Black Hours

Pitchfork 7.4/10 The Walkmen recently went on a “pretty extreme hiatus”, and the first batch of its members’ inevitable solo albums are now starting to appear; for his solo bow, Black Hours, frontman Hamilton Leithauser doesn’t veer far from their established sound, and continues their exploration of old popular music, this time with an emphasis on what was on the pop charts two generations ago.

A.V. Club B Before The Walkmen announced an “extreme hiatus” last year, the New York City-based outfit was six solid albums deep, and had long staked a claim as one of the most consistently great bands of the past decade. The indie-rock mainstay’s last three, 2008’s You & Me, 2010’s Lisbon, and 2012’s Heaven found the band at its…

The Line of Best Fit 8/10 The Walkmen’s inimitable singer takes the various tools of his band’s sound and turns them into toys.

Rolling Stone 3/5 Check out our album review of Artist's Black Hours on Rolling Stone.com.

DIY 4/5 Re-energised, ready to take on the world.

The Skinny 4/5 With The Walkmen currently on an “extreme hiatus”, frontman Hamilton Leithauser strikes out alone with solo debut Black Hours. Well, not entirely alone: fellow Walk-man Paul Maroon remains by his side, while a supporting cast drawn from The Shins, Vampire Weekend, Fleet Foxes and Dirty Projectors completes a high-calibre support network.

Under The Radar 6.0/10 Black Hours, Hamilton Leithauser's solo debut, was recorded shortly after The Walkmen announced an "extreme hiatus."