Rob Tannenbaum Shares 12 Essential Songs From David Berman's Discography

We're very sad but endeavoring, as they say, to "rock on." Rob Tannenbaum has been doing that too, and at the New York Times, he points readers in the direction of a few of David Berman's hits. He begins by explaining to readers that Berman "took a deadpan approach to his music, which was consumed with classic literary themes: death, family, booze, escaping fate and finality." More: 

Berman, who died on Wednesday at 52, occupied a cultural midpoint between Townes Van Zandt and Raymond Carver, and his imagistic, lively, endlessly quotable lyrics always had a cleverness buoying the emotional struggles and glimpses of life at the margins. Here are 12 of his essential songs.

Silver Jews, ‘Advice to the Graduate’ (1994)

With shambling electric guitar, slippery drums and a guest vocal from Stephen Malkmus of Pavement, Berman’s friend and champion, this track from the first Silver Jews LP, “Starlite Walker,” summons optimism for a graduation speech delivered to whomever needs to hear it: “So get in some licks and hold your head up/And soon you’ll be drinking from that crystal cup.”

Silver Jews, ‘Trains Across the Sea’ (1994)

Melancholy piano gives way to a country-ish shuffle, including lap-steel guitar, on this “Starlite Walker” track. Its final line is a memorable image of alcohol’s familiar comfort and slow erosion: “In 27 years/I drunk 50,000 beers,/and they just wash against me/like the sea into a pier.”

Listen and learn more at the New York Times.