American Water is the third studio album by Silver Jews, recorded at the Rare Book Room by Nicholas Vernhes and mastered at Abbey Road. The album features performances by David Berman (of course), Tim Barnes, Mike Fellows (Rites of Spring), Stephen Malkimus (Pavement, etc), and poet Chris Stroffolino. (He plays trumpet and keyboard.) The album is named after a poster seen at a veterinarian's office for American Water Spaniels, and this sort of quirky, instinctive decision-making seems to have impacted the music, which offers more variety in vibe and production than other albums by the group. The album features fan-favorite tracks “Random Rules”, “Smith & Jones Forever”, in addition to “Federal Dust” and “Blue Arrangement”, written by Berman with Malkimus. This edition of the album was been half-speed remastered at Abbey Road and is pressed on black vinyl (as it should be). 

• black vinyl pressing
  
• half-speed remastered at Abbey Road in 2018
• original release year: 1998
• music label: Drag City 2019

reviewed by GOLDEN GOY 01/2020