Black Hours by Hamilton Leithauser

The artist at #11 should be well known to The Bacon Review readers, even if his name doesn’t sound familiar. Hamilton Leithauser, the lead singer of one of my favorite bands of all time (and now defunct), The Walkmen, has broken out on his own, releasing an amazing debut album, Black Hours. The Walkmen appeared on the countdown in 2012 at #9 and in 2010 at #26, so landing Black Hours here at #11 is right in keeping with that standing.

Back in August I had the great pleasure of seeing Leithauser perform this work solo, at the Triple Door, and I reviewed the performance for The Sunbreak. In that review, I wrote:

Fifteen minutes ago I learned that The Walkmen essentially broke up (“extended hiatus”) on November 29, 2013. Learning of this band’s breakup was different from the previous times I can remember hearing this type of news. If it weren’t for the fact that the band’s lead singer, Hamilton Leithauser, had recently released a much-worthy follow-up to the band’s last three absolutely amazing albums, I might actually have felt that pang, that sense of longing. Instead, I can move on, happy in the thought that we’ll still get to hear great music led by this great crooner.

It’s hard for this album to sound not like a Walkmen album, if only because Leithauser’s voice is so unique. But his solo direction appears to be slightly less rock & roll, a bit more lounge singer. But in a good way. Leithauser is a natural born performer: tall, blonde, affable and charismatic. Leithauser grew up in Washington, DC, and now resides in New York City. Singing songs of love, heartache and merriment, these songs could have been written anywhere, about anyone. And that’s part of what makes this album so great. You can connect with it, easily. Do so now.

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13. Lost in the Dream by The War On Drugs
14. Warpaint by Warpaint
15. Heal by Strand of Oaks
16. Stay Gold by First Aid Kit
17. This is All Yours by ∆
18. Brill Bruisers by The New Pornographers
19. Only Run by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
20. Augustines by Augustines
21. El Pintor by Interpol
22. I Never Learn by Lykke Li
23. Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes by Thom Yorke
24. The Voyager by Jenny Lewis
25. Voices by Phantogram
26. Morning Phase by Beck
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28. Run the Jewels 2 by Run the Jewels
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30. Teeth Dreams by The Hold Steady
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2009-2013 Top 31s