Silver Jews is a music group. Sometimes unfairly dismissed as a Pavement side project, the Silver Jews are a conduit for David Berman's brand of sardonic, countrified indie rock. After forming in 1990 while Berman and Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus were flatmates in New York, the Silver Jews have gone on to release five albums, including the LP American Water in 1997. Berman's sophisticated, Dylan-esque lyrics have come to dominate the band's music and critical reputation. He released a poetry collection, Actual Air in 1999.