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| From | Jason Damas <jason.damas@gmail.com> |
| Subject | Re: Decemberists |
| Date | Tue, 27 Dec 2005 15:13:08 -0500 |
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I've been quiet in the Decemberists thread so far, but I just wanted to
chime in for a second myself. "Picaresque" was one of my top 20 favorite
albums this year as well, and for many of the same reasons that Stewart
mentioned--the complexity of the songs, the way they improve after repeat
listens, and the lyrical depth of Colin Meloy's songwriting. This is not
"wimpy" or meandering indie rock--rather this is very very rich stuff that
rewards many listens. It never really "rocks" per se, but it is very good.
And while I often see comparisons to Neutral Milk Hotel or Belle and
Sebastian, I don't really see either of them as much as (believe it or not)
later-period XTC, like the albums between "Mummer" and "Nonsuch" but
excluding "The Big Express" and "Oranges and Lemons". It sounds a lot like
when Andy and Colin were dressing as train conductors or pilgrims and
writing little songs about little pleasures. I think an awful lot of people
here might've called that McCartney-esque. To me that kind of detail is
incredibly endearing--it feels, to me, easy to try and be U2 and write songs
about huge, universal themes, but I think it's harder to write about a day
in the life of a chimney sweep or about the plight of military wives.
Sure, there are things people might not like (the singing? Though I kind of
like it, FWIW) but I think this is a great album, and it encouraged me to
pick up some of their older material too. I think people who are interested
in folky Britpop (which this sounds like, but isn't) would do well to check
it out. --Jason
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