The Walkmen

In an age where irony-clad indie bands pop up fortnightly, it's refreshing to see distinguished indie rockers such as the National, Fleet Foxes and the Walkmen garnering so much adoration. With fifth LP Lisbon, the NYC-cum-DC quintet have certainly tested their fans' devotion. The lovely "Juveniles" opens the album, with Paul Maroon's music box guitar once again cradling Hamilton Leithauser's face-to-the-floor vocals. As songs like the textural "Follow the Leader," quixotic "Stranded" and Brill Building-esque "Woe is Me" begin to unfold, it's more than apparent that Lisbon is indeed a low-key, unwearied affair. Although the exceptions to the rule ― the chugging drum attack of "Angela Surf City" and the exploding chorus of "Victory" ― certainly don't break character, Lisbon comes off as the Walkmen's least varied and dynamic album to date. This shows that the band may be getting just a bit too comfortable in those metaphorical tweed jackets.