Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

No, I loved it but it took seeing the live show of the complete album and appreciating the guest vocalists.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

I totally agree. I was blown away that they played the whole album non-stop and perfectly. And then they came out and played for another hour or more. A great show!

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

I really enjoy The Hazards of Love, and I'm not sure what the problem with the album would have been, other than it being a little long.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

No, I think most fans liked it.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Colin Meloy Reveals Details of New Decemberists Album

Recorded in a barn, 'The King Is Dead' features an appearance by R.E.M.'s Peter Buck
Nov 04, 2010 8:14 AM EDT

Most of The King Is Dead—the Decemberists album that's due out Jan. 18—was made over the course of six weeks at Pendarvis Farm, an 80-acre site east of Portland, Ore. that also hosts the annual music festival Pickathon, at which the Decemberists' bluegrass side project Black Prairie played this summer. The Portland-based quintet and co-producer Tucker Martine didn't quite anticipate how wet the sessions were going to be, though. "The idea was to camp out a little bit more, which the weather has not necessarily permitted," singer/guitarist Colin Meloy observes. "A lot of rain on the roof will probably make it into the recording."

Indeed, this is the most pastoral, rustic record they've ever made, despite its flashes of the band's trademark rococo wordplay ("Calamity Song" features the phrase "queen of supply-side bonhomie bone-drab"). Meloy notes that his songs were inspired in part by the sound of early R.E.M. The track "Down by the Water," in particular, "started out as more of a paean to R.E.M. than I think any of us really wanted it to be." The band tinkered with it to make it sound a bit less like Reckoning—and then R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck joined them to play on it. "It was really cool," Meloy says. "Even playing those simple parts, he's a master."

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Looking forward to this even more if they are looking to Reckoning as inspiration.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

I still like Picaresque the best. Will get this for sure.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

I actively disliked this band before The Hazards of Love, but I really like that album. It also reminded me of one of my favorite books "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell"

I'm looking forward to the new one.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Pitchfork has an article that shows the new album cover and details about the direction they took with this recording.(sorry can't post links yet).
I like what I'm hearing about the sound of this album. Will be checking them out on Conan on the 18th.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Ah, this is really great news. I LOVED the Crane Wife, but I never took the time to get through Hazards of Love even though I've had it since release week.

I'll look forward to picking this up, and the Peter Buck/R.E.M. connection is cool, too.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Is this album going to be hyper-literate?

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Cliff Notes will be included

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

They played a new track on Sirius XMU. I'd say it sounded more like Fables of the Reconstruction than Reckoning. :)

http://www.decemberists.com/assets/i...lbum_cover.gif

Here's a segment of the song. The female vocal is Gillian Welch.

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Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

:up: Looking forward to this. They played a couple of the new tracks in September when they played at MFNW here. Sounded good.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Anybody want to loan me $165:

http://www.decemberists.com/

http://decemberists.com/wp-content/t...ges/sd-pck.png

* Limited edition of 2500 available exclusively on thedecemberists.com
* A one-of-a-kind Polaroid photograph by Autumn de Wilde from the Impossible Project/Decemberists series
* 72 page hardcover book featuring over 250 unique Polaroid photographs by Autumn de Wilde and illustrations by Carson
Ellis
* The King Is Dead CD
* Pendarvia DVD – a 30 minute short film by Aaron Rose, documenting the making of the album
* The King Is Dead on 180 gram white vinyl with special cover
* Limited edition Giclée print illustrated by Carson Ellis
* Digital album download code delivered on January 18
* Instant download of live video of "Rise To Me" from Musicfest Northwest in Portland, Fall 2009
* Instant download of "Down By The Water"
* All presented in a linen wrapped, clamshell box with
foil-stamped cover

Deluxe Box Edition: $165
Deluxe Box Edition + T-Shirt: $180

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

The song that really sounds like early REM is Calamity Song. It's got a very Peter Buck like riff and rocks way harder than the rest of the record. It's all pretty good but still not feeling it's close to their best work.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Did you get a promotional copy or something?

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

They're streaming it for free on NPR's website, so I'll guess that's where he heard it.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Yeah, I've been streaming it from NPR all morning. It's not really sticking, but it's pleasant enough for background noise.

