The Decemberists -- Appreciation Thread
 

Im planing on seeing em on wed.
I just bought HER MAJESTY THE DECEMBERISITS.

I think they are great. very unique and interesting sound, yet still very musical sounding, with some lovely little ditties.

They are different, but well worth seeking out.

anyone else like em? how are their other albums?

They only have one other full length, Castaways and Cutouts, and an EP, The Tain. C&C is more stripped than Her Majesty and the songs are not as memorable, IMO. The Tain is one 18 min song loosely based on a Celtic poem. I don't like it much because I have an unnatural aversion to metal riffs but it is an interesting listen just because you'd never expect so much genre-smashing to come out of them.

I like the Decemberists. Seems like they're blowing up lately, or at least gettting a lot of press. (example)

There's a mailing list discussion group -- the Youth and Beauty Brigade -- that's very active, here.

Personally, I like their first release, the 5 Song EP. It's all worth checking out, but I wish the Tain CD had track markers.

The Decemberists are awesome.

I saw them live a couple weeks ago for the second time and they were totally awesome. You'll have fun.

i like jeff mangum's other work a little more.

Very awesome indeed! I love them, it's new for me but I've been listening to them nonstop for a week or so (with some Pedro the Lion - Achille's Heal thrown in for good measure ;))

If you like the Decemberists, check out Neutral Milk Hotel's 'In the Aeroplane, Over the Sea'. Very striped down and very good. Maybe you're already familiar w/ them?

Add me to the list of people who think very highly of The Decemberists. I haven't heard the 5 Song Ep, but I love all of their other releases. I saw them live last week and was really impressed. I didn't have very high expectations not because of their music but because of the tempo. But they actually gave off great energy and the crowd was amazingly into the whole show.

Saw the Decemberists last night--

Crowd was instantly attracted to the music (me included). There were some songs where I couldn't stop smiling because of the catchy riffs.

They did an amazing version if chimbwy boy...I want a bootleg now.

I think his voice is going to lead them to the big-time. I found there music very catchy, but at the same time well crafted.

EDIT: I would LOVE to hear the lead singer in a punk rock band:)

I like them pretty well. Although I can't listen to them without getting the feeling that I'm listening to Neutral Milk Hotel.

The Decemberists - question
 

I heard a song in the last couple of days from them on XMU and I all I can remember is that part of the chorus has an infectious

"la de da de da da da da da"

I know that's much to go on, but I would assume it's off their 'Picaresque' album - right? what's the song?

"Sixteen Military Wives" off of picaresque.

Incredible Band. All of their releases have been superb!

thanks xDareDevilx (runs off to Amazon.com).

The video is hilarious. Finally got the album. It's been hyped to DEATH by people who like it, so naturally, I was not quite as floored as I may have been had I not heard about them so much before.

(Although to be honest, hype only kills things which are just good or worse... I heard just as much about Arcade Fire's Funeral and loved it).

The Decemberists appreciation tread
 

Okay,

At first, I tought that band was a bunch of sissy-cry-babies. But I saw them live a couple months ago...AND WOW!

I bought two of their record (Picaresque and Castaways and Cutouts) and they are simply amazing.

Great composition, awesome storytelling and hell of a band to see live.

Anyone else her who simply loves Colin Meloy's delirium project?

Check out their Her Majesty release, as well. :thumbsup:

haha, ditto. i saw them live last fall at an outdoor festival with death cab & the pixies, and was instantly hooked. the live show is definitely where it's at, and i really like that they've become more energetic on the records. they're a band that doesn't show any signs of slowing down on quality.

Yeah, they are actually a band that is getting better after each release. I am glad I got in their records before they got bigger for my vinyl is worth some nice dollars.

Love the first two albums, hated the third initially, but warmed up to it after several months. The Tain EP is high recommended, too. 20 minutes, one song. :)

I really the Five Songs EP too...

In fact, I think I love every single record...but don't really have a favorite.

Am I the only one who simply diggs all their 'mariner's' song? Like 'Mariner's Revenger Song' or 'A cautionary song'. I mean, this is GREAT storytelling.

The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love: 3/24/09
 

I saw recently that a new one from the Decemberists is out now on vinyl (and iTunes) and out on CD next week. Anyone here still a fan of the Decemberists? Got plans on picking this up?

It's 9.99 at Amazon, if you're interested...

BTW, I searched and was surprised to not see a thread already...

Re: The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love: 3/24/09
 

Its phenomenal. I love it. The best thing about it is that it pretty much demands to be listened to as a whole album.

Re: The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love: 3/24/09
 

I'm going to hold out until Tuesday in the hopes that Amazon will make it their MP3 Album Deal of the Day. But I'm really looking forward to this one, especially after hearing "The Rake's Song" off their Web site a couple of months ago.

Re: The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love: 3/24/09
 

I got my vinyl copy of this early this week and I can't decide whether or not I like it. It's pretentious as heck, but I think there's some good music here. Still, I can't believe this is now the same band that wrote "Grace Cathedral Hill".

Re: The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love: 3/24/09
 

So far not that thrilled with it. It seems like the same song over and over with slight variations in instrumentation and vocals (I know there's like 4 versions of the title track). That and I'm just not interested in what seems like a fairly boring love story as the theme. Like I said in another thread it seems like a school play or something. I've loved all their albums so far so maybe this will grow on me.

Re: The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love: 3/24/09
 

got my vinyl earlier this week - have yet to listen to it though. Maybe tonight...

