"Oh You're So Silent Jens" is a strange album. It sounds like an old 70's music soundtrack, mixed with equal parts of European indie and folk, and coupled with Jens' rather Frank Sinatra-like baritone. It's also one of the best albums that came out last year. Songs like 'Black Cab', both 'Rocky Dennis Farewell' Songs, 'Maple Leaves', and 'Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill' are musical and songwriting gems that are powerful from the first listen. Although the rest of the album isn't quite as poignant or immediately accessible, there are certainly no abject failures either -- all in all, this is a relatively cohesive and solid work. Pick this up immediately if you have a penchant for other similarly self-indulgent indie artists such as Sufjan Stevens. All in all, a great find, and a spectacular demonstration of old-school songwriting and positive musical pretentiousness.
3 Bumps | Bump |
