Silver Jews: American Water (half-speed remaster) [DRAG CITY]

Why you'll love it

Miles Showell cut this half-speed master at Abbey Road Studios, where the original was mastered too, and it comes with a printed lyric and credits insert. Pitchfork called it the sea change in the Silver Jews catalogue, the moment David Berman gave in to melody.

This edition

• Half-speed master
• Remastered at Abbey Road Studios
• Lyric and credits insert

About the album

"Random Rules" opens with one of the most quoted lines in indie rock, and the rest of the album keeps pace. David Berman made American Water at the Rare Book Room in Brooklyn with producer Nicolas Vernhes, wanting, as he put it, to make records the way other people make records, having fun while doing it.

Stephen Malkmus is the secret weapon, playing guitar throughout and singing co-lead on "Federal Dust" and "Blue Arrangements," both co-written with Berman. Mike Fellows plays bass, Tim Barnes drums, and Chris Stroffolino adds trumpet and keys to "Random Rules" and "We Are Real." The working title was The Late, Great Silver Jews, a tip of the hat to Townes Van Zandt, and Chris Kysor painted the cover. "Smith & Jones Forever" was the last song the band ever played live, inside Cumberland Caverns in Tennessee in 2009.

Our Owen puts it best: Silver Jews' entire discography is worth a listen, but nothing showcases the band's early lo-fi sound and the late David Berman's soft southern vocal delivery better than this album, with tracks like "People" and "Random Rules." Owen is rarely wrong, and we've learned to just nod.

Also at Kops: more Silver Jews on vinyl · browse Alternative

Tracklist

Listen

On Drag City (cat# DC149), a reissue of the 1998 album.