Silver Jews: Bright Flight

Label: Drag City

As comforting as an old sweater, the Silver Jews return with Bright Flight, another collection of David Berman's witty, poignant, somehow reassuring songs. Though the easygoing sound of this album is in keeping with the rest of Berman's work, the Silver Jews' mercurial lineup affects the feel of each album. This time, Berman's sweetheart, Cassie Marrett, handles the backing vocal duties instead of sometime-Silver Jew Stephen Malkmus, who was presumably too busy with the Jicks to lend his services this time around. Songs like "Slow Education," "Room Games and the Diamond Rain," and "Tennessee" spotlight the Silver Jews at their singalong best; the brooding "Time Will Break the World" finds Berman at his most political; and "Let's Not and Say We Did" and "Friday Night Fever" add that slightly goofy sense of humor that makes every Silver Jews album that much more fun. -All Music Guide