Was the best song that The Walkmen rocorded for Lisbon left off the album? There is a case for it, at least. Singer and sudden guitar player Hamilton Leithauser and guitarist Walter Martin brought the outtake “Orange Sunday” to Time Out New York on Tuesday, showing a glimpse at the more accessible band who have made different and challenging albums every time they enter the studio. However, songs as instant and seductive as this are rare for the band, and Lisbon didn’t have any that you would refer to as an “easy” song.
“Orange Sunday” is nostalgic and floats through whatever space you listen to it with ease, as if the songs of you parents youth were somehow a part of you, thought you have never directly heard them. This year more than ever it seems people are knocking bands for not editing themselves, whether it was Joanna Newsom, Arcade Fire, or Broken Social Scene. Over editing is worse, though, as too much is usually a safer choice than not enough. Which might be why Lisbon is being forgotten right now and will be another one of their really good albums that in no way advances their fan base.
