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The Decemberists- Picaresque
The Decemberists are a band I probably would find extremely irritating if Colin Meloy wasn't a brilliant songwriter. I can't think of another lyricist with such a perfect knack for word choice.
There are a lot of folksy elements in their sound. There are strings, accordions, marching drums, mandolins, banjos and the distinctive tone of Colin Meloy's voice. Many people find Meloy's voice off-putting, and I can see where they are coming from, but I really enjoy it, especially the way Meloy stretches his words.
Anyways, the songs. They're all great. The quiet ballads, like "Eli, the Barrow Boy" and "From My Own True Love (Lost At Sea)" have haunting melodies that will stick in your mind at least until the next brilliant melody replaces it. The more upbeat songs are even better. "The Sporting Life" is a catchy song about football injury, and "16 Military Wives" is pure awesomeness. I'm impressed by the band's ability to utilize a horn section. Here, the horns give the song power, but they don't overpower the song. The melody is fantastic, and the lyrics, about the fifteen celebrity minds, and their fifteen crispy moderate liberal minds, are imaginative, but damn, all the lyrics are imaginative!
The band saves the best song for second-to-last. "The Mariner's Revenge Song" is nine minutes long, and it never, ever gets boring. They pull all the stops here. I really don't want to spoil the surprise, but I will say this- listen to this song, and you will become a Decemberists fan.
The Decemberists are a band I probably would find extremely irritating if Colin Meloy wasn't a brilliant songwriter. I can't think of another lyricist with such a perfect knack for word choice.
There are a lot of folksy elements in their sound. There are strings, accordions, marching drums, mandolins, banjos and the distinctive tone of Colin Meloy's voice. Many people find Meloy's voice off-putting, and I can see where they are coming from, but I really enjoy it, especially the way Meloy stretches his words.
Anyways, the songs. They're all great. The quiet ballads, like "Eli, the Barrow Boy" and "From My Own True Love (Lost At Sea)" have haunting melodies that will stick in your mind at least until the next brilliant melody replaces it. The more upbeat songs are even better. "The Sporting Life" is a catchy song about football injury, and "16 Military Wives" is pure awesomeness. I'm impressed by the band's ability to utilize a horn section. Here, the horns give the song power, but they don't overpower the song. The melody is fantastic, and the lyrics, about the fifteen celebrity minds, and their fifteen crispy moderate liberal minds, are imaginative, but damn, all the lyrics are imaginative!
The band saves the best song for second-to-last. "The Mariner's Revenge Song" is nine minutes long, and it never, ever gets boring. They pull all the stops here. I really don't want to spoil the surprise, but I will say this- listen to this song, and you will become a Decemberists fan.
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