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| The DecemberistsPicaresque2005 Kill Rock Stars 
  Review by: Anchors See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on February 5th 2006
Among all the half-assed bands parading around with names stolen from the calendar, there’s one that sticks out far above the rest. A beacon, dimly lit, but visible no matter your vantage point. That’s the Decemberists. Their relatively reserved approach to songwriting is one that has garnered them accolades all across the indie rock world. Picaresque does nothing, if not continuing in the fine, albeit short tradition that the band has established for themselves.
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This is one of my favourite albums of all time, but I have to say, I prefer "Castaways and Cutouts." I am a bit partial to "The Mariner's Revenge Song," and I believe it to be far more haunting than "Eli, the Barrow Boy." awesome awesome awesome album. Hmmm...Neutral Milk Hotel, you say? Then I'll give this album a chance. I'm not drunk, but I'm buzzed enough that I'm not 100% sure that that's sarcasm. heyyy welcome to the comment section! looking for a cool guy? just look directly below this here comment. Meh, I can be. you sound like a pretty negative dude. I'm 24. I dislike the Sex Pistols. I've gone on iTunes specifically to see which of these bands I like and dislike. This band isn't that bad, though the whole "pirate" schtick really turns me off. I think the Arcade Fire are incredibly overrated. When I heard them, I didn't think they were horrible. That's reserved for stuff like Orange and Finch. I thought, "This?! This is what EVERYONE thinks is the best album of the year? This is what passes for depth?" Some of the comments here must come straight from 15 year olds. To whomever says CYHSY are crap, I don't think you've even heard them. You don't want to buy into the hype, so you don't even try. Idiots. anyone that doesn't like modest mouse is a true fucking retard, if you ask me. score is for levitateme. just because. Fuck, I made it all italics In my opinion, there are only three good songs on TM&A: "3rd Planet," "I Came As a Rat," and "Paper Walls." Everything else just sounds like boring radio music, with the exception of the overly long piece of crap "The Stars are Projectors" and the pointless "Wild Packs of Family Dogs." personally, If you're coming at Pavement from the punk perspective try Baptist Blacktick or No Life Singed Her. Just buy and listen to The Moon and Antarctica for their best work. "On the Bus Mall" is clearly the best track on this album, and yes, it's about two male prostitutes. ive said it before, ill say it again. my favourite release of 2005. they really can do no wrong. Great album. I'm still a little freaked out a little about On The Bus Mall. What is it about? Prostitutes? I agree with Will on this one. The Arcade Fire are retarded. Of course, I don't like this band much, either. Best Decemberists song ever is "Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect" from Castaways & Cutouts. My personal favourite off this one is definitely "The Engine Driver". You're way off on this one. No. The Arcade Fire write crap faux-rock dribble. Overproduced with stupid noises, too. It's the Duran Duran of 2005, and mark my words, the people who aren't laughing at it now will be laughing at it in five years. They're not better than Arcade Fire. And I don't know what you've been listening to if you don't think Arcade Fire writes "actual songs" This isn't my favorite album ever, but it's much better than Arcade Fire or Clap Your Hands Say Yeah because this band knows how to write actual songs. Yeah, this album is pretty much completely amazing. I don't like OK Computer. Not at all. Just sayin'. yeh that song rules, its about him looking after his friends bike while he's on holiday but it gets stolen and he tries to appologise for that, its a classic, bikes called madeline! Apology Song is their best song i think, dont know if its on this but it was on a 5 song ep they did. The revolutionary group was most definitely spelled "Decembrists," although that's slightly unfair for a number of reasons including time, place and language, both the evolution of language/grammar and the effects of translation. If you'd read an interview with this band (which I'm not saying you're required to, just that it's possible you would. I won't hold it against anyone if they don't read an interview with this band...) you'd notice that they only vaguely took their name from said movement. In addition to a fleeting association with the Decembrist movement, Meloy has said that December is a month in which people are usually sad and depressed and that their songs either speak to people in that frame of mind or specifically describe people in that state of mind. I don't think that the band name "The Decemberists" would exist without the movement, but they're not specifically named after the movement. Catfish? Chinatown-- 2005's "Funeral" was either Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's self-titled release or Wolf Party's full-length. The Decemberists have been around for a few years with a steady line of good releases; the Arcade Fire, CYHSY, and Wolf Party all put out debut albums that received excessive amounts of praise and hype from Pitchfork. He only gave it a 9 This album pretty much blows. Giving this a 9.5 is horrible suggestion. thank god it is, infact, a suggestion. i dig some indie rock. and some mellow shit. this just didn't do it for me. for some reason it just sounds like they're trying way too hard. This is a really good album and they put on a good show. I don't know what they're going to do on a major now, though. Their charm lies in their high school-esque amatuerism. I don't think a "serious" Decemberists album would be any good. Lonesome Crowded West is an Indie classic. This is an amazing release as well. i enjoy this album "Ever heard "Doin' the Cockroach" and/or "In the Mouth a Desert"? Two of the best indie rock songs of the 90s right there. the phrase "rousing shanty" made me laugh. But just for the record, I read Pitchfork daily and do not like this band or Modest Mouse or Pavement or Radiohead. The Arcade Fire have 2 good songs: "Laika" and "Rebellion (Lies)." Other than that, they sound about as indie as Coldplay. I have a feeling that this album is 2005's version of Funeral, so I'm keeping my distance. I can see why people might not like Kid A-era Radiohead, but OK Computer and The Bends are two fucking great albums. I can't wait for Sickboi's comments on this. they really are a cut above the rest...the perfect combination of fun and beautiful I have a feeling that this album is 2005's version of Funeral, so I'm keeping my distance. The revolutionary group spelled it "Decembrists", but I'm pretty sure that's the basis of the name. I think the NMH comparison comes from Colin's voice. I can kinda hear it. It is a bit like Mangum's voice...the first time I played this band for a friend, he said it made him think of NMH. I think the Neutral Milk Hotel comparison this band always gets is really misleading. I don't think these guys and NMH are entirely similar. This isn't the first time I've heard the NMH comparison.. I really want this now. Great album. That song is mentioned in the 4th paragraph. You didn't even fuckin mention the Mariner's Revenge Song. Honestly, WTF? i'm pretty sure this band's name is not from the calendar but from the revolutionary russian group from the early 20th century... Amazing record -- On a side note, I love the video for "16 Military Wives." what a great band Good album. My favorite is "Sporting Life," easy. |
