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The Walkmen

Everyone Who Pretended To Know Me Is Gone

Star Time Int. | 2002 | Album

Biography

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The Walkmen is comprised of three former members of Jonathan Fire
Eater and two members of the Recoys. After Jonathan Fire Eaters deal with
Dreamworks fell through,the Walkmen were formed. Mercata studios was
created with some of the leftover money from the record deal. The studio
doubles as a rehearsal hall and twenty four track recording studio in Harlem.
This is where 'Everyone who pretended to know me is gone' was recorded.
Despite the interesting sound of the band- this cd suffers from the poor
production at Mercata. There is a noticeable lack of crispness to the recording.

An outside producer may have helped make these fine songs sound better
on this cd.

The opening track 'They're winning' is a clangy start. Singer Hamilton
Leithausers vocals are eerily similar to Thom Yorke of Radiohead. 'We've
been had' is a song that I've heard before. It's on a car commercial for
Saturn or something like that.A toy piano sound starts the song and these
two young couples drive around a town full of children. The band gets some
licensing money and some people get to hear their music-that's ok.It's a good
song too. The standout track is 'Wake up'. The lyrics are good and it has
a memorable hook.

The band lists Bruce Springsteen and Joy Division as their primary
influences. I don't hear much of either of those on this cd. A looser- more
dissonant Radiohead comes to mind. My main complaint about 'Everyone
who pretended to like me is gone' is the mediocre production.The Walkmen
have come up with an interesting-mature sound. They just need to record it
better.

J. Marsh