New Vibrations: The Walkmen's Lisbon

Lisbon, the new album from the Walkmen, is a surprisingly upbeat and refreshing record for the D.C. area rockers. The album can be best summarized by one line that frontman Hamilton Leithauser sings on “Woe is Me”: “Don’t get heavy / Let’s be light.” This creed emanates throughout every track.

For a decade now, the Walkmen’s albums have been about disappointment and regret. Even though this album still has the band’s quintessential style, throughout Lisbon they decide to dance their troubles away rather than wallow in the dumps, as they did in 2008’s You & Me, which was a dazzling symphony of moodiness and a high point in the group’s craft.

Lisbon shows a lively wrinkle to the sound fans have come to love about the group. “Woe Is Me” has a surprisingly light touch. Its beach rock summer sound is explored in “Angela Surf City,” one of the only songs where they let drummer Matt Barrick loose.

The drums sounds like well-crafted gunfire, and the guitars chug along in unison in support. A rolling drum beat lightly kicks off “Juveniles,” the album’s opening track, giving the listener a bit of a slow-sway before the twangy guitars unite with Leithauser’s vocals.

His control in changing pitches and tones from note to note lets listeners know that he’s in control. Lyrically, Leithauser touches on subjects of heartbreak, youth and loneliness, but it all still seems far from the depression of older material.

The Walkmen have always been keen on using vintage instruments like grand pianos, vintage guitars, and various sorts of brass along with their pensive lyrics. Lisbon is no exception. “Stranded,” which has an echo of a sad funeral march, implied by trumpets and horn, is a prime example of the pairing.

On the back end of the album, “Torch Song” and “Lisbon” show the emotive quality in Leithauser’s voice on each song and provides the listener with a final few instances to savor every word, every change in the closing tracks.

As a whole, old fans will appreciate the progress the band is making and new fans will find this sound easier to digest and savor. The 11 tracks on Lisbon inform the listener that things are changing. This could be their best album yet.