At first listen they’re like a straight up indie-rock band that you might have heard a million times before, but gosh they’re a smart band and this is what you realise after just a little while of listening. The tracks are often soaring, but never cheesy, the hooks are memorable, but not something you’ll forget once some other album comes along in ten minutes time, the stage show is classy with them preferring vintage instruments and all, but it somehow manages to stay away from being unnecessarily grandiose or pompous. And if I ever see another pompous indie band ever again I’m going to really hurt someone. The Walkmen get a reprieve obviously …in fact, they can join my gang even, we can together hunt down any indie band that plays at Columbiahalle and incorporates into their live set either a childrens choir or a fucking harpsichord. An unstoppable team, The Walkmen & Blitzgigs.
All rants aside, the Walkmen do have a new album, in stores by the time you read this in all likelihood, the title’s Heaven. Pitchfork have given it an 8.1 and Stereogum have named it the second best album of the year, which given the number of albums that cross their desk is more than definitely braggable.
Playing Roter Salon here in Berlin (they’ve actually got a good lineup for may, check out the rest of their schedule, ace stuff), you can grab tickets in the link below.