Re: The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love: 3/24/09
 

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=101397853

NPR has last night's SXSW performance of the full album.

Re: The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love: 3/24/09
 

I will check this one out...loved the last one (and almost all of their previous works).

Re: The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love: 3/24/09
 

I dig it a lot, certainly not their best work & nothing close to "crane's wife" on it. I just don't get the every song sounds the same thing someone else complained about, I actually think a few songs have quite a new sound for them. I would definitely not call this album brilliant by any means, but I have a ton of respect for a concept album like this in today's modern music scene. Overall though, given the long wait & anticipation, I'm a little dissapointed, but still probably the best album of the year so far, given that this has been an epicly shitty year for new releases so far.

Re: The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love: 3/24/09
 

Really? I have been thinking that this has been the best year for music in a while for me, even only in these first three months and with much more to come (PJ Harvey, Depeche Mode, St. Vincent, Sonic Youth, Dirty Projectors, Doves, etc.). I guess that it's just a subjective thing.

Staying on topic: I listened to this album yesterday and I liked it a lot.

Re: The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love: 3/24/09
 

Huh? I posted "So far" this has been an extremely shitty year so far. You haven't named a single great release yet, you just posted a bunch of stuff that hasn't come out.

The only standouts IMO so far are Andrew Bird & William Elliot Whitmore. Even Neko Case was a let down. The new Hansome Furs has been a nice surprise, but nothing to get that excited about. 3+ months into the year, so far, rather dissapointing. I'm not goint ot post about albums that haven't come out yet & call it the "best year in a while" based on stuff I haven't even heard yet.

Re: The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love: 3/24/09
 

I'm not trying to start an argument here. I didn't post those bands as an example of it being a great year so far, I posted them just as an example of things yet to come. This is just a matter of opinion; you think that Neko Case's album is a "let down," but I loved it. Neither of us are right, except in terms of our own tastes.

Here are the albums that I have liked from this year so far:


Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It’s Blitz!
Handsome Furs - Face Control
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
Antony and the Johnsons - The Crying Light
Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
Elvis Perkins - Elvis Perkins in Dearland
Marissa Nadler - Little Hells
Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
Dan Deacon - Bromst
Black Lips - 200 Million Thousand
Mirah - (a)spera
Dark Was the Night
Here We Go Magic - Here We Go Magic
Alela Diane - To Be Still
tUnE-YaRdS - BiRd-BrAiNs
Laura Gibson - Beasts of Seasons
Julie Doiron - I Can Wonder What You Did with Your Day
M. Ward - Hold Time
The Joy Formidable - A Balloon Called Moaning
P.O.S. - Never Better
William Elliott Whitmore - Animals in the Dark
The Boy Least Likely To - The Law of the Playground
Beirut - March of the Zapotec / Holland EP
Anni Rossi - Rockwell
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band - Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band
Cut Off Your Hands - You and I
Lily Allen - It’s Not Me, It’s You
Lissy Trullie - Self-Taught Learner EP
Jenny Wilson - Hardships!
The Love Language - The Love Language
A.C. Newman - Get Guilty
Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains
Fever Ray - Fever Ray
Death - ...For the Whole World to See
Swan Lake - Enemy Mine
Jason Isbell - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Telefon Tel Aviv - Immolate Yourself
Vetiver - Tight Knit
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Telepathe - Dance Mother
Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid
The Whitest Boy Alive - Rules
Bon Iver - Blood Bank EP
Malajube - Labyrinthes
Morrissey - Years of Refusal
Matt & Kim - Grand
Lisa Hannigan - Sea Sew
These Are Powers - All Aboard Future
Surf City - Surf City EP
War Child - Heroes
Coconut Records - Davy
Annie - Don’t Stop
Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Beware
The Lonely Island - Incredibad

Is that better?

Re: The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love: 3/24/09
 

After repeated listens, this album is FANTASTIC. Not The Crane Wife and yes, the songs sound the same for a REASON. It's a cohesive piece with recurring melodies. It's supposed to be that way. It's not supposed to be a collection of songs like the previous album.

I'm going to see them on Saturday and from I read, they do the entire album start to finish before a short intermission and then they play older material.

Re: The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love: 3/24/09
 

If anyone likes this band and the new album, you have GOT to see this tour. It is unbelievable. And the woman from My Brightest Diamond and the woman from Lavender Diamond who play two of the characters are outstanding.

The Decemberists- The King is Dead 1/18
 

Loved The Crane Wife, not so much The Hazards of Love. Still looking forward to this one.

1. Don't Carry It All
2. Calamity Song
3. Rise to Me
4. Rox in the Box
5. January Hymn
6. Down by the Water
7. All Arise!
8. June Hymn
9. This is Why We Fight
10. Dear Avery

Download Down by the Water from their website:

www.decemberists.com

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

Hope its a return to form and much better than their last album which was pretty awful (except one phenomenal song).

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

Wait...am I the only Decemberists fan who liked the Hazards of Love?

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

Problem with this band is they have such an established sound when they try to branch out they sound like a different band. And not in a good way. Best to stick to the original sound and just write better songs.

I'm looking forward to Calamity Song. I like their gruesome songs.

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

My wife loved it. I'm more like sessa in that I really only liked 1 (assuming that the Rakes song is what he meant). Granted I didn't think the rest was awful by any stretch.

I think I'm sort of just tired of their sound in general though, I haven't been listening to their old stuff much at all lately either. I hope this changes things.

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

Just chiming in as another that dug The Hazards of Love.