Review Summary: Heartbreak has never been more grand.
The Walkmen’s first album
Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me Is Gone was released in 2002 to positive reviews. However, some fans felt that the album dragged on for too long and had some unmemorable songs. The follow-up, aptly titled
Bows + Arrows, fixed these problems and displayed their profound strength as artists and songwriters. From the slow yearning ballad of
Hang On, Siobhan to the frenzied surge of
The Rat, there is a large variety of sounds on this album, and the amount of passion in
Bows + Arrows is awe-inspiring.
Another thing that was missing on the band’s debut album was fast songs, and
Bows + Arrows delivers here as well. In fact, many of these songs turn out to be the highlights of the album. Usually, these songs are intertwined with other slower songs. When I heard the first song of the record
What’s in It for Me, I did not have any idea of the sheer power the band could (and would) have on some of the songs to come. Even the slower songs are stronger, as well, such as the gorgeous swells of
No Christmas While I’m Talking. They change up their style while still maintaining their original sound, which is an extremely hard feat to accomplish.
The Walkmen have always been known to use off-kilter instrumentation on their albums, and
Bows + Arrows is no exception, with well-placed sleigh bells on the title track. However, the main thing that links all these songs together is Hamilton Leithauser’s Dylanesque voice. Whether he is asking for company in
Thinking of a Dream I Had or talking about cheating in a relationship on album standout
Little House of Savages, there is a certain timelessness to his voice that adds emotion to the songs. The guitar also has a sort of vintage tone on a lot of the songs, which makes the album feel as if it was recorded in the 1960s or 1970s.
The chief emotions that these songs express are paranoia, doubt, and frustration. Leithauser’s voice expresses these emotions beautifully. However, the rest of the band has their standout points as well. Their drummer Matt Barrick helps the songs flow, especially with his amazing performance on
The Rat. He does the little things well too, such as the almost underwater sound on
Hang On, Siobhan and
138th Street. Also of note is their signature guitar sound, which is scraping and grating and comforting at the same time. This helps the songs stay cohesive as well.
It seems as if this album is almost Christmas-themed in its song titles, such as
No Christmas While I’m Talking,
New Year’s Eve, and
The North Pole. The warmth of the instrumentation makes it feel like the ideal soundtrack to Christmas morning. Many times, the lyrics are cold in spite of the feel, however. Songs like
The Rat cut straight into the bone and sound beautifully pissed off. Heartbreak is the backdrop on a beautiful canvas of music.
In conclusion,
Bows + Arrows is the kind of album that comes very rarely. The album has it all, with heartfelt lyrics, chiming guitars, and powerful emotions. If you enjoy indie rock, you definitely need this album, as it is a masterpiece of the genre and a cornerstone of 2000s rock. Rarely has loneliness, bitterness, and anger sounded so lovely.
Recommended Tracks:
The Rat
No Christmas While I’m Talking
Little House of Savages
Thinking of a Dream I Had
Album Rating: 4.5/5
