The Decemberists

[u2popmofo]

If you like Architect, check out the first two albums (which are still my favorites): 'Castaways and Cutouts' and 'Her Majesty'.

 

[cobl04]

Checked out Castaways and Cutouts. i don't think i'll ever be a big fan of this band, but it was alright.

Can't get Leslie Anne Levine out of my head.

My GOD his voice is so grating on some of the tracks though.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

Nobody bumped this shit?

The lead track off of the new album was released a week or so ago, and I really like it. It's called "Down By The Water." Interesting sort of pat-myself-on-the-back story about it, too. I listened to it (it was a free download off of their site) and I immediately thought "Holy shit, those guitar lines sound like R.E.M." I found out the next day that it actually is fucking Peter Buck himself playing on the song. And apparently he's on a number of songs on the album. Entitled The King Is Dead. Really cool.

Decemberists + Peter Buck = I'm there.

January 18th

 

[dan_smee]

I also thought REM for a different reason.

It has a number of striking similarities to The One I Love.

Not saying it is ripped off, or identical, but similar in all the good ways.

There is video on youtube of Colin playin a few more of the new songs live acoustically:

YouTube - Colin Meloy, new Decemberists track: "June Hymn"

YouTube - Colin Meloy, new song "Rise to Me" live at the Ace Hotel, NY Oct 22nd, 2010

 

[dan_smee]

Checked out Castaways and Cutouts. i don't think i'll ever be a big fan of this band, but it was alright.

Can't get Leslie Anne Levine out of my head.

My GOD his voice is so grating on some of the tracks though.

The joy of the Decemberists is in that moment when you realise that his voice absolutely works with the music. He actually is a great singer, and his voice is very distinctive. He is also an incredible lyricist.

YouTube - Colin Meloy "Wonder"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALJqWIZyFY8&feature=related

 

[cobl04]

yeah i read he was a creative writing major or something, which is awesome. i fucking love creative writing and music to death, so i have a massive amount of jealousy for this bloke.

will definitely check this one out.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

01-25 New York, NY - Beacon Theatre *
01-28-29 Boston, MA - House of Blues *
01-31 Montreal, Quebec - Olympia De Montreal *
02-01 Toronto, Ontario - Sound Academy *
02-02 Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre *
02-04 Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre *
02-05 Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theatre #
02-06 Minneapolis, MN - State Theatre #
02-07 Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theatre #
02-09 Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater #
02-10 Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre #
02-12 Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern #
02-13 San Diego, CA - House of Blues #
02-14 Oakland, CA - Fox Theater #
02-18 Seattle, WA - Paramount Ballroom #
02-19 Portland, OR - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall #
03-04 Dublin, Ireland - Vicar Street
03-05 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC
03-07 Birmingham, England - Birmingham Institute
03-08 Bristol, England - Bristol Academy
03-10 Manchester, England - Manchester Academy
03-11 Leeds, England - Leeds Academy
03-13 Antwerp, Belgium - Trix
03-14 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
03-16 London, England - Hammersmith Apollo

* with Wye Oak
# with Mountain Man

 

[u2popmofo]

No Utah? And now, this is how I am repaid?

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

Yeah, that sucks.

What do you think of the single? I'm really diggin it.

 

[MMP]

I'm listening to the new album right now. It's sounding good.

 

[PhilsFan]

Just five minutes before you posted this, I read a post on Facebook saying it was out and that it was good.

I'm still going through 2010 albums, but this looks to be the first 2011 album I'll hear.

 

[MMP]

I'm still going through 2010 albums, but this looks to be the first 2011 album I'll hear.

Yeah, same here.
And not to be off-topic, but any suggestions on 2010 albums? I'm going through those best of lists, but there's too many stuff, so I'm kinda going on random mode.

 

[cobl04]

This is Happening by LCD Soundsystem if you haven't heard it.

 

[PhilsFan]

I've mostly been taking my suggestions from people on here. Here's my top fifteen at the moment:

1. The National - High Violet
2. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
3. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
4. The Black Keys - Brothers
5. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
6. The New Pornographers - Together
7. Warpaint - The Fool
8. Fang Island - Fang Island
9. Twin Shadow - Forget
10. Beach House - Teen Dream
11. Sun Airway - Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier
12. Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
13. Los Campesinos! - Romance Is Boring
14. Cee-Lo Green - The Lady Killer
15. Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

 

[MMP]

This is Happening by LCD Soundsystem if you haven't heard it.

