In 2004, New York's The Walkmen created the album Bows and Arrows and on it was one of the great Indie-Rock anthems the decade has seen thus far with "The Rat." Since then, it seems like The Walkmen have been scurrying to try and get out of "The Rat's" shadow. It's unfortunate that a band that doesn't have much interest in sweeping U2-like rock anthems was suddenly lumped into that kind of category. The two 2006 follow-ups - A Hundred Miles Off and Pussy Cats (a song for song recreation of the Harry Nilsson classic) - seemed like The Walkmen were going out of their way to sound like anything but what people expected out of them and because of that both of those albums were looked at as missteps or even disappointments.

Those that are desperately hoping for "The Rat" part two on You & Me will again be sorely disappointed, but those who are open to giving You & Me some breathing room will find that this album might just be The Walkmen at their most confident and comfortable in their own skin. Vocalist Hamilton Leithauser seems to have finally conquered that bizarre range of voice he has and has turned it into almost something of a Bob Dylan variety with scope and depth. Listen to how he soars on the organ led chorus of "In the New Year" or the Latin tinged "Red Moon' and try not to be impressed by his total command. You & Me isn't Bows and Arrows great, but that's kind of the point. It's fantastic in an entirely new and different sounding way for them and that to me makes it The Walkmen's second must own classic.