If your echo-y vocals and plinking piano quota has been rather lacking this year, then take heart: The Walkmen have announced the release of their fourth album You & Me (fifth if you count Pussycats, which we totally do). The album—which was written over the course of two years in sessions split between Philly and New York—will be proceeded by a small tour in August (including Bumbershoot and the Rifflandia Festival) to whet appetites and stir up a frenzy. That's what tours are supposed to do, right?
You & Me will hit shelves this fall on Gigantic Music [the band's website says August 19th, but that was updated in March, and the press release this morning sounds more nebulous with "this fall" – ed.]. You & Me shows some growth for the band, who decided to ditch the cold separation that characterized the lyrics of previous albums in favor of a more personal sound. Hopefully this won't be like when Weezer went for a more personal sound with Pinkerton, and then the ensuing backlash caused Rivers Cuomo to swear (we imagine) to never release a worthwhile album ever again. You & Me was recorded live to tape, which means Ham Leithauser's yawp had to contend not only with the normal instrumental setup, but also the new viola and horn stylings of Paul Maroon. A battle-royale, indeed.
Not content to sit around and only record their own music (see the aforementioned Pussycats), the band also put in a visit to the Daytrotter studios this spring to perform four Leonard Cohen covers. I had a friend say yesterday that the only good Leonard Cohen song is a Leonard Cohen cover. While I can't completely agree, I can say this—I love Leonard Cohen covers. So go! Listen! As for You & Me, peep the tracklist:
The Walkmen You & Me
1. Dónde está la Playa
2. Flamingos (for Colbert)
3. On the Water
4. In the New Year
5. Seven Years of Holidays (for Stretch)
6. Postcards from Tiny Islands
7. Red Moon
8. Canadian Girl
9. Four Provinces
10. Long Time Ahead of Us
11. The Blue Route
12. New Country
13. I Lost You
14. If Only It Were True
The Walkmen August Tour
8/18: Bowery Ballroom, New York
8/19: Bowery Ballroom, New York
8/21: Troubadour, Los Angeles
8/22: Troubadour, Los Angeles
8/27: Doug Fir, Portland
8/28: Richards on Richard, Vancouver (co-bill w/ Man Man)
8/29: Rifflandia Festival, Victoria (Black Mountain, Destroyer, etc.)
8/30: Bumbershoot Festival, Seattle
For more information visit www.marcata.net/walkmen or myspace.com/thewalkmen
