Walkmen more than 'O.C.' band

Most people who know of The Walkmen are mostly familiar with them as “one of those bands that played on ‘The O.C.’” They are, though, one of the many examples of the quality of “O.C.” character Seth Cohen’s taste in music, and one of the better bands in the indie rock pantheon. Their latest effort, You & Me, is no exception.

The album’s first track, “Donde Esta La Playa,” sets the tone for the whole album. It is a bit subdued overall, especially in the verses, but a bit stronger in the chorus. The song’s melody is slightly discordant, but not overly so ­– just enough to be interesting, not enough to detract from the song. In fact, it seems to be almost Rogue Wave-esque in its sound.

Much of the album is similar to that first song. The Walkmen seem to have been influenced by a wide range of other artists here, from the aforementioned Rogue Wave to Kings of Leon. Hamilton Leithauser’s vocals are like a combination those from My Morning Jacket’s Jim James and Bob Dylan. “On the Water,” one of the album’s strongest tracks, is reminiscent of Radiohead’s “Knives Out,” especially in the drums and guitar. The guitar’s sound on other tracks brings The Strokes or Interpol to mind.

The band’s musicianship is superb on this album. The drum work is particularly good, especially on songs such as “Seven Years of Holidays (For Stretch)” and “Postcards from Tiny Islands.” The band is dynamic without being out-of-control, shifting from loud to soft with emphasis on rhythm and emphasis on the vocals maneuvering amongst one another on almost every song.

The only real problem with You & Me is that despite the dynamism of The Walkmen within songs, the album doesn’t have a lot of variety. Most of the songs sound alike, with the exception of “Flamingos (For Colbert),” which is an instrumental. Still, though the songs are similar, they’re all good.

You & Me is a complex album, but enjoyable. It’s a great album for a person who wants to chill out, but not get bored.