Rating:
When I did my research on this band, I figured they must be really famous because they have a super-expensive Deluxe Box thing ($180, really?). Must begin by saying I’m not the biggest “indie pop” fan so I’ll try to keep it objective.
If I could re-title this album It’ll be “Songs to fall Asleep to” [in a good way, that is]. I tend to get annoyed by this type of music because of the instruments (accordion, melodica..) those sounds really give me the goosebumps and make me want to throw a microwave to my computer BUT this album is actually the contrary, they managed somehow to get their songs to sound peaceful and relaxing and just chill overall. At the beginning I wasn’t loving it so I tried going backwards on the album (last song first) and turns out the best songs are at the end, my favorite one if I must say? This Is Why We Fight, (i feel like in an old-west slow motion fight) by far, even though “Down by the Water” makes me hand-drum and snap my fingers. If you’re like me and not a fan of indie stuff this is an album that will probably grow on you after a few listens, so go ahead and give it a try, if you’re already an indie kid, you will just love it. I hope someday, someone makes one of those experimental movies like “Into the Wild” or “Welcome to the Rileys” and use songs from this album because that will just make the soundtrack amazing.
This album has a nice mix of both slow and up beat songs and some mid-tempo ones, which is something I always appreciate (some variety). Also, I believe you’ll find one that applies to your current mood (people like that, right?). I figured I should listen to their old stuff to have an idea on how their sound has changed, and.. it has, at least from their past album “The Hazards of Love” had some more “rock” sounds (the guitars and the drums were more powerful) and the songs were more up beat? most of them, anyway. It was “indie” rock, this new one is “indie” folk (you might as well just remove the “indie” because it is what it is). I always like to choose the ‘worst’ song on an album and when there is no “bad” song I just try to choose the worst-sounding one but surprisingly, with this album, I just can’t, i’ll be lying if I say there is a crappy song hidden. The “Hymns” are also really good (January and June), I really like how those 2 songs work as ‘bridges’ in the album, you know, like after a few songs there is a pause or something that makes you slow-down and then you start with the other songs again. Makes sense? I think so.
I was trying to give this album less than a 5 (haters gon’ hate) but for some reason I can’t think of a good reason why i shouldn’t give it 5 stars! So there you go, Decemberists, my not-so-important rating for your new album.
You can get the album @ their site for $13 or the vinyl for $19 (or a bunch of other packages)
great review!