The Walkmen have instituted a horn section a number of times and in a number of ways before, but not quite like they have on “Stranded,” off their September slated album, Lisbon. Their horns have been somber (“Red Moon”) or festive (“Louisiana”) but never this grand, and right from the beginning of the song. Assisting to the construction of this lofty start, the percussion steadily crescendos to a halt right before that scratchy, howling voice known all too well as frontman Hamilton Leithauser’s comes in. The earnest instrumental introduction to Leithauser’s flippant opening line: “Throw another dime in me, my friend/And I’ll sing a song I know for thee”— without regard to what jukebox tracks actually cost these days or that the chosen song will be anything but familiar — demonstrates the brilliant composition of this song. The impressive instrumentation contrasted with Leithauser’s when-it-rains-it-pours lamentations strategically and cleverly pokes fun at the self righteous and pitying tone of the lyrics, with lines like “I’m the bigger man here oh it’s true,” and “Oh why does the rain fall cold/When I’m stranded and starry-eyed.” This song is a comedic achievement as well, because as broken down as the lyrics are, you kind of want to laugh at the mess that is the poor chap singing them (or maybe that just goes for those of us with cruel senses of humor).
There’s been talk of a New Orleans inspiration on the album, and as far as this song is concerned, that could be reflected in the use of the horns which traditionally and currently are leading instruments in New Orleans music, as well as the images of broken glass, the concept of being stranded, and drunk and lonely friends who you can’t help but love anyway. Whatever the inspiration may be, “Stranded” is a triumph of a song, as a multifaceted ballad of sorts that is all smooth, powerful and tortured.
A-
Fat Possum
