Silver Jews: Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea

Label: Drag City

The Silver Jews have been releasing charmingly askewed country-tinged records for some time now. Thankfully, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea is no exception. For the Silver Jews’ sixth record, frontman David Berman wisely keeps things familiar, delivering as good a set of songs as his best material. The band has rarely sounded as comfortable as they do on the beautiful “Suffering Jukebox”; Berman also turns in the record’s standout track with the anthemic “Strange Victory, Strange Defeat,” which contains the record’s most amusing line in “What’s with all the handsome grandsons in these rock band magazines.” Elsewhere things get downright strange: “Party Barge” is a lighthearted tune complete with seagulls and boat horns. Another highlight is Bermans’ take on “Open Field” originally recorded by the Japanese group Maher Shalal Hash Baz. Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea also boasts my personal favorite album cover this year so far, as well as a guitar chord card explaining how to play along with each track. Lookout proves to be one of the Silver Jews’ most satisfying collections. (Christopher)