"Nights That Won't Happen" is beautiful:― djh, Friday, August 16, 2019 10:24 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
― djh, Friday, August 16, 2019 10:24 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
Was listening to Purple Mountains again the other day and when this came on I was just gutted. Not just over Berman's death, but over every death I've experienced and will experience in the future. Like, I haven't even listened to it in days, just writing a post about it, and I can feel the tears welling up in their ducts. I'm gonna go hug somebody I love now.
― ☮ (peace, man), Saturday, 17 August 2019 12:46 (four years ago) link
been spinning my peak trio today. hard to argue with American Water's popularity goddamn it what an album.
― triple-washed (Sufjan Grafton), Saturday, 17 August 2019 22:43 (four years ago) link
apologies if it’s been linked but some Nashville folks talking Berman https://www.nashvillescene.com/music/features/article/21082123/friends-and-bandmates-reflect-on-the-life-of-david-berman
― A-B-C. A-Always, B-Be, C-Chooglin (will), Saturday, 17 August 2019 23:36 (four years ago) link
Great stories in that one, thanks
― circa1916, Sunday, 18 August 2019 00:50 (four years ago) link
yes, very good. thank you.
― triple-washed (Sufjan Grafton), Sunday, 18 August 2019 01:47 (four years ago) link
David had a universe of one-liners that were as profound as zen koans. One night, when load-out was taking too long and some of the band wanted to go out partying, he yelled: "We're adults — we are too old to make new friends." He was a true humanist both in his work and his outlook on life. He hated pretension. He told me his favorite novel was Dog Soldiers by Robert Stone. He valued real storytelling and real connection. I was always self-conscious about not going to college and reading the classics, and I remember one time he said, kind of dismissively: "You have to go to an academy to have someone walk you through Joyce and Ezra Pound." On an eight-week tour in 2008, I am pretty sure all we listened to in the S-Jews van was country oldies, Black Sabbath, Grateful Dead and Tennessee Titans games.
William Tyler OTM. I like his records, too.
― del griffith, Sunday, 18 August 2019 02:04 (four years ago) link
his new album is wonderful. "nights that won't happen" is of a different tone than anything else i've heard from him
― Karl Malone, Sunday, 18 August 2019 02:09 (four years ago) link
'tide to the oceans' such a standout track from starlite walker... played it about five times today
― meaulnes, Sunday, 18 August 2019 22:10 (four years ago) link
jfc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZKMa-ByLBQ
― Karl Malone, Monday, 19 August 2019 04:54 (four years ago) link
Was lurking BobNasty's IG, found these older posts:
https://www.instagram.com/p/17OfckD87t/https://www.instagram.com/p/BhrOqjnl8G2/
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Monday, 19 August 2019 05:04 (four years ago) link
Yeah that Darkness and Cold video is difficult to watch. xpost
― Duke, Monday, 19 August 2019 16:23 (four years ago) link
Wow: “For pleasant accidents, “Nights That Won’t Happen”, came out of mishearing “Knight In White Satin” ”— Marc Masters (@Marcissist) August 21, 2019
― ... (Eazy), Thursday, 22 August 2019 02:54 (four years ago) link
^^ from another new recent interview:
https://www.metro.us/entertainment/metro-remembers-david-berman-1967-2019
― ... (Eazy), Thursday, 22 August 2019 02:55 (four years ago) link
if you're into thinking about "pleasant accidents" or even unpleasant accidents I recommend clicking through the long history of the mostly desolately populated jibberish infested Silver Jews Bulletin Board, past all the dumb seemingly nonsensical pecker posts, to get to the the 2012-2015 era to find lots of rough drafts of now-familiar song lyrics and a lot of originals about marital dissolution, extramarital sex, Nashville, Brooklyn, alcoholism, homosexuality, suicide, and lots more (probably about 20-25 posts) posted by the poster breedlove, most often also under the lyrical pseudonym Kingston Bunkley, and also sometimes attributed to a "Craig Breedlove." ("Craig" of course being David's pre-Cloud middle name.) It's the same poster at the same time that posted the lyrics to songs called "The Veranda Over the Toy Shoppe" and "Wacky Package Eyes" that seems to line up with up what Bob Nastanovich was saying at the time about two new Silver Jews songs he said they'd written, but then later retracted as a joke. I'd post links to the posts directly but they don't seem to work. Other posts from around the same time suggest this is maybe an account operated by or shared with Chris Stroffolino, but then again there are also posts from breedlove saying "this is not Chris." I'll let the Nick Broomfields of ilx figure that out.
https://i.imgur.com/cYBV2N9.png
http://disc.yourwebapps.com/Indices/18043.html
― del griffith, Thursday, 22 August 2019 04:02 (four years ago) link
btw that IP address can be traced to Brooklyn, New York.
