10.09.2006
[The Decemberists]
When it comes to the indie elite, you know The Decemberists would be one group with a well-deserved position on that panel. Now it can be argued whether the quintet pioneered a new genre or simply modified an existing one, but one sure thing can definitely be said - The Decemberists are like no other. Colin Meloy has a voice unrivaled that caputred a hushed, gentle quality perfect for the group's storybook musical mannerism. Despite being recently signed to a major label, The Decemberists' latest, The Crane Wife (released in the US October 3), restrains the band in no way. Quite in fact their fourth album, if anything, rather pushes their limits and tests new ground. Meloy has been remarked to say that this new, ambitious album is actually the group trying to catch up to the always broadening horizon of the musical expanse that is the Decemberists sound. So is this different? Well sure it is, but worry not for it's still just The Decemberists. The group are embarking on an Americanada tour this fall that ends with two dates in Vancouver, BC at the stately-sounding venue of the Commodore Ballroom, so be sure to check those dates out.From The Decemberists' The Crane Wife (all songs are right click - save as):
On The Crane Wife story: The Crane Wife came from a storybook Colin Meloy found in the children's section of a bookstore in Portland. It is a Japanese folktale of love, promises and betrayal. A sailmaker finds an injured crane upon his doorstep and nurses it back to health before releasing it back into the wild. One day, the crane comes back to the sailmaker disguised as a beautiful young woman. They fall in love and marry. When the couple falls short of food, Yukiko (the crane) tells her husband that she can make a magical sail that he can sell in the village. The sailmaker agrees on the conditions that he never watches her make it and never asks Yukiko to make another one. He breaks both promises and Yukiko returns into a crane and flies away forever. Definitely sounds like something The Decemberists would pick up on...
Check out their tour dates at their site.
Be their friend!
3 Comments:
Both Sides of the Mouth is a dual-authored mp3 blog based in Austin, Texas. All audio posted on this site is meant for sampling purposes only. If you really like what you hear, show it and support the artist - buy an album, buy some merch. If you represent or own any media on this site and would like something taken down please email us, and we will take the neccessary action of removing the file(s).
Notable Mixes - Brad
Great choice.