Not, as we had at first excitedly thought, a cover of the sinister PJ Harvey blues-beast – although just sit back and think for a second how awesome that might’ve been – The Decemberists’ first new material from forthcoming album The King Is Dead (out in January) sees Colin Meloy & co on melancholy, harmonica-accentuated form.
As “Brian Molko, but a country version” (according to the missus) sings “Queen of the water/Queen of the old main drag” it’s impossible to get past the hollering lyrical and musical nods to The Pogues, and you’ll hear no complaints about that from these quarters.
Vocal assistance comes from Americana figurehead Gillian Welch, and REM’s Peter Buck contributes something or other (vibes, by the sounds of things), so it’s clear our Tolstoy-lovin’ chums are upping their game somewhat – perhaps even aiming for a more, gulp, mainstream audience.
Look at it this way: if all those millions who bought the Mumford & Sons album took a wee step to the left and embraced The Decemberists as well, Oregon’s finest folkish storytellers might be able to buy their kids nicer shoes next year…
The Decemberists: ‘Down By The Water’
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This is really good. I thought Hazards of Love was a mess, hopefully this suggests a return to form.
Adrian, did you see Hazards live? Have to say, I was enjoying it beforehand anyway, but after seeing the live show it really came to life, the shows were great.
This is also good. The Decemberists so rarely put out a song that doesn’t have something I can enjoy in it.
I didn’t see them live, but I felt the album was too full of theatrics and ceremony instead of tunes. It pushed them toward the cringeworthy faux-drama and Emperor’s new clothes antics of Arcade Fire, when they are clearly far better than that.