silver Jews albums, the tuneful wit and cultural digs are that of hipster legend. That said there is plenty of wit, sarcasm and human revelation in this album. All I can think though, listening to the lyrics of most of these songs is that Mr. Berman knew he was going to commit suicide and broadcast his side of a "relationship gone bad" to the world blaming his X--all I can think of is how awful she must feel when I listen--what a cruel, sadistic thing to do to an intimate partner. This world doth suck, but committing suicide as revenge is just plain sick, I guess with all the glowing reviews here, yes if you do not connect the sick dots this is a "fine" listen, one has to wonder if anyone is really hearing the sickness contained in these poison barbs(?). I love depressing music but cannot listen to this without feeling that this was the vengeful act of a "clever" sickie. Sorry just my take on it.

What a wonderful album. Another reviewer I feel said it best. "Deeply Sad but extremely Funny" The song structures and production are perfect. I first read a review and an interview with David Berman in July in an issue of Uncut. I was glad he was back making music after 10 years and got the album. Sad that he passed away in early August. I feel this may be his best. Not a bad track on the album.

This is one of my favorite albums of 2019. The songwriting is top notch, evoking feelings of loneliness and disillusionment, both musically and lyrically. I can't get enough of the tracks "All My Happiness is Gone" and "Margaritas at the Mall". David Berman was a genius at the top of his game with this album. The sound qualify of this pressing is excellent.

Very funny, opening line plays tricks as initially the first few words prick your ears as you think this is the Natural Bridge, Silverjews album. Yeah, everyone is going to have to play catch-up again. David continues where he left off with Silverjews many years ago. His lyrics and music just set him apart from his contemporaries by a mile, another genius of an album 10/10, by a country/Indie mile.This is a footnote to recent events. This album was one of the best of David's career in my opinion and was very much looking forward to seeing him play again in the UK after many years. It is with much sorrow as I'm sure Silverjews and Purple Mountains fans already know that David has passed away. God bless you another musical genius in heaven. Respect and love to you David Berman.

Having missed much Silver Jews, it was great to see this release. Carries on pretty much where "Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea" left off. But then such a shock to hear of David Berman's death, just a couple of days after I received my copy of the CD. One of life's mysteries how people who can bring such pleasure, humour & warmth can be so wracked by demons.

Welcome back David Berman. This is a magnificent return with not a duff track on the album. From the early streamed songs that were made available "All My Happiness Is Gone" and "Darkness And Cold" to the heartbreakingly gorgeous "I Loved Being My Mother's Son" and "Nights That Won't Happen" this eponymous Purple Mountains LP is a masterpiece.I hope it doesn't take another decade for Berman to make another record but in the meantime play this over and over.Wonderful.

Had no idea this collection existed until I happened upon some news snippet referring to David Berman being 'still with us'.Upset to have lost touch with this incredible artist... to the point where I was reading about the first anniversary of his death.The content of this collection is telling, in the least... beautiful nonetheless.Beyond Silver Jews... there was too much pain.

Great album, but don't buy it from Chalkys UK - they sent me an empty cardboard case.