Achtung! It's a good time to buy the new Decemberists record on Amazon!

Browsing NME this morning...

OUCH!

Album Review: The Decemberists - The King Is Dead (Rough Trade)

Now they are pure turgid Americana pastiche

Even when Oregon’s The Decemberists debuted with ‘Castaways And Cutouts’ in 2002, they were still more Neutral Milk Bail Hostel than Hotel. They transposed wordy Victorian melodrama onto folky sea shanties. But at least once they had a snappy poetic sensibility and an admirable interest in history. Unfortunately, now they are pure turgid Americana pastiche. ‘This Is Why We Fight’ is basically Green Day’s ‘Time Of Your Life (Good Riddance)’ covered by Mumford and Sons trying to be REM. Trouble is, thousands of people will probably think this pig ugly and cynical exercise in cuntery and western is awesome, so well done, The Decemberists.

John Doran
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Sad Navigator said:
This changes what how?
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I just don't put a lot of stock into one person's opinion from a snarky british website. Nor do I from Pitchfork for that matter, although I do read it from time to time to see what they say about bands I like. If they gave Menomena's new album a negative three I'd still say it's one of 2010's albums of the year. :shrug:
 
FenderPusher said:
I just don't put a lot of stock into one person's opinion from a snarky british website. Nor do I from Pitchfork for that matter, although I do read it from time to time to see what they say about bands I like. If they gave Menomena's new album a negative three I'd still say it's one of 2010's albums of the year. :shrug:
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Well, I'm not saying I agree with it. I just thought that it was an interesting harsh review given how blandly positive a lot of the hype about this record has been. No need to file a writ of serious bizness.
 
Sad Navigator said:
Well, I'm not saying I agree with it. I just thought that it was an interesting harsh review given how blandly positive a lot of the hype about this record has been. No need to file a writ of serious bizness.
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I wasn't aware the record received a bunch of positive hype, everything I've heard about it has been "decent to meh." No serious bizness, just giving my opinion on those record review sites. NME more so than Pitchfork, sometimes they have really well written reviews even if I don't agree with them.
 
One of my friends loves this band. I have only listened to a couple of tunes, but didn't really dig it. Maybe I will give them another listen.
 
sunvalleylaw said:
I like the tracks I have heard so far on a first listen.

EDIT: I listened some more now and really like this album. But I also really like "Reckoning" and "Life's Rich Pageant" era REM, and clearly some of the songs are inspired by that period REM. I listened to "Calamity" and thought to myself that one of the guitars sounded just like Peter Buck. Got home and looked into it, and sure enough, Peter joined them for that song. The "Down by the Water" song also sounds a lot like "The One I Love", to the point where you almost want to start singing the chorus. But I like it!
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Life's Rich Pagent is my favorite REM album and Reckoning is right up there. If this has that feel, I may have to give it a listen.
 
Sad Navigator said:
He's a guy whose live show made me totally disinterested in his records. I saw him open solo for someone and it was so snoozy I never bothered afterwards, despite the fact his records catch a lotta praise.
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His solo shows are a lot different than when he's with the band. I'm actually planning on driving up to Cleveland in April to see them live. That said, I really don't imagine that you'd enjoy the majority of his albums. I don't really picture you as the whispery folk guy.
 
Sad Navigator said:
You've mistaken me for Motorik. I live in Ammurrrrrrrricah.
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No. I just figured that you could circulate a rumor next time you go to Chicago for the Pitchfork fest. Given his detest for America and folk-ness, I think the most annoying way for this Brit to get the news that I'm gunning for him would be from some kind of American folk tale that got started with a rumor and grew into an incredible story with the passage of time and retelling. Make it a good rumor, Hipster-Bro!
 
Cheese Grits said:
No. I just figured that you could circulate a rumor next time you go to Chicago for the Pitchfork fest. Given his detest for America and folk-ness, I think the most annoying way for this Brit to get the news that I'm gunning for him would be from some kind of American folk tale that got started with a rumor and grew into an incredible story with the passage of time and retelling. Make it a good rumor, Hipster-Bro!
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"Um, mate. There's a lawyer who disagrees with you. He's the former president of the Toad the Wet Sprocket fan club. You better watch out."
 
Sad Navigator said:
"There's a sail boat racer from the Southeast United States who disagrees with you. He can do 90-second keg stand and still cleanly split hardwood logs with a sledge hammer and wedge afterward.
He listens to Toad the Wet Sprocket, but people who know him in real life are afraid to give him shit about it. You better watch out."
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Help'd.
 
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