The Decemberists new album, "The King Is Dead"

 

I am.

 

I'm very disappointed in their new album,nothing really special at all.

 

So good for The Decemberists.  Here's a link to their recent version of the Dead's Row Jimmy, which apparently is not on the new album, though I'm assuming it's representative of what we'll hear.  Sounds great to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I very clearly remember buying a vinyl copy of the R.E.M. EP 'Chronic Town' when it came out in 1982, and I remember how I felt when I listened to it for the first time.  I felt exactly the same way when I played 'the King is Dead', and frankly it was a little creepy. 

 

If nothing else I have to say that Colin Meloy refuses to be pigeonholed into one sound, he takes risks, and he realizes that constant change is a necessary ingredient for success.  Even if I don't end up loving this one as much as most of the prior albums I am quite confident that the record will at least keep my appetite whetted for whatever comes next.

 

 

I would guess that if you are not a fan of say, Neil Young (Harvest-era), or maybe Springsteen (The River) or The Band (The Band), or Fairport/Richard Thompson, then this would not be a favorite.  Not to mention R.E.M., who I never really liked, but I suppose if they had sounded like this...

 

 But then, as I've mentioned many times before, anything that has decent pedal steel sucks me right in.

 

There are some great moments, and some nice tight songwriting, but there are alot of bands doing this style right now. Some of them are alot better at it. For me, the draw of the Decemberists was that they added some extra spice to the mix. Eside from still using alot of five dollar words, not too much habanero here.

 

There are some good songs though.