Purple Mountains (album)

Purple Mountains
Studio album by
Purple Mountains
ReleasedJuly 12, 2019
Recorded2018
Studio
  • Jamdek, Chicago, Illinois
  • Thump, Brooklyn, New York
Genre
Length44:21
LabelDrag City
Producer
  • Jarvis Taveniere
  • Jeremy Earl
Singles from Purple Mountains
  1. "All My Happiness Is Gone"
    Released: May 10, 2019
  2. "Darkness and Cold"
    Released: June 11, 2019
  3. "Margaritas at the Mall"
    Released: June 28, 2019

Purple Mountains is the only studio album by American indie rock band Purple Mountains. The album was released on July 12, 2019, by Drag City.[2][3][4][5] It is the final overall album by David Berman before his death on August 7, 2019, less than four weeks after the album's release.[6]

Purple Mountains was the first new studio album from David Berman since the disbandment of Silver Jews in 2009. Created over the course of four years, the album went through numerous failed attempts at writing and recording with different musicians and producers including Dan Auerbach, Dan Bejar, Stephen Malkmus and Jeff Tweedy. It was eventually recorded in 2018 with members of the band Woods, in both Chicago and Brooklyn. Woods members Jarvis Taveniere and Jeremy Earl produced the album.

The album's themes were inspired by the death of Berman's mother, his retirement from music, his struggles with depression, and his strained relationship with his wife. Berman also made the album in hopes of paying down a six-figure debt he had built up. It was preceded by the singles "All My Happiness Is Gone", "Darkness and Cold", and "Margaritas at the Mall". On release, the album received critical acclaim and was featured in numerous year-end lists.

  1. ^ Wisgard, Alex (July 11, 2019). "Purple Mountains – Purple Mountains". Line of Best Fit. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  2. ^ Barsanti, Sam (May 19, 2019). "Silver Jews offshoot band Purple Mountains announces new album". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  3. ^ Cook-Wilson, Winston (May 17, 2019). "Silver Jews' David Berman Announces Purple Mountains Album, Releases "All My Happiness Is Gone" Video". Spin. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  4. ^ Fernando, Christine (May 17, 2019). "Silver Jews Frontman David Berman Announces First New Album in 11 Years, Shares New Video". Paste. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  5. ^ Thiessen, Brock (May 17, 2019). "Silver Jews' David Berman Returns with New Album as Purple Mountains". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  6. ^ "David Berman (Silver Jews, Purple Mountains) Dead at 52". Pitchfork. August 7, 2019.