The Walkmen - A Hundred Miles Off

New Yorkers The Walkmen have faded since their ‘heyday’ of appearing on US teen show The O.C.. ‘A Hundred Miles Off’, the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2004 ‘Bows & Arrows’ isn’t an album for the faint-hearted: vocalist Hamilton Leithauser’s voice is like a grating Bob Dylan with laryngitis. Moreover, there are not enough neat melodies here to catch the interest.

First single ‘Louisiana’ is a slow-burning introduction to the album. It’s a standard ballad, but then the drums and Leithauser’s grating kick in. Nonetheless, the fanfare of piano and trumpet create a relaxing impression of lazing on a paddle steamer floating down the Mississippi. Following track ‘Danny’s At The Wedding’ is however where the lyrics become more incomprehensible and almost unlistenable, but for the ‘nice’ songwriting hidden under the rasping. It’s a similar story throughout the record.

One of the more head-approving tracks here is ‘All Hands And The Cook’, an altogether darker song dominated by Walter Martin’s organ playing. ‘Tenly-Town’ is more reminiscent of the alternative drum banging which has served them so well in the past. This is where the vocals work well; the instruments are as loud and prominent as Leithauser. ‘Lost In Boston’ also has some agreeable drum beats and tangling guitar riffs before the singing again overawes every other sound.

On ‘Brandy Alexander’, Leithauser decides to try singing over the track. This works better than many of the other songs on the album, having a charming tune with echoes of 1950s rhythm and blues, from the likes of Del Shannon or Eddie Cochran, and is definitely one of the highlights of ‘A Hundred Miles Off’. ‘Another One Goes By’, the final track on the record, leaves the listener with a more satisfied opinion of The Walkmen. It’s an excellently crafted piece of music that gives credit to Leithauser as it proves again that he can actually sing! It’s a majestic easy-listening track, like a tuneful Dylan with a soft drum beat, soothing piano and simple jangling guitar riff. With this, The Walkmen are not a hundred miles off (Oh dear - Ed) their peak.

The remaining tracks on ‘A Hundred Miles Off’ are largely forgettable, save for the throbbing head. Nevertheless some moments are rescued with some appealing instrumentation. As the album progresses, the drums become as painful as the vocals, though the final tracks are a welcome change of direction.