Top 25 Albums Of The Decade (#23)

23) SCOTT WALKER – The Drift (2006)

I first heard The Drift in the middle of the night. I was reading along with the lyrics when, about fifteen minutes in, the power in my apartment went out and I was engulfed in darkness. Resisting the urge to switch to “After The Lights Go Out,” or at least something safe and familiar, I pressed on—and this was after that “swallow” part in track two (if you’ve heard this record, then you know exactly what I’m talking about). Midway through this whole experience, when the discordant strings and Walker’s black recitatives were throwing all of my life’s decisions into question, I had a sudden revelation: This is the Hell you get sent to if you die in outer space. The man who once released an album full of Brel covers now creates percussion by punching the carcass of a pig. He’s so cool, he even lets Mohawk from Gremlins 2 provide guest vocals. Later on there’s a line about “pee-pee soaked trousers.” Or at least I think that’s what he says. I don’t know—I haven’t picked up the lyric sheet since that first fateful night. Nor have I listened to it in total darkness. And I never will. Because no one should be expected to sit through that sort of thing, especially not for sixty-eight minutes straight. I’m afraid I might start paying attention again.