Pitchfork

Photo by Michelle Harris

The last time we heard from Silver Jews was in February, with the premiere of Michael Tully's Jews tour documentary, Silver Jew. Since then, things have been all quiet on the David Berman front, but a recent post on the band's message board by the Jews' songwriter/frontman (as confirmed by Drag City) reveals some of the details surrounding their sixth album, the follow-up to 2005's Tanglewood Numbers:

1) "The band on the record will be the band from the Wilderness Campaign [aka Berman's touring band, we presume. --Ed.]."

2) It will consist of "ten or eleven songs, two word title, name in upper left corner." [What a novel idea.]

3) "I have to record, mix and master it by August 15th, so it can come out in January. I don't know where yet. Somewhere new in Nashville."

Berman also includes a list of the new songs he has, in alphabetical order. Check them below.

Finally, he also includes an item of interest to Nashville-residing die-hards with an administrative bent: "I've been wondering for a long time if I was qualified to have a summer intern. It must depend on interest in the intern community. I have the ability to write a recommendation letter. (Alert: I have no 'connections.' I don't know ANYONE who runs a record label besides the two Dans at Drag City.) So I throw it out there: I am looking for someone who lives in Nashville who can help me with a few different SJ projects, once or twice a week. Being able to type or run a webpage would be very [helpful]. I can't believe I'm typing this but: 'writers and musicians need not apply.' I'm looking for someone on the other side. I've got enough me. I need someone else."

Since Berman's post comes from June 21 and he says "the internship will run from July 1-September 1," it might be too late to wow him with your clerical magic. But just in case it's not, those interested should "send your shtick or a list of your pluses and minuses" to:

DCB
PO Box 160009
Nashville, TN 37216

But "remember, if you live faraway or are not the arts administrative type, please don't hold hope of convincing me 'anyway.' I will not be convinced by anything other than competence or ESP."

Thanks to reader Bill Howard for the tip.

List of songs, in alphabetical order:

10th Grade Prophecy
Aloyisius, Bluegrass Drummer
Blowback Override
Candy Jail
Chimerical Gangland
Party Barge
Strange Victory, Strange Defeat
Sunglasses, Cigarettes and Keys
The Woods at the End of the Street
Tiger Widow Village
What Is Not But Could Be If