Search - Walkmen :: Hundred Miles Off

A Hundred Miles ON

The Last Person You'd Expect | Seattle, WA United States | 06/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"So, the first of the Walkmen's albums to completely capture my interest is also their first to be near-universally panned by critics. Maybe its me who is backwards, or maybe these critics were hasty in searching for more of the powerful refrains of Bows and Arrows. It's interesting that those who drew comparisons between Dylan's voice and the lead-Walkmen's didn't take the analogy further. Dylan put his emphasis on content and his ardent vocal-styling was drawn from the passion of personal experience-- and not so much 'emoting' as 'expressing'. In this regard, the Walkmen have raised the bar from the somewhat run-of-the-mill Strokes-inspired Bows & Arrows, and forged a singular expression that separates them at last from their indie-garage roots.



Other than the ostentatiously Dylanesque album closer "Another One Goes By" (perhaps more appropriately compared to Mott the Hoople, with a 50's-ish pop-waltz backing), the single tracks rarely stray from the album's overall sound. The melodic style of the opening "Louisiana" sounds the most like a track off of Bows & Arrows, and its also the track that regularly excites many of the indie-rock critics. Only after that do we get a sense of how A Hundred Miles Off differs from its predecessor: the focus moves from the song-writing, from the melody, to the subtler vocal changes and to the lyrics themselves. The experience of the album is more complex, challenging and in many respects more intriguing than standard indie rock. But don't let me mislead you into thinking this is some kind of masterpiece-- though a worthwhile chapter in the Walkmen's short career so far and an entertaining, listenable album in itself, it probably won't go so far as to make the top ten or fifteen in the next end-of-year lists. In short, I think the Walkmen's latest offering solidifies their standing in the genre, proves they have real talent, and promises a few more remarkable albums in the future."

Yes, this is a departure

J. Simon | Canton, Michigan | 02/03/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This album is very different from the band's first two. Pianos and organs still linger here and there, but they are not as prominently featured in these songs which are basically guitar-driven rock songs. Hamilton Leithauser's once incredible voice has morphed into a shirll screech lacking enunciation for many of the tracks. It's a pleasant break when he explores his lower range on "Brandy Alexander". I've heard Dylan comparisons, but maybe it's closer to Faces-era Rod Stewart. "Lousiana" "All Hands and the Cook" "Brandy Alexander" and especially "Another One Goes By" are excellent. A couple more tracks like these and this album could have been great. Overall, it's not as good as "Bows + Arrows" or "Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone" but not as bad as some critics have claimed. I'd give it a B (I'm a teacher)."

Excellent music, but the lead vocals are a hurdle

Tommy M. | Berkeley | 06/05/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The lead singer's vocals -- a cross between a young Dylan and a young Rod Stewart -- are an acquired taste, I admit. But in these days where even "indie" rock is slick and professionally produced, it's refreshing to hear something as raw and surprisingly progressive as A Hundred Miles Off. The Walkmen have a jangly exterior that strongly evokes REM, but its guts are garage rock. Just listen to those drums on "Lost in Boston." But their song structures are very end-loaded -- they sometimes don't get going until they're halfway over. And these songs aren't long, either. It's almost always worth the wait, though, because they're able to pull out some hummable melodies and fascinating percussion (to me, at least).



As you can see, The Walkmen are most easily defined by how dissimilar they are from things that suck. They're also delightfully apathetic towards whatever the trends might be, and this makes for music that ages well, in my opinion. However, the lead singer too often tries to make his voice do things it simply can't, and I find myself wondering how much better these songs would be if they had a better vocalist. His limited range is much more suited to the closer, Another One Goes By than, well, the bulk of the album.



Favorite Songs: All Hands And The Cook, This Job is Killing Me, Lost in Boston, Danny's At The Wedding."