There may be a few standout tracks, usually takes a few listens... I got really into these guys around when the 5 Song EP/Castaways and Cutouts came out and loved the sea chanty-esque feel and Colin's distinct voice and lyrics. The style seemed like it would be a hard sound to keep fresh, develop and reach a broader audience, without sounding too similar or too reinvented on each album. I actually think they have evolved intelligently, but I just don't connect to the new stuff like the older stuff. I think they are a good band and I may pick up this album at some point, but for me I think I just got burnt out on them.

That being said there is always a track or two that I like on the new albums and 5 songs, C&C and Her Majesty... are 3 solid albums. I liked the Crane Wife a lot more than I thought I would too.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Ah, link for the ignorant like myself:

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/03/132436...e-king-is-dead

BTW, Calamity Song is fantastic.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

You didn't mention Picaresque so I'm guessing you don't like it. It's my favorite Decemberists album. Wondering why you don't like it.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

It's been around for about 3 weeks now.

Really dig it. Best album of the year so far :p. After about 5-6 listens I have it rated at ***1/2. Solid choice to start out the year.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

I think Picaresque just came out at a bad time for me. I remember being excited for a new Decemberists album, but somewhat apprehensive and probably about burnt out on the band at that time. It came out and I spun it for a couple weeks, then pretty much forgot it. I don't remember anything resoundingly bad about it, but for whatever reason, I rarely revisit it. It just never resonated with me.

I should probably add it into the mix this week and give it a fair shake.

I think the Tarkio album was released within a year or so(?) of Picaresque and I was fond of that. Also, the Colin Meloy sings Morrissey EP has remained a go to for years.

I don't think I have even listened to a moment of the EP that was the companion piece for Picaresque. For whatever reason... Picaresque got the cold shoulder from me, possibly wrongfully so.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Best REM song in a long time:

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Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Nope. I thought it was fantastic and can't wait for this new one.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

With Becky Stark and Shara Worden on vocals. Must have been from the HOL tour. Come to think of it, I think they played a new song I didn't recognize.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

You would think they could autograph that $165 package, but I guess that's asking too much for an overpriced deluxe box.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Just FYI.

The King is Dead is in Best Buy's ad this week for $6.99. This will be my first stop on Tuesday.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

I hadn't heard The Decemberists at all until a friend played Hazards of Love. I loved it. It felt like a musical, but unlike 90% of musicals, really good. Looking forward to this.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Sounds like a nice deal. Will have to check that out. Hopefully BB has other stuff that day to make the trip worthwhile.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Took a listen. Not nearly as good as their last two albums, imo.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

can't wait!

Entertainment Weekly gave the album an 'A'

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Give it some time. I didn't like it at first and it has grown on me. At first it felt like a rather mundane folk rock album (with one great rock song: Calamity song), but the songs take some time to warm up to.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

I'm sure it'll get rotation on my playlist in the next few weeks, but I was very underwhelmed first time around.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

3.99 MP3 download at Amazon today:

http://www.amazon.com/The-King-Is-Dead/dp/B004HAG40O

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Crap, I just noticed it's 6.99 there now too for the real album. Wasted 3.99 :( But I guess I get to listen to it right now...

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

I've been listening to it all day and really enjoy it. It does seem a little generic pop/folk, but that's better than an album full of slow snoozers IMO. I don't know really how to explain it, but I almost get a 90's vibe from it.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Calamity Song is so good it makes you wish there was more REM ripoffs on the album and less Tom Petty and Neil Young ripoffs.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

I don't consider any of them to be "ripoffs." Heavily-influenced yes. Ripoffs no. I also hear influence from The Jayhawks, Wilco, and maybe even some Gram Parsons.

I enjoyed my first listen. The tracks with pedal steel are especially good as is Gillian Welch singing harmony. I think it is a step forward for The Decemberists as they grow musically.

Re: The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

This just passed my "download it for free and see how it is before you buy it test."

I LOVE THIS ALBUM!! Three listens and I'm hooked.

40 minutes of pure joy and terrific songs.

I hadn't listened to this band in 5 or 6 years since the first couple of albums. I am thoroughly impressed by this simple yet amazing record.

It's 10 songs and not a lousy one in the bunch. I'll be heading to a store to purchase this before the weekend is over.

I also love that Gillian Welch sings backup on several of the tracks.


This just shows you what well-written simple tunes can do. Leave that complex shit to fucking Radiohead.