I wonder why I keep delaying my listening of this album. Maybe 'cause I'm not a big fan of Sound of Silver. And I liked his debut so much.

I've mostly been taking my suggestions from people on here. Here's my top fifteen at the moment:

2. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
4. The Black Keys - Brothers
6. The New Pornographers - Together
7. Warpaint - The Fool
8. Fang Island - Fang Island
9. Twin Shadow - Forget
10. Beach House - Teen Dream
11. Sun Airway - Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier
14. Cee-Lo Green - The Lady Killer

A good number of albums to check. Thanks for those.

 

[MMP]

On The Decemberists album, All Arise! makes me smile.

 

[cobl04]

I wonder why I keep delaying my listening of this album. Maybe 'cause I'm not a big fan of Sound of Silver. And I liked his debut so much.

well it's much better than Sound of Silver, at least in opinion. strong all the way through and lacking in filler/overlong meanderings like Time to Get Away, Us v Them, the title track.

it's a long way from the debut though.

 

[PhilsFan]

I really like Sound of Silver, but most people who didn't still liked This Is Happening.

 

[MMP]

well it's much better than Sound of Silver, at least in opinion. strong all the way through and lacking in filler/overlong meanderings like Time to Get Away, Us v Them, the title track.

it's a long way from the debut though.

I really like Sound of Silver, but most people who didn't still liked This Is Happening.

I'm starting to listen to it right now. Let's see what it sounds like. And about Sound, I don't know, sometimes I like it, sometimes it bores me to hell. I think that cobl04 is describing it well with overlong meanderings.
Also, most people disagree with me on this one, but All My Friends is not a great track to me, far from that.


On the Decemberists album again, just finished and it sounded very good. The R.E.M. comparisons are not wrong and it's a very satisfying album. Simple and delicate.

 

[PhilsFan]

Sweet. Here's the thread for that album if you wanna make some running comments:

http://www.u2interference.com/forums/f221/new-lcd-soundsystem-album-202023.html

 

[MMP]

Thanks. I'm kinda derailing this thread.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

Hold up. This leaked? The new Decemberists joint with Peter Buck on guitar?

Fuck me, I know what I'm doing for the next hour.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

Two tracks in and I already like the album. Very retro vibe. "Don't Carry It All" sounds instantly familiar and "Calamity Song" sounds like '80s R.E.M.

 

[LemonMelon]

Pretty rad. Hazards of Love blew, but they probably just picked the wrong subject matter; I've always thought Colin Meloy could make a great concept album about being a pretentious asshole.

It's for the best that they shed album-length storytelling pretensions for this one, as they really needed to get in touch with what they used to do pretty well: songwriting. This one is very solid in that respect, most of the tunes stand up on their own, and first single Down By The Water (bless its The One I Love-copping heart) sounds just fine in context. Production is great too. Meloy is still too eloquent to connect emotionally, but the rest of the band is awesome, especially when he gives them a strong melody to work with.

Not as epic or substantial as The Crane Wife, but I want to see how the songs stick with me before I make any major criticisms. It's good. Way better than the last one.

 

[u2popmofo]

The Crane Wife was substantial and epic? I thought it was pretty much universally considered to be their worst.

 

[LemonMelon]

Perhaps in Utah. It's #2 on rateyourmusic, by a hair (just behind Picaresque, which is fair enough), and the critics loved it.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

This album

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

The three songs that feature Buck all totally own. And then January Hymn feels like it's destined to become a wintertime classic or some shit, at least for me. It's just a gorgeous tune. Rise To Me builds to a lovely finish, I think in time that one may become a favorite as well.

The album makes me want to buy a 12 string guitar. Well, I've wanted to buy a 12 string guitar for a while now, actually, but this just cements those desires even further.

 

[u2popmofo]

Perhaps in Utah. It's #2 on rateyourmusic, by a hair (just behind Picaresque, which is fair enough), and the critics loved it.

Well certainly it's going to be high on rateyourmusic, as it was their first release on a major label, had ridiculous amounts of press and marketing behind it, and hit a far larger audience. I don't think anyone really flat out hated it, including myself, but it was their first album to receive a bit of "some of this feels like b-side and outtake material compared to prior albums" type of comments.

I think it's their least consistent and overall weakest, but still enjoy it a good deal. The opening track would definitely be on a "favorite Decemberists songs list" if I made such a thing. Even though I prefer it, I still probably listened to Hazards far less than Wifey. It just requires so dang much time.

 

[BigMacPhisto]

Just gave their new album, Fables of the Reconstruction, a listen. I love it!