| Author | Message | ||
     Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1589 Registered: 10-2006 |
I spent some of my summer holidays reading thoughtful and heartfelt articles about the suicide of David Berman, and half-expected, given what seems to be the nature of his talent, that someone might comment here on the board. I didn’t know much about his work myself before his death, I just have one Silver Jews album, bought second-hand in Regensburg, and not, as I recall, in very good condition; and I found another on a recent trip to my last local record shop, as it starts its closing down sale. Was nobody hereabouts an admirer, then? | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1958 Registered: 08-2006 |
I am/are/was. His latest, Purple Mountains, is lovely and everyone should own "American Water." He was also a more-than-decent poet. I can't remember what his collection was called - I lent it away a while back - but it's well worth your time. He was a great talent and I'm glad to see he's gotten overdue love from places like The New Yorker, which did a typically memorable piece on his legacy. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 9007 Registered: 05-2005 |
Stuart, I thought I'd mentioned the Purple Mountains album here, but I just checked and I didn't. It's a very good album and deservedly got very good reviews. David Berman died knowing his last work was very well received. Tragically, that wasn't enough to change the state if his mind. I don't have all his albums but I've been a fan for 25 years. May he rest in peace. Rob, I'll check out the article you mentioned. My ex has a New Yorker subscription. | ||
| David Gagen Member Username: David_g Post Number: 449 Registered: 02-2007 |
Only got Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea. A very good album that I listened to a fair bit back when it was released. So sad to hear of his passing. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 9009 Registered: 05-2005 |
The article Rob refers to is here, and it’s great. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/postsc ript/david-berman-made-us-feel-less-alon e | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1960 Registered: 08-2006 |
Sorry, I should have posted it. Thanks for doing so, Padraig - it's well worth a read, whether you were familiar with Berman or not. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 1591 Registered: 10-2006 |
I think I read a lengthy UNCUT interview with him, which painted the picture of a troubled guy who’d been silent for a while, and was now settled in Nashville, content, a couple of dogs, his new album getting rave reviews everywhere. He sounded interesting and witty, like someone I should know more about: after the hols, I thought, a bit of investigation. And then, a few days later, the deeply depressing news, although my first thought, probably, was, oh, the poor dogs. |