This is a post written by Kyle S., who we hope will contribute to the PDP more often. Enjoy! --L

"The icicles are dripping like the whole house is weeping"

With lyrics like that, there's no question that David Berman fancies himself as something of a poet. Whether or not he's actually had a book of poetry published (Actual Air) is besides the point -I mean, how many people gazin' round here have Ian Curtis' or Stephen Patrick Morriseys' words inscribed on their souls? The poet-musician-poet Ouroboros is evident in no one, if not David Berman (Leonard Cohen notwithstanding, of course) - It's only on Tanglewood Numbers, however, that DB's allowed the music to become as forceful as his words.
Tanglewood is more of a Pavement record than any Pavement-affiliated outing has been so far, and I mean that in as good a way as possible. What once would have been bare-bones acoustic numbers have been sped up to a full gallop, and much of the subtlety which drove previous Silver Jews records has turned to rock with a capital C-O-U-N-T-R-Y. From the distorted guitar riff and 30-second-guitar solo that ends "Sometimes A Pony Gets Depressed" to the gang vocals shouting "I love you to the max" that set apart album-opener "Punks In The Beerlight," this is about as heavy and forceful as David Berman's music has ever been on record - enjoy it while you can.
I know this is supposed to be more of a dance-music-oriented site, but if mentions of that newly discovered R.E.M.-Circa-Green B-Side "Soul Meets Body" can fit on here (I mean, the arpeggiated pre-chorus, that ba-ba-ba melody line, the pseudo-Mike Mills backups, the goddamned mandolin!), then I figured the Siver Joos could snag a mention or two here on the eve of their most rockin' album to date.

Love,
Kyle