Athletes want to be entertainers; entertainers want to be in bands; band members all dream of solo careers. The lead singer of the Walkmen went out and got himself one.
Black Hours, the debut album from Hamilton Leithauser, will be released next week via Ribbon Music but you can stream it until June 3 by clicking on the player below.
From the opening torch number, "5AM," to the moody, new wave tones of "Self Pity" to the infectious foot-stomping lead single, "Alexandra," Black Hours has Leithauser dipping musical toes in blues, country, piano ballads and more from start to finish, while keeping his heart entrenched in rock. It creates the sense that these tunes have been burbling around for some time, and this one record without the rest of the Walkmen might his only chance to get them out. But as a listener, that sort of variety is never a bad thing.
Follow Judith Lynch on Twitter: @CBCJudith
Listen to CBC Music's Singer-Songwriter stream
