The Walkmen • A Hundred Miles Off

90

So you've released an indie landmark like "Bows and Arrows," which established a dynamic sound with your audience. What do you do next? Well, if you're the Walkmen, you create a sound that you compare to Dylan's Basement Tapes. Huh? Well, if you've got the voice of Hamilton Leithauser and some fabulous Spanish horns, this "new" sound definitely works. Kicking off the album is "Louisiana," the track which most incorporates the Bob-esque elements of the album, and displays an encouraging new side to the Walkmen.

For the better, the Walkmen are known for their plaintive, hard rocking numbers which sound as if they were sung and recorded in a smoky barroom, and there are plenty of those here. Included among them are standouts like "Good For You's Good For Me," "Lost In Boston," and "Don't Get Me Down (Come On Over Here)." The Walkmen also veer into the land of the punks with "This Job Is Killing Me", and take chances on A Hundred Miles Off that show them growing, not standing still. A Hundred Miles Off is one of those albums that grows on you with each listen and reveals something new with each listen. It may not be perfect, but it and the Walkmen are getting there.