Why do I like The Walkmen so much?

When The Walkmen's latest album, Lisbon, was released last year, it by no means disappointed me. I liked it, but wasn't drawn to it the way I was to You & Me. Soon after its September release, I kind of lost interest, thinking it was a solid album, but just nothing special. However, six months later, I'm finding myself listening to Lisbon over and over -- front to back.

I can't really put my finger on why I like The Walkmen so much. They don't do anything all that out of the ordinary. But I find the more I listen to them, the more I like what they do. This was especially the case with Lisbon.

They can pack a lifetime of emotion into one 4-minute song better than most bands. I really think this is one of the best bands making music today. Period.

No. 61: The Walkmen

The Walkmen formed in 2000 with members from the Washington, DC area. Musically, the band reminds me a little of The National, but probably a little more upbeat. And vocally, The Walkmen bear little resemblance to The National, as lead singer Hamilton Leithauser belts out a unique, almost Dylan-esque voice.

The band's most recent album, You & Me, is a favorite of mine. It's a thoughtful, artistic, and satisfying collection of songs. I find it hard to find a song I don't like on the album. As much as I enjoy The Walkmen's studio work, however, I find them a tad disappointing live. Disappointing might be the wrong word -- I just don't get the same satisfaction from their songs in a live setting. However, I would still suggest going to see them at Lollapalooza if you get there early on Friday. (They kind of got hosed with a 1:00 slot.)

The group should have a new album out sometime in August, so maybe look forward to some new tunes.

The Walkmen on MySpace