The Walkmen: “Heaven”

Why aren’t The Walkmen as big as Coldplay? The obvious answer might be that, unlike Coldplay, they’re actually good. But, snark aside, we’re about due for a genuinely great rock band becoming a commercial behemoth. It’s not crazy to think, especially in light of their new material, that The Walkmen could be that band. After all, how much more Nickelback can the American public possibly take? Well… a lot, probably. But still, it could happen. Mark my words.

The biggest key to rock superstardom has always been universal vision and scope, and the ability to channel that vision into songs that inspire love and respect from a broad audience. Great (at the time) bands like U2 and R.E.M. had that ability, and clearly The Walkmen do today. The ever-classy New Yorkers are known for idiosyncratic yet stadium-worthy anthems dripping with pathos and genuine passion. Frontman Hamilton Leithauser’s lyrical concerns are mainly love and loss and the pain of being young or getting older. Over the decade they’ve been together they have gone from a semi-derided ragtag group overshadowed by the reverberating hype of an ill-fated previous venture (Jonathan Fire*Eater, the first group to feature future Walkmen Paul Maroon [guitar], Walter Martin [organ], and Matt Barrick [drums] imploded after their much-anticipated major label debut tanked hard in 2000) to one of the most respected and adored rock acts in the country purely on the strength of their own artistry. And, in Barrick, they have a drummer who’s undoubtedly the best of his generation.

This new song, the title track from their forthcoming sixth album, Heaven, is a perfect illustration of my point in more ways than one. It’s instantly recognizable as a Walkmen song, even apart from Leithauser’s signature braying vocals. It’s simple, and, like many of their tracks, hinges mostly on a single chord progression that relies on the group’s unique dynamic for variation — a tight rhythm section and a sloppy, chiming guitar. But, really, I don’t even have to describe this song to you. If you’re reading this site chances are you’re a fan of indie music. And if you’re any kind of indie fan you’ve already heard this song close to a dozen times, streaming from every website you frequent — from lowly blogs to national big-box publications. You already know how great this song is and how great this album is going to be. The only question is how many people are going to find out.