Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
Drag City
Four stars

In 2006, lead Silver Jew David Berman shocked the indie world by announcing a tour — the first tour in the band’s nearly 15-year career. Berman’s unfortunate aversion to touring limited his band’s scope and popularity, which is a shame, because the man can write a song. Each of his five full-lengths are completely brilliant, especially the urban country classic American Water.

Berman broadens his group’s established palette with sleeker production and unearthly backing vocals courtesy of Berman’s wife. Where past records were understated perhaps to a fault, on “Suffering Jukebox,” Berman comes closer to cathartic release than ever before.

Sounds like: Pavement, Will Oldham, Lambchop