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Purple Mountains
by
Purple Mountains Image
Metascore
87

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 55 Ratings

  • Summary: Just over 10 years after Silver Jews' David Berman announced his retirement, he returns with a new project produced by Jarvis Taveniere and Jeremy Earl of Woods.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. NOW Magazine
    Jul 31, 2019
    100
    Beyond the amber waves of grain, Purple Mountains offer fans a feast of food for thought.
  2. Consequence
    Jul 9, 2019
    91
    David Berman is one of our greatest living songwriters and he’s returned in beautiful, melancholic form as Purple Mountains to speak to the lifelong nihilistic depressive in all of us.
  3. Uncut
    Jul 9, 2019
    90
    Purple Mountains is an excellent return to form for Berman; a worthy next chapter for a songwriter who quit, many believed, in his prime. [Aug 2019, p.30]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. The Quietus
    Jul 15, 2019
    80
    Sonically, Purple Mountains embraces and accentuates Berman’s taste for cushion-edged, almost AOR country-rock, with none of the powerchords or uptempo jigs that peppered late-period SJs LPs Tanglewood Numbers and Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea.
  5. Record Collector
    Jul 18, 2019
    80
    Purple Mountains is no return to form – Berman left us in 2009 with no discernible lapse in quality – but a surprisingly welcome return, given the shift in quality contained herein. A purple patch, if you will, but a far deeper one than you would expect. Deep purple it is, then.
  6. Spin
    Jul 16, 2019
    80
    Purple Mountains was produced and accompanied by Jarvis Taveniere and Jeremy Earle of Woods, with eight other musicians filling the gaps. The arrangements, some of the most gracious Berman’s ever had, hum and glow with foggy organs and soft golden horns. Their serenity is at odds with his desperation: This is a portrait of a shattered man.
  7. Rolling Stone
    Jul 15, 2019
    70
    Purple Mountains is the sound of that guy starting to come to terms with his reality, and maybe building a new emotional architecture in the wreckage. In any case, keep ’em coming. The journey is worth it.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. jeblum
    Oct 5, 2019
    10
    Incredible album front to back. It's unfortunate that this was his swan song, but I hope that David is finally at peace.
  2. samucxs
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    Lana Del Rey entrega um álbum de sons e vocais perfeitos. A pegada é bem good vibes e angelical. Me atrevo a dizer que o melhor álbum depoisLana Del Rey entrega um álbum de sons e vocais perfeitos. A pegada é bem good vibes e angelical. Me atrevo a dizer que o melhor álbum depois de Ultraviolence; superando as expectativas e quebrando recordes. Aclamem a Rainha do Indie.… Expand
  4. AlexGonzSalsa
    Jul 12, 2019
    10
    David Berman is a songwriting master, and this is the best record he's ever made.
  5. Illusion0903
    May 3, 2020
    10
    This is my Album of the Year. The content of this album is just so sad, and the way David Berman decided to deliver it just makes it evenThis is my Album of the Year. The content of this album is just so sad, and the way David Berman decided to deliver it just makes it even sadder, I love how genuine this album is and David is no doubt a songwriting genius, thank u for presenting us this masterpiece, R.I.P.… Expand
  6. melanchol
    Jul 14, 2019
    10
    David Berman's misery is balm to us all. Thrilled to have him back, and with a record that could be AOTY, at that.
  7. purpleboss
    Jul 13, 2019
    10
    This is pure gold. I can't say about berman-newcomers, but if you're fond of silver jews this sucks you in right from the start. The lyricsThis is pure gold. I can't say about berman-newcomers, but if you're fond of silver jews this sucks you in right from the start. The lyrics are simpler in a way, but incredibly effectful and the tunes are as catchy as anything he've done in the past… Expand
  8. a_sebastian
    Jul 14, 2019
    1
    I just can't catch up with the critics... i just don't get what's tobe so excited about. The guy sounds like an intelligent guy sitting inI just can't catch up with the critics... i just don't get what's tobe so excited about. The guy sounds like an intelligent guy sitting in some vegan coffee shop, pulling some narrative to a kind audience that tap his shoulder and empathize.
    Boring.    … Expand

See all 13 User Reviews

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22
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88
#88 Most Discussed Album of 2019

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