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Last night I attended an annual benefit concert that celebrates the life and work of David Berman. Last week, in preparation, a friend of mine whose obsession does not yet run as deep asked me to make a playlist. So I made this, as a (long) introduction. While it felt impossible to whittle the discography down to essential tracks, it seemed equally impossible to take a wrong turn in choosing, because every song he wrote had some magic in it.
I figured I’d share it here too, so theres the link^
Jan 5, 2025
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If you love Silver Jews, Purple Mountains, his books "Actual Air" and "The Portable February"
Then you miss Berman as much as I do.
I only caught him live once, in Portland, OR back in 2006 with his friend/fellow Silver Jew/PDX resident Stephen Malkmus accompanying him. It was an amazing evening. I had been a fan a long time by that point and the setlist literally covered the waterfront.
“It was the light in things that made them last,” Berman wrote in his poem “Governors on Sominex.” I'm grateful that David lasted as long as he did. His perfect, specific work will stand the test of time for a long time to come.
You can read Pitchfork's beautifully written tribute here.
Jan 4, 2025
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Poet & songwriter best known as the frontman of “Silver Jews,“ and the lesser known “Purple Mountains,“ Berman has a way of exploring the beauty in the darker aspects of life. Berman tragically took his in 2019. He had such a special way with words both as a poet and a songwriter. My favorite song of his, “Famous Eyes” is linked above.
Jan 25, 2024
I think a lot of musicians have one particular person they owe a great debt to. That could be a rock star or your stoner uncle who played Black Sabbath riffs in the garage. For me it was David Berman. Because I had played guitar for years before I even heard of him and his music was too quiet for me at first, but something happend.
David Berman gave me a voice.
No one else will ever make singing seem so natural and words so meaningful. Everything can be something and it's always worth trying. Anyone can sing a song as long as they try to. Go put on a Silver Jews record today
11h ago
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