Tanglewood Numbers
| Tanglewood Numbers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Silver Jews | ||||
| Released | October 18, 2005 | |||
| Genre | Indie rock | |||
| Length | 34:51 | |||
| Label | Drag City | |||
| Producer | David Berman | |||
| Silver Jews chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |
  link
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| Pitchfork Media | (7.9/10) link |
| Popmatters |
  link
|
| Robert Christgau | (B+) link |
| Stylus Magazine | (B) link |
Tanglewood Numbers is the fifth full-length album by Silver Jews, released in 2005.
Like on all of their other albums, Silver Jews' principal song writer and constant band member is David Berman. On this album fourteen other musicians are involved in the performance and creation. Tanglewood Numbers marked the return of Pavement members Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich into Silver Jews. Malkmus had last appeared on American Water while Nastanovich had last appeared on the band's debut album Starlite Walker. Cassie Berman, wife of David Berman, also appears.
The album's cover is a photograph by famed Southern photographer William Eggleston.
In the four years between Bright Flight and Tanglewood Numbers, Silver Jews frontman David Berman had suffered from substance abuse, depression and a suicide attempt. However, Berman was able to rehabilitate and he became more deeply involved into his Jewish faith.
During its recording, Tanglewood Numbers was nearly destroyed in a fire that burned down Memphis' historic Easley-McCain studio, where the album was going to be mastered.
Tanglewood Numbers has received mostly positive reviews. According to the review aggregate site Metacritic, the album has a score of 81 out of 100, indicating "Universal acclaim."
Giving the album a 4.5 out of 5 stars, Heather Phares of Allmusic, in references to Berman's past problem, wrote "Hopefully the circumstances around Tanglewood Numbers will never repeat themselves, but there's no denying that this is a uniquely powerful and moving set of songs."Popmatters' Josh Berquist also gave the album a positive review, writing "Even if it’s not their finest work, it certainly feels like it is. There is a visceral vitality to Tanglewood Numbers that has never inhabited any album prior."
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Wikipedia