Combining two great musical forces from different generations can have disastrous results. David Byrne & Fatboy Slim. Billy Corgan & Ric Ocasek. Or it can be a welcome surprise: Them Crooked Vultures. The new Decemberists falls into the latter category. The album is produced by Peter Buck of REM, which is a perfect match. Buck's signature restrained twang is an effective compliment to Colin Meloy's tendency to wander with his lofty melodies. Buck's influence is subtle and not overwhelming. It's still a Decemberists album. It's also one of their best.
1. The Island (The Crane Wife)
2. Los Angeles, I'm Yours (Her Majesty The Decemberists)
3. O Valencia! (The Crane Wife)
4. We Both Go Down Together (Picaresque)
5. Cocoon (Castaways and Cutouts)
6. Perfect Crime #2 (The Crane Wife)
7. July, July! (Castaways and Cutouts)
8. The Crane Wife #3 (The Crane Wife)
9. Pt. I/Pt. II/Pt. III/Pt. IV/Pt. V (The Tain EP)
10. The Rake Song (Hazards of Love)
11. Valerie Plame (Always the Bridesmaid EP)
Buy The Decemberists new album, The King Is Dead...now!!! (only $3.99 for a limited time)
3 comments:
I am quite excited for the new REM. I, however, am not in the least excited about the new decemberists. I feel like I never really had that interest. I really, really, really love their two ep's, 5-song & The Tain. I lose interest in the albums fairly quick, even though they sound good.
I also was quite disappointed to find out that the Joy Division singles were not released in the US. That's some bullshit there brother. Of course it sees a iTunes release, but no real official release.
I also was reading Patton Oswalt's book "Zombie Spaceship Wasteland" and in the first chapter he talks a lot about REM's Fables of the Reconstruction, which of course made me need to listen to it. so instead of just listening I made up a playlist of the demos in the same order as the album.
yep, rambled. sorry, g'night.
After last nights rant I purchased the new Decemberists (I believe) through your link and I've been thoroughly enjoying it.
Rise to Me is a great song, and it's about autism, a topic near to my heart. I would put this #1 on my list, but I'm biased.
http://kelderspeaks.blogspot.com
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