The Decemberists - The King Is Dead
The first thing we noticed about The Decemberists remarkable new album The King Is Dead (January 18, Capitol) is the preponderance of pedal steel guitar and harmonica. Where exactly are we? The Portland band, fronted by the unassuming and über-creative songwriter Colin Meloy, has always had a solid foothold in uniquely American music, utilizing organic instrumentation to flesh out Meloy's eloquent storytelling. But the British folk influences that streaked through The Decemberists' The Hazards of Love have been brushed aside for a more southern, folk/rock twang on their new King. "I guess I've kind of come back to a lot of the more American music that got me going in the first place," says Meloy, "R.E.M. and Camper Van Beethoven and all these bands that borrowed from more American traditions like Neil Young and the Byrds."
It's tempting to simply throw the "Americana" tag around for Meloy's ten new songs and there are certainly plenty of reference points to back that up. But there's something deeper, darker and more nuanced going on here. Achingly gorgeous harmonies grace the album closer "Dear Avery" over a soft bed of acoustic strums, the lonely wail of pedal steel and electric piano sweetening. "June Hymn" begins like a lost Dylan outtake, a glorious troubadour song of harmonica and busking directness. R.E.M.'s Peter Buck lends a hand on three tracks and the 80's Athens, GA mystique is palpable on "Calamity Song" and "Why We Fight", brisk and invigorating mini-anthems of ragged majesty. Working again with producer Tucker Martine and featuring lovely harmonies from roots goddess Gillian Welch throughout the album, The Decemberists have once again found a way to subtly shock and awe for an album Meloy describes as "an exercise in restraint." Brilliant and invigorating, earthy and stark, The King Is Dead is set to start 2011 off on an exceptionally high note.
The Decemberists - "Down By the Water" (from the album The King Is Dead)
The Decemberists - The King Is Dead sampler (excerpts: "Rise to Me", "January Hymn", "This Is Why We Fight")
Direct Current
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