| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [2] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B[3] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [4] |
| The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | [5] |
Starlite Walker is the first studio album by indie rock group Silver Jews.[6][7][8] It was released in 1994 as an LP and CD on Drag City (DC55) in America and on Domino (WIG15) in Europe.[9][10]
Production
Starlite Walker was recorded in 1994 at Easley Recordings, in Memphis, Tennessee.[1] It was produced by Davis McCain, Doug Easley, and the band.[4] David Berman claimed that "Trains Across the Sea" was the first song that he ever composed.[11]
Critical reception
Trouser Press wrote that "while it gets laid-back enough at times to pass for a long-lost New Riders of the Purple Sage album, Starlite Walker possesses enough temperate charm to soothe even the most savage discordophile."[12] Drowned in Sound wrote that the album "may very well be the greatest jam session of half-formed ideas ever made."[13]
Track listing
All tracks composed by David Berman; except where indicated
- "Introduction II"
- "Trains Across the Sea"
- "The Moon Is the Number 18"
- "Advice to the Graduate"
- "Tide to the Oceans" (Berman, Stephen Malkmus)
- "Pan American Blues"
- "New Orleans"
- "The Country Diary of a Subway Conductor"
- "Living Waters"
- "Rebel Jew"
- "The Silver Pageant"
Personnel
Silver Jews
- David Berman – Guitar, Piano, Vocals, Percussion
- Doug Easley – Pedal Steel, Whistle (Human), Guitar (Steel)
- Steve West – Percussion, Drums, Vocals (Background)
- Stephen Malkmus – Bass, Guitar, Piano, Vocals (Background), Percussion
- Bob Nastanovich – Synthesizer, Drums, Percussion, Vocals (Background)
Additional Personnel
- Davis McCain – Pink noise
- Dan Mackta – Wurlitzer on "The Country Diary of a Subway Conductor"
- Andra Sherman – Triangle
- David McCain – Engineer, Producer
- Doug Easley – Engineer, Producer
- Billy Smith – Photography
- Silver Jews – Producer, Engineer, Main Performer
References
- ^ a b "Starlite Walker - Silver Jews | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Volume 7: MUZE. p. 457.
- ^ "The latest in indie music". EW.com.
- ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. pp. 1015–1016.
- ^ The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. p. 735.
- ^ "Silver Jews | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ Buckley, Peter (January 10, 2003). "The Rough Guide to Rock". Rough Guides – via Google Books.
- ^ "SILVER JEWS – 'STARLITE WALKER'". Spin. September 6, 2012.
- ^ "Silver Jews - Starlite Walker | Drag City". www.dragcity.com.
- ^ "Silver Jews - Starlite Walker (CD) | Domino Mart". Domino Recording Company.
- ^ Hogan, Marc. "15 Songs That Defined David Berman's Heavy Magic". Pitchfork.
- ^ "Silver Jews". Trouser Press. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "Alt Country Week: Silver Jews - A Morality Play in Six Acts". DrownedInSound.