In 2006 the Walkmen paid homage to Harry Nilsson and John Lennon's drug and booze-filled "Lost Weekend" by covering their 1974 release Pussy Cats. Those sessions have clearly carried over into You And Me, the fourth album from the gritty New Yorkers. A perfect example of this can be found in the waltzy, bare-boned fuzz of "In the New Year." Singer Hamilton Leithauser admits he's "still living at the old address," but the Walkmen have obviously taken a step forward musically without sacrificing any of the attitude or emotion that propelled them in the first place.
Songs like "New Year," "On The Water" and "I Lost You" sound like they could be found playing on the jukebox of a run-down, sleazy bar an hour before closing time. The opening track, "Donde Esta La Playa," grabs your full attention with its bass-heavy, drum-circle vibe and doesn't let go until the final note is played. Most notable is the way the band has infused string and brass instruments with vintage pianos to their signature lo-fi sound. The result sounds like someone took Bob Dylan, Lou Reed circa Rock And Roll and Tom Waits, then locked them in a recording studio for two weeks with nothing but alcohol and cigarettes. Everyone in the band contributes to make this album the most intriguing and polished effort from the guys so far, but no one shines brighter than drummer Matt Barrick, who hasn't sounded this tight since his days with Jonathon Fire*Eater. Next time you're fumbling around at five in the morning for an album to put on to sooth your wild night, you would be hard pressed to find a better companion than You And Me.
Tracklist For You And Me :
01. Donde Esta La Playa
02. Flamingos (for Colbert)
03. On The Water
04. In The New Year
05. Seven Years Of Holiday (for Stretch)
06. Postcards From Tiny Islands
07. Red Moon
08. Canadian Girl
09. 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
