The way Jeffrey Lewis churns out near identical album one after the other leaves little room for innovative description. Musically, A Turn In The Dream Songs is pretty much the same as ‘Ere Are I. But then, in a Dylan-esque way, the music is incidental to Lewis’ appeal. It is merely a vehicle for Lewis’ neurotic thought process to drive (and crash) in, and his skewed yet irresistable perspective on the world. Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need roads. The New Yorker often sings in monotone, not caring whether his lyrics scan or rhyme or fit the music snugly. For him, what’s important is that his perspective is communicated in a witty, charming and urbane manner, which is precisely why he is so appealing, and why I like A Turn In The Dream Songs.
But then, you probably know all this. You either love or hate him already, and I very much doubt that this review will sway you either way. Jeffrey Lewis knows this too. “I might not be in magazine as a heart throb face, but in a few devoted hearts I’ve found a strong fan base” he says on ‘Cult Boyfriend’. Too true…
When he does sing properly (well, as near to singing properly Lewis gets) as on ‘I Got Lost’ it’s really pretty and pretty special, and it highlights that his general laissez-faire attitude towards the non-lyrical aspect of his music is perhaps not as appealing as it might seem.
But then who cares? He validates a slacker lifestyle with worthwhile objectives (see ‘Time Trades’) that I subscribe to. Some would find it empty and objectionable and others meaningful…
What I would say for certain is that he is brilliant live. The combination of narrative and illustration is highly amusing and innovative, so if you really want to “get him” catch him at The Ruby Lounge on Tuesday 25th October…
Release Date 10/10/2011 (Rough Trade Records)
I started out writing for the Manchester Evening News as a freelance journalist back in 2008. The idea that I would be given free access to music and gigs seemed somehow miraculous to me, and I proceeded to take full advantage of the situation. When the M.E.N. decided to constrict its coverage to only the very biggest bands, Simon Poole approached me with a plan to make sure that all the very talented musicians of this world that pass through and/or live in Manchester would not go unnoticed. As the New Releases editor here at Silent Radio Towers, it remains my proud duty to cast a critical eye over the music and reviews that come my way in a manner that is both supportive and fair. Above all, I strive to write as entertainingly possible. Favourite musicians include the Pixies, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Mercury Rev, Os Mutantes, The Knife, Beach House etc etc. I'm a firm believer that all genres (except nu-metal) contain music of great quality...
