American Water

Does anyone care that Random Rules is not the song that is purchased on this album? I bought the album on iTunes but the first song is Tennessee not Random Rules.

Got into the Jews around 07, was led to them a year after the breakup after listening to a lot of smog. missed there last performance in Seattle because I wasn't yet familiar with them. Oh how I now pine for a reunion performance. This record, this band. Timeless.

I just bought this and listened to this album for the first time in years and have decided that this is the best album ever made.

SO much win!!! Some people can't get past berman vocals, but I love them! lyrical genius. nuff said. Life changing in a good way or bad I'm not sure. This album just makes me want to disappear into the cracks of society. It will make you want to be a transient vagabond. MAybe that is bad, but it sounds so good

This is an album that I almost immediately liked. Then I loved it. Now I think it's honestly one of the greatest albums I have ever heard and I continue to find new lines or new instrumentation that blows me away. Listen, and keep listening.

I never get sick of listening to this record. Every couple of years, I'll dust it off (digitally speaking) and listen to the entire thing straight through. What a great record!

Music fans with a dynamic appreciation of the art would find the beauty in this album. Cohesive, fun, light hearted in sound and most of all cleaver. My daughter has been raised to this album. We have it completely choreographed on our hardwood floors. Believing that music is but an extension, this is a must have..... or at the very least, Malkmus fans.

From it's opening line: "In 1984, I was hospitalized for approaching perfection", it's quite clear that David Berman's humor and tone is unlike anything that would typically be worth comparing them to. For those arriving of you who arrived here through Pavement, i've got these words for you: Don't expect Malkmus. I think music divests itself from the musician to a certain extent like books with authors and movies with directors. These creations dont change. People change. Even those old styles that seem dated now havent really changed, people and their tastes have. I like that idea of constancy. I imagine it would be interesting to listen to this album 10 years from now and see the difference in perceptions. Because unlike a lot of music, this really does have depth, and does delight in repeated listenings by tossing up some new mix of cheese and pepperoni and Secret Sauce that you strangely missed the last time you ate it. (Apologies for that analogy, its lunch time and its been thirty minutes since I last picked up the phone.) But if you’re looking for revolutionary sound, listen away now because this isn’t it. They aren’t really a jaw-dropping live act either. I’ve never actually seen them though, which while it doesn’t do anything for the value of my opinion, is totally true and I hope that still counts for something. I actually quite enjoy that fact that they’re not a fantastic live act, it makes me feel that the best Silver Jews concert is probably the one in my own home. I’d still love to see them though. Sigh. I’d love to sit down with people who appreciated it like I do and just listen to the poetry. In retrospect I can safely say that discovering this record has in many ways shaped what would become, through more digging, the musical "tastes" I have today. I truly wish I was you, about to discover this wonderful album... If that doesn't convince you, go to hell.

This is essential for any fan of 90's alt rock or rock in general.... Berman and Malkmus are possibly my two favorite singers of all time. As the title suggests there are elements of Americana and country on this album and this, along with the traditional lo-fi sound, creates one of the most exciting and intriguing listens of all time. Two words: Buy it.

itunes PLEASE put random rules as the RIGHT song and not Tennessee from Bright Flight random rules is a great opener song and if you buy this album listen to random rules from somewhere else its worth it, and tennessee is not nearly as good. ITUNES: MAKE SURE YOUR SONGS ARE WITH THE RIGHT ALBUMS. ignorant.