''Starlite Walker'' is the debut studio album by American

indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand in the early to mid-1980s. Although the term was originally used to describe rock music released through independent reco ...

band

Silver Jews Silver Jews were an American indie rock band from Hoboken, New Jersey, formed in 1989 by David Berman (musician), David Berman alongside Pavement (band), Pavement members Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich. Berman was the only constant band me ...

. It was released in 1994 as an LP and CD on Drag City (DC55) in America and on

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(WIG15) in Europe.

Production

''Starlite Walker'' was recorded in 1994 at Easley Recordings, in Memphis, Tennessee. It was produced by Davis McCain, Doug Easley, and the band. David Berman claimed that "Trains Across the Sea" was the first song that he ever composed. In a documentary about the band, Berman stated that the early development of the album was influenced by his job as a

security guard A security guard (also known as a security inspector, security officer, factory guard, or protective agent) is a person employed by a government or private party to protect the employing party's assets (property, people, equipment, money, etc.) ...

at the Whitney: "We were working at the Whitney with all this conceptual art, and we were learning about it … and so I thought, “Well let’s just make this record that looks like a record, and has song titles and everything, but the songs would be the ones we make at home that sound terrible.”

Music

In his book ''Gimme Indie Rock'', music journalist Andrew Earles wrote that the album "mixes '70s afternoon rock, Pavement's indie balladry, Berman's poignant lyricism, and lone troubadour folk of the '60s and '70s".

Critical reception

Trouser Press ''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who, Dave Schulps, and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference ...

'' wrote that "while it gets laid-back enough at times to pass for a long-lost

New Riders of the Purple Sage New Riders of the Purple Sage is an American country rock band. The group emerged from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco in 1969 and its original lineup included several members of the Grateful Dead. The band is sometimes referred to ...

album, ''Starlite Walker'' possesses enough temperate charm to soothe even the most savage discordophile." '' Drowned in Sound'' wrote that the album "may very well be the greatest jam session of half-formed ideas ever made."

Track listing

All tracks composed by David Berman; except where indicated # "Introduction II" # "Trains Across the Sea" # "The Moon Is the Number 18" # "Advice to the Graduate" # "Tide to the Oceans" (Berman, Stephen Malkmus) # "Pan American Blues" # "New Orleans" # "The Country Diary of a Subway Conductor" # "Living Waters" # "Rebel Jew" # "The Silver Pageant"

Personnel

;The Silver Jews * David Berman – lead vocals, guitar, piano, percussion *

Stephen Malkmus Stephen Joseph Malkmus ( ; born May 30, 1966) is an American musician best known as the primary songwriter, lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Pavement. He currently performs with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Pavement, The ...

– guitar, backing vocals, piano, bass, percussion * Steve West – drums, backing vocals, percussion *

Bob Nastanovich Robert Nastanovich (born August 27, 1967) is an American musician and member of the indie rock band Pavement (band), Pavement, as well as a former member of Silver Jews, Ectoslavia, Pale Horse Riders, and Misshapen Lodge. Early life and educa ...

– drums, backing vocals, percussion, synthesizer ;Additional personnel *Doug Easley – pedal steel guitar; whistle on "Living Waters" *David McCain — pink noise *Andra Sherman — triangle *Dan Mackta — Wurlitzer electric piano on "The Country Diary of a Subway Conductor" *David McCain – engineer, producer *Doug Easley – engineer, producer *Billy Smith – photography

References

{{Authority control 1994 albums Domino Recording Company albums Drag City (record label) albums Silver Jews albums