Juliet Paiz January 12th, 2025 - 9:15 PM
Photo Credit: Colin Hancock
According to Pitchfork, Hamilton Leithauser, the frontman of The Walkmen, has announced his new solo album This Side of the Island, set for release in March 2025. To celebrate, he has unveiled the lead single, “Knockin’ Heart,” accompanied by a video. The track has his own distinctive sound and wondrous vocals. The music weaves layers of guitars and a driving rhythm reminiscent of classic rock. Leithauser’s voice is expressed through nostalgia, conveying a sense of longing.
“Knockin’ Heart” explores themes of the emotional resonance of memory. For example one of the lyrics in the song is “Oh, there’s no one who’s gonna need you like I do tonight.” This feels like a plea for connection and reaching out for something you can’t attain.
The accompanying video complements the song’s melancholy yet hopeful tone. Directed with a minimalist approach, it features a series of animations that correspond to the songs lyrics. The video’s muted yet colorful palette mirror the song’s mood, amplifying its emotional weight. Overall, “Knockin’ Heart” is a great introduction to This Side of the Island.
In 2023 The Walkmen reunited to perform their first live shows in nearly a decade. This memorable event occurred at Webster Hall, a nightclub in New York, on April 26 and 27. After Leithauser’s 2020 The Loves of Your Life release fans are excited to see what is in store, especially after hearing “Knockin’ Heart.”
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This Side of the Island
01 Fist of Flowers
02 Burn the Boats
03 Ocean Roar
04 Knockin’ Heart
05 What Do I Think?
06 Off the Beach
07 I Was Right
08 Happy Lights
09 This Side of the Island
