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)
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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteRise 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.
ReplyDeletehttp://kelderspeaks.blogspot.com