― del griffith, Thursday, 22 August 2019 04:04 (four years ago) link
(also, he said in an interview that he intentionally chose "Nights that Won't Happen" as a titleplay on "Knights in White Satin," and was surprised when his friends didn't immediately realize it. so, there's that)
― del griffith, Thursday, 22 August 2019 04:10 (four years ago) link
breedloveSnow is Falling, New York CityMon Jan 26, 2015 22:0368.175.60.236
Snow is falling in Manhattan, I’ve got my coat, I’ve got my hat onFalling deepler down in Brooklyn, someone cold that I just took inSnowflakes causing quite a scene, Staten Island, The Bronx and QueensSoftly falling, oh so pretty, snow is falling, New York City
Falling down on Brooklyn Bridge, from Riverdale down to Bay RidgeFrom the narrows, to the heights, falling on the city lightsSee the city in a rush, transformed with a quiet hushCome tomorrow it’s all gone, still it falls on and on
Snow along the sidewalk sweeps, across the city that never sleepsChildren sledding in the park, couples skating after darkSounds of laughter in the air, snow plows rushing here and thereSnowmen, snowballs, snowflakes fall, snow draped buildings big and small
Snow is falling in Manhattan, I’ve got my coat, I’ve got my hat onFalling deeply out in Brooklyn, someone cold that I just took inSnowflakes causing quite a scene, Staten Island, The Bronx and QueensSoftly falling, oh so pretty, snow is falling, New York City---Kingston Bunkley
― Karl Malone, Thursday, 22 August 2019 04:17 (four years ago) link
The more I listen to this, the more I believe it's his finest group of songs (really a musical suicide note). I applaud him for finding a way to write this stuff while (likely) suffering through the worst depression of his life. This album is as chilling as any in recent memory. The fact that it's also hilarious at times is all the more remarkable. Album of the year.
― Wally P. Doyle, Thursday, 22 August 2019 06:07 (four years ago) link
(also, he said in an interview that he intentionally chose "Nights that Won't Happen" as a titleplay on "Knights in White Satin," and was surprised when his friends didn't immediately realize it. so, there's that)― del griffith, Thursday, August 22, 2019 4:10 AM (thirteen hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
― del griffith, Thursday, August 22, 2019 4:10 AM (thirteen hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Had a feeling that was the case.
― ☮ (peace, man), Thursday, 22 August 2019 17:34 (four years ago) link
oh duh haha I'm so dense
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 22 August 2019 17:58 (four years ago) link
Bill Callahan did a couple Silver Jews songs last night:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sNdNyan_h4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CStDjTZnh2s
― Vaguely Threatening CAPTCHAs, Friday, 23 August 2019 15:43 (four years ago) link
I became momentarily and unwittingly internet famous for posting a bad 40-second-clip of one of those. Glad someone else did a better job capturing. http://pitchfork.com/news/watch-bill-callahan-cover-silver-jews-i-remember-me/
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Friday, 23 August 2019 19:22 (four years ago) link
("internet famous" on a very low level but high relative to my day-to-day anonymity)
how many rt
― husserl gang (rip van wanko), Friday, 23 August 2019 19:44 (four years ago) link
instagram - hundred someodd likes and climbing, but point being that it's in pitchfork
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Friday, 23 August 2019 19:48 (four years ago) link
This might have been mentioned but reading that alternative version of Snow is Falling in Manhattan i wonder if it's an (not that) oblique reference to Joyce's The Dead.
― Good cop, Babcock (Chinaski), Sunday, 25 August 2019 10:08 (four years ago) link
It's interesting what he changed with the released version of Snow is Falling in Manhattan - I think its vastly superior to the version KM posted above. Changes the song from a one-dimensional observation/scene of a winter day to a multi-dimensional metaphor for writers/musicians and their relationship with readers/listeners. The song became less repetitive, but deeper.
― Mazzy Tsar (PBKR), Sunday, 25 August 2019 16:34 (four years ago) link
Put off listening to this until finally today, driving through the mountains of Vermont. Seemed like a good setting. It was a very hard, rewarding listen. Held it together until the 1-2 punch of “I Loved Being My Mother’s Son” and “Nights That Won’t Happen.”
― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Sunday, 25 August 2019 23:03 (four years ago) link
For any Toronto-based fans, there's a tribute happening on the night that would have been the Purple Mountains show
― Simon H., Sunday, 25 August 2019 23:07 (four years ago) link
this briefly warmed my spirits
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dl__2ILE8k
"there is no leisure with dignity in an unfinished world"
― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Tuesday, 27 August 2019 06:33 (four years ago) link
https://anmlcollectve.bandcamp.com/track/ballad-of-reverend-war-character-silver-jews-cover-2
A few weeks ago we planned on seeing Purple Mountains together. Instead we spent the night listening to David’s records and talking about how much his music and art meant to us. He was an inspiration for decades. One we wouldn’t be here without. We’ve been playing covers of his music since 1994 when we first picked up guitars together, so it felt like one of the few things we could do to get through the sadness. The next day we worked on this cover of “Ballad of Reverend War Character”. Per the request from David’s family, all of the proceeds will be donated to MusiCares and Music Health Alliance, so pay as much as you want. - Avey Tare & Geologist
― flappy bird, Saturday, 31 August 2019 06:40 (four years ago) link
Looks like Drag City is taking preorders on their website for represses of all the Silver Jews LPs
― “Hakuna Matata,” a nihilist philosophy (One Eye Open), Saturday, 31 August 2019 17:56 (four years ago) link
https://boingboing.net/2019/09/02/my-unfinished-sound-project-wi.html
― na (NA), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 16:45 (four years ago) link
https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2019/09/12/david-berman-of-silver-jews-remembered/
― 𝔠𝔞𝔢𝔨 (caek), Tuesday, 17 September 2019 20:33 (four years ago) link
"Nights That Won't Happen"...........................................................................Fuck
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 24 September 2019 04:54 (four years ago) link
Yes.
― Simon H., Tuesday, 24 September 2019 06:43 (four years ago) link
Episode 100: a tribute to the life, words, and music of David Cloud Berman. Songs from Silver Jews and Purple Mountains, stories from @BNastanovich. https://t.co/iu4DjR3Yus— 3 Songs Podcast (@3songspod) October 14, 2019
― drunk on hot toddies (morrisp), Tuesday, 15 October 2019 02:01 (four years ago) link
That was enjoyable, thanks for sharing that link. It'd be great to hear an unfiltered account of DCBs hijnks, understandable why people would be hesitant to do so though
― badg, Tuesday, 15 October 2019 16:56 (four years ago) link
Heartening (&heartbreaking) to hear about Jeffrey Lewis and DBs respect & admiration for him, Jeff was over the moon to be collabing with him & took it hard afterward.
I so glad that Bob has this podcast, I could listen to him talk about anything for pretty much any length of time.
― “Hakuna Matata,” a nihilist philosophy (One Eye Open), Tuesday, 15 October 2019 17:47 (four years ago) link
Jeffrey Lewis is a treasure. One of the few lyricists I can think of that can measure up to DCB (though obviously coming from a very different place).
― Paul Ponzi, Tuesday, 15 October 2019 17:52 (four years ago) link
still best album of the year, even if i can only listen to it in very specific moods and so not really that often.
― Hmmmmm (jamiesummerz), Monday, 28 October 2019 15:45 (four years ago) link
in fact i'd say it's Mr Berman's best since Bright Flight.
― Hmmmmm (jamiesummerz), Monday, 28 October 2019 15:50 (four years ago) link
"i loved being my mother's son" is the most heartbreaking song of 2019. oh my god. in the villa or ormen
― reggie (qualmsley), Tuesday, 5 November 2019 20:17 (four years ago) link
Tennessee Titans honor David Berman with scoreboard message https://t.co/vU9qnaUDt4 pic.twitter.com/pEXsArZxSG— Stereogum (@stereogum) November 11, 2019
― quinn morgendorffer stan account (morrisp), Tuesday, 12 November 2019 21:18 (four years ago) link
That rules so much -- I would love to know how it happened, i.e. did someone pay for it, is there a fan in the ownership or mgmt, is he better recognized in Nashville than I realized, etc.
I haven't been able to listen to the record for months -- it's just too heartbreaking.
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Tuesday, 12 November 2019 21:24 (four years ago) link
I can't resist listening, despite it being a long suicide note. Some beautiful songs. Definitely one of his best.
― Duke, Tuesday, 12 November 2019 21:45 (four years ago) link
Oral history of DCB's time in Virginia/NYC:
https://news.virginia.edu/content/portrait-artist-oral-history-david-berman-uva
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Friday, 15 November 2019 05:34 (four years ago) link
& WTJU is having a tribute/memorial concert this weekend. They put together a band called The Wild Kindness. I am out of the loop so I don't know all the people involved but I see Matt D4tesman, Sh4nn0n W0rrel, G4te, N3d Oldh4m.
― Yerac, Friday, 15 November 2019 12:22 (four years ago) link
closest i've been able to get to listening to the album has been listening to covers & tributes, including repeat listens to this one of Dean Wareham doing 'Snow Is Falling In Manhattan (cant remember if its been posted itt): https://soundcloud.com/section26/dean-wareham-snow-is-falling-in-manhattan
Initially thought of 'Snow' as a pleasant romantic interlude on an otherwise very intense album, its gradually risen in my estimation to my favorite song on the record
― “Hakuna Matata,” a nihilist philosophy (One Eye Open), Friday, 15 November 2019 13:20 (four years ago) link
I had never listened to this guy before his death (I’m a pavement skeptic) but this album is really great. I know no one needed to hear that, but I wanted to say it.
― L'assie (Euler), Friday, 15 November 2019 13:23 (four years ago) link