If you're checking out Hamilton Leithauser's stuff, chances are you're a fan of the Walkmen. Their "extreme hiatus" is now about seven months old and has, to date, produced a trio of solo records. ‘Black Hours’ is Leithauser’s and perhaps, thanks to his remarkable voice and its ties to his former band, the most anticipated.
After more than a decade of playing with the same group, creating something entirely your own, based on freedom and personal inspirations, must be refreshing. In Leithauser's case, though, 'Black Hours' is not entirely his own.
It benefits from a number of well-placed collaborations - most notably with Walkmen guitarist Paul Maroon and Vampire Weekend's RostamBatmanglij, who acts as producer and co-writer on a couple of ‘Black Hours’ songs - but Leithauser may not have developed his sound as much as he wished.
There are times when the Walkmen are recalled, particularly at the record’s most rock 'n' roll moments, which shouldn’t surprise too much given Leithauser and Maroon co-wrote eight of the songs here. It’s a direction that Leithauser was unsure he wanted to go in, though, having also strayed towards classic pop and the bellowed soul of Sinatra.
‘Black Hours’ is not shy of a little sophistication, too. 5AM and St. Mary's County, both piano based tracks, are stripped down, their bareness allowing Leithauser's voice to be heard in a different manner. The second half of the album is significantly less dynamic. I Don't Need Anyone and Bless Your Heart retain a similar texture throughout, while Self Pity gets underway with 50 seconds’ worth of wind sounds during which you will eventually take pity on yourself. Leithauser still has time to find himself as a solo musician, but with this album he has attempted to take such a leap that it will take some time to adjust.
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