I feel a little trepidatious reviewing an album by a group with such a pedigree, given I really know very little about them. I remember buying Bright Flight back in 2001, but I really never got into it so I kind of forgot about them, if I’m being honest. Groups like this, with their reputations and their all-star cast, are the sort that despite my generally reactionary nature, I feel I should like. It’s the kind of thing that tends to rear its head every time a new release comes around, and I find myself feeling compelled to feel something. Beck is a bit like that for me, as well.

So for all I’ve largely ignored the Silver Jews for years now, it’s always felt like a bit of a failing on my part, so I’m glad to be enjoying this new one. I’m not overwhelmed with joy or anything, but it’s a pretty good album. I suppose everyone knows better than I do what they sound like, but just for the record it sounds like classic alt-country, so archetypal in fact that it could be used as the epitome of the genre. There’s some rumbling Johnny Cash in the vocals and a lighter, more sunny roll to the music itself.

I wouldn’t describe it as jaunty, per se, nor is it particularly leaning towards that sort of West Coast pop that some people in this territory seem to employ. There’s just something satisfied and confident about the sound of it. I suppose when you’ve been on the scene as long as the likes of Malkmus and Berman then that might just come quite naturally. It’s nice though, and I’m sort of pleased I finally found a way to start to appreciate this band.

Silver Jews – Aloysius, Bluegrass Drummer
Silver Jews – Strange Victory, Strange Defeat

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I think it is fair to say that the gypsy folk schtick is getting a little old now.  Not that I don’t love it, just that it has been fucking ages since I saw a band without a fiddle player.  I would rather it was an active choice, rather than just a knee-jerk reflex.

Punch & the Apostles may be gypsy folk, but they lean more towards the wayward Mariachi of the likes of Devotchka than they do towards Beuirut.  There’s plenty of screeched vocals that recall Black Rider-era Tom Waits from time to time as well, so this is pretty much right up my street.  There is a throaty, manic energy to them, and impression reinforced by the “sweaty” description of their single launch party on the Lucky Number Nine site.

The single, Asylum, is out now on 7″ with accompanying CD-R, and available here.  The frantic energy of it all actually reminds me a little of Man Man as well, now that I think about it, albeit earlier, better Man Man because I didn’t like their last album much at all.

Ultimately, I think I am finding the format a little bit overused of late.  Once the last folk revival, as epitomised by the likes of The Pogues and The Waterboys and so on, petered out we were rescued by Britpop – by the brilliance of Blur and Pulp.  Which movement is going to take that job this time?

In any case, vague genre moaning aside is doing these lads a disservice, because I love their stuff.  There’s not a scrap of the knowing feyness of a lot of current new folk, which makes it a genuine pleasure to listen to, and they seem like pretty bloody talented musicians.  And if anything pains me about the gypsy folk movement it’s that too few of them embraced Mariachi like they bloody well should have.  Like this lot have.

Punch & the Apostles – Nouveau Gypsy
Punch & the Apostles – The Bull Ring Pt. 1

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