The Decemberists

[sunvalleylaw]

Other than a reference R_of_G put up on a father/child thread, I did not see any references here to this band. I saw a bit of the Austin City Limits show featuring these guys. The labelers put them into kind of a prog category, and I guess that fits a bit, but they also had some 80's indie sound in 'em as well to my ear, at least live in Austin. Here is a link to their site where you can listen for free: http://www.decemberists.com/ (click on "launch audio" on the left).

And a couple vids:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPEfxZy6JNg&feature=fvw


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpAMB...eature=related


I guess the lead guy is out of Montana and they have had shows there. I might have to go check them out sometime.

[Ch0jin]

Well I'd never heard of the band, but I did learn a lot about the original Decemberists while I was travelling through Russia this year. If your interested in where the name came from.....CLICK

[sunvalleylaw]

LOL! Yeah, when I looked up more about the band, wiki stated that the band got the name from the Russian Decemberist Revolt and there is also an unfinished Tolstoy novel.

[Eric***]

Other than a reference R_of_G put up on a father/child thread, I did not see any references here to this band. I saw a bit of the Austin City Limits show featuring these guys. The labelers put them into kind of a prog category, and I guess that fits a bit, but they also had some 80's indie sound in 'em as well to my ear, at least live in Austin.

I first heard them when The Crane Wife was making the rounds as a great album. I guess I'd call them overthinking acoustic/folk rock; is that fair? I know my one friend who fancies himself to be very well-read likes them. They seem to put out some decent stuff.

[sunvalleylaw]

Well, dragging this up again because I purchased their latest (The King is Dead) from Amazon for $3.99 on sale. I have been listening and really like it. You guys should check it out. Some tracks are very "inspired" shall we say by "Reckoning" and "Life's Rich Pageant" era REM. That is my favorite REM era, and so I like it quite a lot. In fact, on one track, Peter Buck plays with them. (Calamity Song). I wondered why someone sounded so much like Buck on that track, and well, there's your answer. There are also some Springsteen influences that come to mind, especially with the harmonica, and also some Dylanesque touches as well.

Anyway, I like the new album and recommend you guys check it out if you like that kind of thing at all.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScE_d6uTAHU

This is the one with Buck.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqDlT...eature=related

I like this one a lot too. The writing and lyrics (not the voice) remind me of Dylan a bit.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X6r5kE1iac

This cover is not on the album, but Buck is playing with them live here.

[R_of_G]

Mostly I know the Decemberists because Petra Haden is a former member, and I'm a fan of several of her other projects.

I haven't listened to much of them, but I've enjoyed some of what I've heard. I'm not too crazy about Meloy's voice which is what usually prevents me from ever getting in a listen to a full album in context.

Musically I like them a lot. I definitely hear the R.E.M. influence, which is fine as I loved early R.E.M.

Here's one with Petra on violin.

[Beerman***]

Due to a post here a few weeks back, I gave them a listen and bought it as well. It didn't take time at all to like it......hit me right away. Almost every song on the cd is likeable to the point where I had to share it with friends. It reminds me of lots of folks but mentioning who they sound like would seem like an insult so I just think they sound like themselves.